Catering director jobs can vary according to several factors, such as location, as well as the individual’s professional skills and interests. He or she might be based in an establishment, like a hotel, a banquet hall, or a university dining facility. Alternatively, he or she may travel to different locations, working as an employee of a catering company or as the self-employed owner of a business. Some examples of catering director jobs can include organizing business functions, banquets, wedding receptions, and other celebrations. Many of them are also hired to oversee other private events of various sizes.
In general, catering directors work with many different groups of people, including their staff members, business clients or customers, and the public. They are typically required to supervise and train other employees, such as wait staff, bartenders, and cooks. They also must usually stay informed of current local health and safety regulations regarding the preparation and service of food and beverages. A catering director's other normal responsibilities might include overseeing his or her inventory, as well as managing the overall budget of the facility or catering business. He or she often handles the day-to-day tasks of running a catering business, while also being responsible for its success in the long run.
Catering director jobs usually require effective communication skills when working with staff members, customers, and other potential business partners. Typically, a catering director is ultimately responsible for customer satisfaction. He or she works with the clients from the earliest stages of planning an event, up through the final clean up. This is especially true if the individual owns his or her own catering business. He or she plans the menu, orders the food and supplies, and frequently prepares the meals themselves.
In addition to food service expertise and event management skills, catering director jobs often require marketing and networking abilities, in order to promote the business. Catering directors can be instrumental in forming beneficial partnerships with other companies. For instance, those who work for large facilities, such as country clubs, are often expected to participate in sales campaigns and marketing activities that maximize the amount of revenue brought into the facility. Sometimes, they conduct tours and open houses, for example, to market the business to prospective clients.
The minimum requirements for obtaining catering director jobs usually include a food and beverage preparation license, as well as a business license if one owns the company. Catering directors have usually worked their way up from other restaurant or food service positions. Many of them also choose to obtain a degree in a field like restaurant and hospitality management.
