CATERING DIRECTOR

Compass Group•New York, NY

51d•$90,000 - $95,000

About The Position

As the Catering Director, you will lead the planning and execution of a diverse catering and events program while driving new business and revenue growth. You’ll manage events from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up, build strong client relationships, and lead teams to deliver exceptional service. This is an ideal opportunity for an organized, hospitality-focused leader who enjoys being hands-on, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and has a passion for both event execution and business development.

Requirements

3+ years of catering, events, hospitality, or foodservice management experience.
Proven experience managing events, teams, and multiple priorities simultaneously.
Strong organizational skills with experience developing detailed event timelines and run-of-show plans.
Demonstrated success in sales, marketing, business development, or revenue growth.
Excellent client-facing communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
Strong understanding of catering operations, food and beverage service, inventory, and vendor management.
Ability to remain calm and solution-oriented in a fast-paced event environment.
Passion for hospitality, exceptional service, and creating memorable experiences.

Nice To Haves

Flexible schedule with availability for evenings, weekends, and events as needed.

Responsibilities

Oversee end-to-end execution of corporate, social, wedding, and private events.
Develop detailed event timelines and run-of-show documents while coordinating staff, vendors, equipment, and logistics.
Lead, schedule, train, and develop catering teams, including servers, bartenders, setup crews, and culinary staff.
Manage client relationships from initial inquiry through event execution and post-event follow-up.
Conduct site visits and pre-event meetings to ensure every detail is planned and executed successfully.
Partner with culinary teams on menus, special requests, dietary needs, and quality standards.
Develop creative marketing and business development strategies to increase catering revenue.
Build partnerships, develop promotions, pursue local business opportunities, and identify upselling opportunities.
Track leads, proposals, contracts, conversion rates, and revenue performance.
Manage event budgets, pricing, inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
Resolve on-site challenges quickly and professionally while maintaining exceptional guest satisfaction.
Ensure compliance with health, safety, licensing, and company standards.