Catering Manager

The Catering Manager oversees the execution of a fast-paced, high-volume corporate catering operation supporting multiple locations throughout San Francisco's Mission Bay campus. This role is responsible for managing simultaneous daily events ranging from executive meetings and VIP dinners to large-scale campus functions serving up to 2,000 guests. The Catering Manager partners closely with culinary, operations, vendors, and client stakeholders to ensure flawless event execution, exceptional hospitality, and strong financial performance across a complex portfolio of catering services.

Add to Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage and execute a high-volume catering operation supporting 60+ banquet event orders (BEOs) during peak business periods.
• Oversee multiple concurrent events across several Mission Bay locations, including conference rooms, cafés, lounges, executive spaces, and outdoor event venues.
• Review and interpret BEOs to ensure accurate staffing, production planning, equipment allocation, and event execution.
• Coordinate closely with culinary teams, vendors, facilities, transportation teams, and client stakeholders to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Lead execution of diverse event formats including executive breakfasts, working lunches, receptions, happy hours, plated dinners, VIP functions, and large-scale campus events serving up to 2,000 guests.
• Develop staffing plans and deploy resources effectively across multiple venues and events occurring simultaneously.
• Provide leadership and direction to supervisors, catering attendants, drivers, porters, dishwashers, and temporary event staff.
• Monitor event budgets, labor costs, rental expenses, and food costs to achieve departmental financial objectives.
• Participate in proposal development, event costing, and operational planning for both recurring and special events.
• Ensure all service standards, food safety requirements, quality expectations, and hospitality guidelines are consistently maintained.
• Support high-profile executives and VIP clients with a strong focus on discretion, professionalism, and exceptional service.
• Actively resolve operational challenges and last-minute event changes while maintaining a positive guest experience.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide shared leadership for a growing catering operation consisting of:
  • 5 Catering Supervisors (expanding to 6)
  • 16 hourly team members, including Catering Attendants, Drivers, Porters, and Dishwashers
• Coach, train, and develop supervisors and frontline staff to deliver exceptional hospitality experiences.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of catering, hospitality, conference services, banquet, or foodservice management experience in a high-volume environment.
• Experience supporting corporate dining, technology campuses, conference centers, hotels, convention venues, or large-scale hospitality operations.
• Strong understanding of Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), event logistics, labor management, and catering financials.
• Proven experience managing multiple concurrent events across various locations.
• Experience with VIP service, executive dining, and large-scale special events.
• Strong food knowledge with the ability to collaborate effectively with culinary teams.
• Experience in proposal development, event costing, budgeting, and financial management.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Schedule & Work Environment

• Primarily early morning schedule with typical start times between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM.
• Flexibility required to support occasional evening events and large campus functions.
• Limited weekend support required, generally no more than five weekends annually.
• Position is primarily based in San Francisco's Mission Bay campus with occasional support provided at Mountain View locations as business needs dictate.