Director Of Catering and Events

Are you a hospitality professional with experience in Catering and have a love for hospitality and genuinely exceeding expectations? Would you like to further your hospitality career in an upscale resort environment with breathtaking views? If so, please read on Fisher Island Club is looking to hire a full-time Catering and Events Director.

This position has a competitive wage, depending on experience. All eligible full-time regular employees are also offered great benefits, including medical, dental, vision, a 401 (k) retirement savings plan, holiday pay, vacation time, paid time off (PTO), short-term disability, life insurance, AD&D, free parking, and free meals. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you to dive deeper into the hospitality industry, consider applying to join our exceptional team today

ABOUT FISHER ISLAND CLUB HOTEL & RESORT

Accessible only by ferryboat or private yacht, our boutique property is comprised of a collection of just 15 graciously appointed historic and reimagined cottages, villas, and guesthouse suites that surround the now-iconic limestone and marble Vanderbilt Mansion mere steps from the beach, pool, spa, restaurants, and marina. Our private membership-only club boasts a beach club with one of the country's only genuinely secluded beaches, a 15-room all-suite luxury hotel, an award-winning championship golf course, 17 tennis courts, 4 pickleball courts, two deep-water marinas, a variety of casual and formal dining venues, a spa, a salon, a fitness center, the Vanderbilt Theater, an aviary with over a dozen exotic birds, and an observatory for stargazing. No other Miami resort or hotel offers the type of world-class luxury and 5-star level of service that we do.

It is the superior service and attention to detail that our staff provides to our residents, members, and hotel guests that distinguishes us from other private clubs. That's why we consider the health and well-being of our staff members to be one of our highest priorities. In addition to competitive wages, we are pleased to offer a variety of excellent benefits and career growth opportunities.

Director of Catering

Summary:

The Director of Catering is responsible for coordinating all phases of group meeting/banquet functions held in the Club; coordinate these activities on a daily basis; assist clients in program planning and menu selection; solicit local group catering business; maintain the services and reputation of Fisher Island Club and act as a management representative to group clients.

In accordance with Fisher Island Club’s philosophy, all team members work together sharing in a common goal of a successful and innovative club. Team members are to demonstrate integrity, fairness and honesty. These are our core values that we will live by in our daily interaction with all of our external and internal members, guests and customers.

Nature and Scope:

• The incumbent reports directly to the Director of Operations. The major trust of the position is to create and maintain a professional, profitable Banquet/Catering operation and controlling expenses in the department.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead by example utilizing a “hands-on” approach to management.
• Experience evaluating every catering business opportunity to maximize revenue and profitability while achieving customer expectations
• Strong yield management skills with an understanding of optimizing the catering mix of business and the use of historical data
• Work closely with banquet department on operations and event execution, ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action. Provide overall direction, coordination, and ongoing evaluation of operations
• Monitor group room blocks and pick up, generate detailed resumes for the operating departments.
• Ability to generate creative and innovative menus while working closely with Chef on pricing specialty menus
• Facilitate an environment in which team members are comfortable utilizing the open-door policy
• Develop and maintain good communication and work relationships in all areas of the club
• Develops policies and procedures to enhance and measure quality; continually updates written policies and procedures to reflect state-of-the-art service.
• Recruits and makes selection decisions; evaluates job performance of banquet/catering staff; coaches, rewards and disciplines staff in a fair and legal manner
• Motivates, builds morale, and provides professional development opportunities for all banquet/catering staff including cross-training
• Maintains physical presence during all events
• Communicate both verbally and in writing to provide clear direction to staff.
• Resolve customer complaints; anticipate potential problems by reviewing and monitoring complaints, operational issues, business flow and associate performance to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and quality.
• Skilled at both monthly forecasting and the annual budget process. Understanding of pace and productivity
• Maintain or exceed budgeted sales and profits in all catering areas
• Develop and implement effective marketing plans for generating catering revenues
• Carefully review all contracted services to assure proper contribution to profits
• Assists in emergency and security procedures as directed by the employee manual and the established emergency plan.

• Establishing, maintaining and controlling appropriate service standards for all banquet/catering events

• Ensure follow-up protocol is in adhered to for all guest issues. Ensure all guest issues are completely resolved prior to departure.
• Identify trends, research the competition's products, services and pricing and use it to develop strategic business plans

• Maximize and control payroll and other costs for the department
• Ensure all guests are being treated in an efficient and courteous manner and that all Club standards are being applied
• Have a good understanding on Catering Revenue Management and be able to manipulate rates to maximize profitability.
• Monitor that all special requests from guests are being performed

• Assist the Membership Department in planning and execution of Club sponsored member events
• Personally, welcome guests; recognize and anticipate their individual needs; share preferences with all team members, update profiles by recording preferences.

• Facilitate and schedule monthly departmental meetings with banquet/catering.

• Experience providing Audio/Visual equipment and operating Audio/Visual as a profit center.
• Actively participate in industry related organizations (NACE, MPI).
• Actively participate in community/civic activities to maintain awareness within community and to create booking opportunities
• Consistently book repeat business by having a track record of long-term client relationships
• Perform any other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS/BA Business Degree or related field from a four-year accredited college or university required
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant sales experience in luxury hotel market and or club environment
• Must have a valid Driver’s License.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Proven experience with both strategic sales and business development
• Experience in developing marketing and sales strategies
• Thorough knowledge of sales techniques including strong closing skills as well as negotiating skills
• Ability to establish and maintain long-term strategic relationship with corporate clients and co-workers
• Excellent creative skills to provide innovative set-ups, menus, and functions for groups
• Good computer skills to include spreadsheets, word processing and e-mail
• Comfortable meeting aggressive goals and expectations

• Ability to verbally communicate with others to coach and lead
• Strong interpersonal, managerial and leadership skills required
• Strong organizational and time management skills required

• Ability to manage change effectively
• Ability to conceptualize the mission
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills
• Experience making presentations in front of groups
• Track record promoting an atmosphere of teamwork
• Experience communicating, training, and managing multi-lingual team members
• Instill a guest service “can-do” attitude in all employees
• Coach team members on how to resolve and de-escalate conflicts in a calm and organized manner
• Strong customer service and reasoning skills
• Strong and creative problem-solving skills with exceptional detail in follow-up
• Follow/enforce company policies and procedures
• Ability to quickly evaluate alternatives and decide on a plan of action
• Juggle and balance need of the organization

Attributes

• Proactive, Team Player, Problem Solver
• Passionate about hospitality and customer service driven
• Must have a professional appearance and good hygiene
• Respect for all co-workers and guests
• Pride in your work by creating positive energy, excitement and fun
• Demonstrate positive behaviors; smiling, being polite and courteous
• Able to develop a camaraderie with team members

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed inside most of the time, will require some outdoor activity
• Ability to work odd hours and on weekends and holidays
• Ability to work under pressure and handle stress

Equal Employment Opportunity - Drug free workplace