Catering Operations Manager

Compass Group•Los Angeles, CA

24d•Onsite

About The Position

Restaurant Associates is the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations. As Catering Operations Manager at LACMA, you will play a key role in bringing memorable events to life across one of Los Angeles’ most iconic museum campuses. Working at the intersection of culinary excellence, art, and guest experience, this role oversees the successful planning and execution of on‑site and off‑site events that may include exhibition openings, donor and patron events, galas, corporate entertaining, weddings, and private celebrations. You’ll collaborate closely with culinary, sales, museum stakeholders, and vendor partners to ensure each event reflects LACMA’s creative spirit while delivering Restaurant Associates’ signature hospitality. This is an opportunity for an operationally thoughtful, people‑centered leader who enjoys managing complexity, building strong teams, and creating experiences that feel seamless to guests.

Requirements

Experience leading catering or event operations within hospitality, cultural institutions, or high‑touch event environments
A collaborative leadership style with the ability to guide teams through complex, fast‑paced event schedules
Strong organizational and time‑management skills, with comfort managing multiple events simultaneously
Financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, labor management, forecasting, and P&L oversight
Clear and confident communication skills, both written and verbal, with clients, vendors, and senior stakeholders
Comfort working independently while also partnering closely with cross‑functional teams
Thoughtful problem‑solving skills and the ability to adapt quickly as event needs evolve
Negotiation and relationship‑management skills that build trust with vendors and culinary partners
Experience hiring, training, mentoring, and developing hospitality teams
Ability to establish credibility and effective partnerships with culinary leadership and museum stakeholders
Three plus years of hospitality or events management experience, or a combination of experience and capability that demonstrates readiness for this role

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with off‑premise or large‑scale catering environments is a plus

Responsibilities

Partner with clients, museum stakeholders, and internal teams to understand event vision, scope, setting, menus, entertainment, and service expectations—ensuring each event is delivered within established budgets and guidelines
Collaborate with chefs and culinary leadership to design menus that align with the event concept, seasonality, and guest experience
Oversee planning and execution of a diverse portfolio of events across LACMA’s indoor and outdoor venues, supporting both public‑facing and private events
Negotiate and manage vendor relationships and contracts, including rentals, entertainment, décor, and specialty services
Delegate effectively to Event Managers and operations teams, ensuring events are executed according to established standards, timelines, and service expectations
Recruit, interview, onboard, train, and support both full‑time and event‑based team members
Build schedules and staffing plans that balance service excellence, labor efficiency, and team wellbeing
Foster an inclusive, motivated, and engaged catering team through clear communication, coaching, and leadership presence
Maintain accurate financial, administrative, and operational records, including budgets, forecasts, and post‑event reporting
Serve as a central point of coordination between Sales Catering Managers, culinary teams, staffing partners, vendors, suppliers, rental companies, and clients
Review contracts and event details to ensure alignment with services delivered and guest expectations
Conduct post‑event evaluations to assess quality, financial performance, and opportunities for continuous improvement
Address guest or client concerns with professionalism and care, ensuring timely resolution and follow‑up, including billing and payment coordination