Catering Manager

Looking for a non-stop and exciting place to work? Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute harboring some of the world's brightest minds. Our Caltech Dining Services Department (CDS) is in search of hiring and cultivating equally talented individuals who are positive, enthusiastic, and passionate about what they do. We are fast-paced, creative, hands on, and round-the-clock. If you thrive on teamwork, have a great work ethic, positive attitude, and are indispensably flexible and quick to adapt to an always changing environment, join us and be a part of this leading edge & innovative community. Our mission is to provide great food, service, and experience for our students and community.

CDS operates four dining units (Browne Cafe, Red Door Marketplace, Broad Cafe, and Avery Kitchen) for a campus community of 2000. We also serve over 950 students, 7 days a week, through our Meal Plan Program and maintain a burgeoning Catering Department.

Job Summary

The catering manager is responsible for catering sales, billing, operations, customer, and vendor relations for the Caltech catering department. The primary function is to work with customers, understanding their needs, building event details per their requests while working within client budget constraints. This involves communicating customer needs to involved parties: chefs for menus, vendors for rentals, and the catering team. It also involves managing customer expectations to understand the service level and meeting that service level.

This position is responsible for directly supervising catering staff.

Job Duties

• Responsible for sales, events, and staff oversight for a catering department budget in excess of 1 million in sales
• Responsible for managing profitability of the catering department according to guidelines per higher management.
• Ability to adjust work schedule based on business needs, to include weekends, evenings & holidays.
• Promotes & markets services within the Institute.
• Manages catering billing and oversees all events to ensure successful implementation, follow-through, and reconciliation.
• Responsible for working with the Catering Sous Chef to create new catering menu concepts and managing their execution to include food cost budgeting.
• Review catering events daily with event staff: explaining service expectations, special requirements and handling all necessary arrangements (flowers, rentals, linens). In addition to, coordinating temporary staffing with the Caltech Dining Office Administrator
• Point of contact and management of all large scale, VIP, and specialty event services.
• Responsible for advanced planning and organizing of schedules for the catering team.
• Ensures maximum standards of sanitation and food safety within catering operations.
• Responsible for fostering teamwork and creating lines of communication between culinary staff & coordinators and holding staff accountable for their duties as assigned.
• Responsible for creating catering policies and procedures to ensure Caltech catering is capable of maintaining and improving its standards.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years sales & catering experience or equivalent.
• Experience using catering software with the ability to quickly learn our software.
• Demonstrated strong leadership ability.
• Demonstrated team building ability.
• ServSafe Certification or the ability to obtain certification immediately after hire.
• Physical ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs., stand for long periods at a time, move, bend, twist, lift, push, pull, squat, reach, and walk.
• Ability to complete administrative tasks including invoices, order forms, schedules, audio visual specs, menus, and budgets.
• Time management skills and ability to work in high pressure situation.
• Keen eye for detail with strong multitasking abilities.
• Proficient computer skills with the ability to communicate well via email, fill out templates, budgets, and order forms.
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Food & restaurant experience at a high-volume organization or in a university setting.
• Ability to speak Spanish, but not required.

Required Documents

• Resume