Catering Director

Sodexo•Washington, DC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Join Sodexo’s Culinary Talent Community – Catering Directors. Sodexo Corporate Services is building a team of top-tier Catering Directors to support our expanding presence across high-profile corporate accounts in Washington DC. This is an opportunity to join a community of experienced, forward-thinking Catering Directors who are eager to grow their careers within one of the world’s most respected hospitality and food service organizations. The Director of Catering is responsible for the end-to-end planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale catering events, ensuring seamless delivery from initial client engagement through post-event evaluation. This role oversees budgeting, staffing, logistics, and operational execution while driving profitability and maintaining exceptional service standards.

Requirements

5–10+ years of catering or hospitality leadership experience, with a strong focus on large-scale events
Proven experience executing events for 5,000–10,000+ guests
Demonstrated success managing large hourly teams in high-volume environments
Strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and cost management
Experience with event detailing, logistics planning, and operational execution
Exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills
Ability to thrive under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum 5 years management experience
Minimum 5 years functional experience

Responsibilities

Oversee full event lifecycle from detailed planning through flawless execution
Lead catering operations for large-scale events ranging up to 10,000 guests
Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality service, food presentation, and guest experience
Collaborate cross-functionally with culinary, sales, and operations teams
Recruit, train, and lead a large team of hourly staff and supervisors
Develop staffing plans aligned with event volume and complexity
Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and high performance
Develop and manage event budgets, forecasts, and cost controls
Oversee ordering, inventory, and vendor relationships
Drive profitability while maintaining quality and operational efficiency
Monitor KPIs and implement improvements for performance
Partner with clients to understand vision and ensure expectations are exceeded
Provide detailed event planning, timelines, and execution strategies
Act as a senior point of contact during high-profile events