Catering Manager

About Roanoke College

Roanoke College is a place where every student who works hard has the opportunity to succeed. We champion potential, providing essential learning and leadership through innovative academic programs and transformative educational experiences, giving students the mettle, mindset, and empathy to pursue lives of purpose, build meaningful careers, and meet society’s most pressing needs. Located in scenic Salem, Virginia, Roanoke College is an intimate, welcoming community that has served the local region and beyond for nearly 200 years. Now, we’re building on momentum and offering a Roanoke experience for today’s students and a legacy that belongs to every Maroon. Learn about the College's new strategic plan, Imagine Roanoke: A Strategic Plan for Roanoke College and the 21st Century Learner.

Roanoke College is a nationally ranked residential liberal arts college affiliated with the Lutheran Church (ELCA), located in the beautiful Roanoke Valley of Virginia. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Roanoke College is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks diversity among its faculty, staff, and students; women and members of under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply.

The Position

The Catering Manager at Roanoke College oversees the day-to-day on- and off-site operations for a high-volume catering service who provide casual to high-end event support for campus and non-campus partners. This position serves an essential role in delivering non-negotiable standards of service and operations, as well as meeting financial goals. Candidates who may be successful as the Catering Manager will have a disposition to deliver excellent culinary and hospitality experiences, be able to learn quickly, be highly organized, understand general business financial concepts, and ensure consistency in training, service, and business standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serves as a representative of Roanoke College, displaying courtesy, tact and respect in all interactions with our students, members of the RC community and with the public.
• Responsible for meeting with catering clients, establishing menus, pricing, room reservations and service expectations.
• Directs catering operations, including served table service, buffet lines, break stations, and bars.
• Establishes operating standards, implements quality improvements and communicates them with employees.
• Manage scheduling, menu planning, and payment processing for the Roanoke College Food Truck.
• Complete financial reports, including deposits, invoices, credit card processing, etc..
• Maintaining Virginia ABC and Virginia Department of Health licensing, and ensures adherence to all applicable codes, laws, and best practices.
• Actively participates in weekly planning meetings and plans for effective communication with key stakeholders and personnel involved in preparing and serving catered events.
• Supervises day-to-day work activities of catering staff by delegating authority, assigning and prioritizing activities and monitoring operating standards.
• Responsible for proper storing and disposing of all food after all catered events and enforcing proper methods of safety and sanitation during events.
• Responsible for the cleanliness and order of the ballroom kitchen, Catering kitchen, and areas where catering supplies are stored.
• Produce weekly catering schedules with event sheets, staff schedules, event timelines, and equipment pull lists.
• Able to communicate applicable food allergy, special diet, and ingredient information to clients.
• Responsible for the care and returning of all equipment after catering events.
• Manages the inventory and ordering of catering equipment, supplies, food, and beverages.
• Responsible for timely and accurate event invoicing.
• Assist in ensuring open and clear communication among catering staff and all dining employees.
• Complete Virginia ABC manager and service training courses and obtain certificates of completion.
• Hire, onboard, train, evaluate, and set goals for direct reports and other catering staff

Required Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least 3 years catering management experience in a high volume setting.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to quickly resolve issues and adapt to last-minute changes.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience with hiring, managing, and scheduling employees.
• Possess or obtain ServSafe Manager certification within 6 months of hire date.
• Possess or obtain TiPS (or comparable) safe alcohol service certification within 30 days of hire date.
• Night, weekend, and holiday availability

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associates (or higher) degree in hospitality, culinary arts, or similar program
• College & University Dining Experience