Catering Director

Overview:

Are you someone who loves bringing people together through food and creating events that people remember? Join us as the Catering Director at Livingstone College and help us make every campus occasion unforgettable. In this role, you'll take the lead on all things catering—from planning menus and coordinating events to building relationships with clients and guiding your team to deliver amazing service. Whether it's a small meeting or a big campus celebration, you'll be the one making sure everything runs smoothly and feels special. If you're passionate about food, love working with people, and want to be part of a close-knit campus community, we'd love to have you on board.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a strategic catering plan, aligning with organizational goals, target markets, pricing strategies, and promotions to boost catering business growth.
• Cultivate strong client relationships via effective communication, understanding needs, and ensuring client satisfaction throughout the catering process.
• Customize catering menus for various events while maintaining high-quality food presentation and taste.
• Coordinate all aspects of catering events, including logistics, staffing, and ensuring seamless execution.
• Manage the catering budget efficiently, monitor financial performance, and make data-driven decisions for enhanced profitability and efficiency.

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods of time (up to 8–10 hours as needed during events).
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, and lifting in support of catering operations and event setup.
• Must be able to lift, push, or pull up to 25–30 pounds regularly and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Manual dexterity to handle catering equipment, technology systems, and event setup materials.
• Ability to work in diverse environments, including kitchens, event venues, outdoors, and storage areas, with exposure to varying temperatures.
• Adequate vision, hearing, and communication skills to effectively coordinate with staff, clients, and vendors.
• Must be able to drive company or personal vehicle for catering, client visits, and meetings; valid driver's license required.
• Flexibility to work extended or irregular hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
• 2 – 5 years catering/event management experience.
• Expertise in menu diversity and cost-effective food presentation.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills.
• Proficient in budget management and vendor negotiation.
• Previous experience in a college or university dining facility is preferred.

Competitive Benefits:

• Health/Dental/Vision
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k), matched up to 4%
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Pet Insurance
• Discounts: Hotels, Travel, Tickets, Restaurants
• Employees and their relatives are eligible for a discounted meal plan at any of our HBCU client locations while they are attending school.

Who We Are:

Livingstone College is a private historically black college that is secured by a strong commitment to quality instruction, academic excellence and student success. Through a Christian-based environment suitable for holistic learning, Livingstone provides excellent business, liberal arts, STEAM, teacher education and workforce development programs for students from all ethnic backgrounds designed to promote lifelong learning, and to develop student potential for leadership and service to a global community.

Thompson Hospitality is of the largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies in the country. We are highly built upon our values, do the right thing, do the best you can, and treat others how you want to be treated, which are shaped by more than 33 years of relationships with our clients, guests, and communities. We offer competitive benefits, see our website for more.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.