CATERING OPERATIONS MANAGER - UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI (WATSCO CENTER)

Compass Group•Coral Gables, FL

12d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

Filling every occasion with great food and service! We are currently seeking a Catering Operations Manager for a high-volume and premiere catering department at the University of Miami - Watsco Center in Miami, FL. The Watsco Center is the 200,000 square foot, 7,972-seat arena that is home to the University of Miami men’s and women’s basketball teams. Chartwells Higher Ed oversees the food service operations for the arena which encompasses the arena, the Basketball Club (150-300 guests per event) and 26 arena suites. Our Catering Operations Manager will be responsible for all catered events produced in the Watsco Arena Kitchen as well as all arena events. Will also be responsible for developing and driving catering solutions to meet our customer needs, while working closely with the Executive Chef on menu development. Events encompass a diverse spectrum, spanning from coffee services to concessions to exclusive VIP dining occasions, hosted at Watsco Arena.

Requirements

3-5 years’ experience in a hospitality management environment - preferably in a high volume fast-paced catering environment
ServSafe® Certified.

Nice To Haves

Operationally savvy industry professional with demonstrated leadership in managing people, events and the overall guest experience
Strong organization, time management and team motivation skills are essential for success in this role
Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) with clients, senior management, and WPC support staff
Ability to respond effectively to continuously changing demands
Demonstrated experience in budgeting, P&L, labor and sales forecasting and reporting
Effective use of discretion to problem solve in a fast-paced environment
Excellent negotiating skills
Ability to establish credibility with senior culinary professionals
The ability to manage in an environment with focus on client service, entrepreneurship and building and growing a strong business

Responsibilities

Consults clients as to scope, expectations, setting, menu, collateral entertainment to have a successful and appropriate event within the client’s budget
Plans menus in consultation with the clients and chefs
Negotiates individual vendor contracts
Delegates to, and ensure that, the Event Manager coordinates and executes the event within the parameters established by the Catering Event Manager
Recruits, interviews, selects, and trains permanent and casual staff
Organizes, leads and motivates the catering team
Plans staff and event schedules
Maintains and develops accurate financial and administrative records
Serves as liaison and coordinator between Sales Catering Managers, Supervising Chefs, Staffing, Captains, Suppliers, Vendors, Rental Companies and Clients as needed to plan events
Assesses contract requirements and ensure satisfaction with the services delivered
Performs final review and assessment of catering events to determine if they meet performance and quality standards
Resolves customer concerns and ensures timely customer payment