Corporate Director, Catering & Events Operations

SSA Group, LLC•Denver, CO

1d•Remote

About The Position

SSA Group is looking for a talented Corporate Director of Catering & Event Operations to join our team! This role is a builder role, stepping in to elevate the existing structure. The Corporate Director of Operations will build and develop a strong bench of District Managers and operational leaders nationwide, drive consistency across diverse, complex venues, translate sales commitments into executable operations, and raise the standard of event execution, team performance, and accountability. This role sits at the intersection of strategy and execution. SSA Group partners with zoos, aquariums, and other iconic attractions across the country to deliver hospitality experiences that are operationally smart, guest-focused, and built for scale. This is not traditional catering, and it is not just picnics. SSA’s galas are our calling card. We deliver high-touch hospitality in environments where logistics are complex, venues are unconventional, and execution has to flex in real time. From outdoor animal habitats to multi-site cultural campuses, our teams lead high-volume events where precision, adaptability, and service excellence all matter. We call it 452 Hospitality. It is how we connect people, places, and experience in a way that actually works in the real world.

Requirements

10+ years in catering and food and beverage operations, with direct ownership of menu execution, food presentation, and service delivery at scale
5+ years leading multi-unit or multi-site F&B teams, including both front-of-house and back-of-house operations
Experience in non-traditional, high-complexity venues where catering execution requires real-time adaptability (Zoos, aquariums, museums, iconic cultural attractions, large campuses, or similar)
Proven ability to build and develop leadership teams, not just manage day-to-day operations
Strong operational and financial acumen with full P&L ownership across catering or F&B operations
Experience executing high-volume catering events (300+ guests) with full food service, not event production or experiential marketing
You can scale people, not just processes
You know how to operate when things are not perfect or controlled
You bring structure without slowing the business down
You are comfortable being both strategic and hands-on when needed

Nice To Haves

Experience with Tripleseat or similar platforms
Food safety certifications

Responsibilities

Build, coach, and develop a multi-unit operations team across regions
Elevate performance standards, accountability, and succession planning
Upgrade talent where needed and create a culture of ownership
Ensure consistent execution across non-traditional, high-complexity venues
Lead high-profile and large-scale events where execution risk is highest
Build operational playbooks that actually work in the field, not just on paper
Lead catering operations strategy in environments like zoos, aquariums, and cultural attractions
Balance guest experience with real-world constraints such as weather, layout, and access
Partner with culinary to deliver concepts that are both innovative and executable
Act as the operational counterpart to Sales
Ensure what we’re selling can actually be delivered at a high level
Influence business development with operational insight
Own P&L across regions including labor, cost of goods, and margin improvement
Drive operational efficiency without sacrificing guest experience
Push the business forward
Introduce ideas that elevate SSA’s catering experience in the market
Build repeatable models that scale across locations

Benefits

Full-Time, Exempt
$75 monthly cell phone stipend
Flex Time Off: no accruals; employees are encouraged to schedule time off as needed within business scope.
Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and other voluntary benefits for you and your family; employee premiums applicable.
Participation in a 401(k) program with a 15% company match (must be 21 years or older, eligible after one year of employment with 1,000 hours worked, available to enroll during Open Enrollment Periods).
Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability, employer sponsored; scaled-salary pay following submission and approval of leave
Parental Leave: Birthing Parent Plan covers up to (6-8) weeks fully paid leave, based on the birthing event.
SSA Paid Benefit: Up to 120 hours of Paid Leave for qualifying reasons, including Parental Bonding and your family’s serious medical conditions.
Up to 5 days Paid Bereavement Leave
On-Demand Pay Program: Get access to a portion of earned wages before payday.
Meal Plan & Employee Discounts where applicable
Paid sick leave is provided in accordance with applicable state and local laws. Accrual rates, caps, and usage rules vary by location.