Director Of Catering Sales

Director Of Catering Sales

The Director of Catering Sales is the central connection point for all catering, events, and café operations at WinterthuGardens & Museum. This role blends sales leadership, operational oversight, and financial management while fostering strong, collaborative relationships with clients, museum partners, and team members. The position requires a balance of creativity, strategic thinking, and operational excellence to deliver memorable guest experiences while ensuring the financial health of the account.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for catering and event clients, guiding them from initial inquiry through post-event follow-up.
• Build and sustain positive relationships with museum leadership, clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Collaborate with clients to craft events that reflect their vision while aligning with the museum's mission and standards.
• Manage all phases of the sales process, including proposals, site visits, customized menus, and contracts.
• Coordinate and oversee the execution of events ranging from intimate gatherings to large-scale galas, corporate programs, and museum-hosted activities.
• Work with culinary leadership to introduce seasonal menu updates for both catering and café services.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and sanitation guidelines across all areas of the operation.
• Guide the development and management of the account's annual budget, including catering sales goals, café revenue, and operating expenses.
• Monitor and review P&L statements, labor costs, inventory, and purchasing.
• Identify opportunities for revenue growth and operational efficiencies through data analysis and team input.
• Support informed decision-making by sharing financial insights with stakeholders.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and support to catering sales, operations, and café team members.
• Encourage an inclusive, solutions-oriented culture that values creativity, adaptability, and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively across departments to ensure smooth communication and alignment on event execution.
• Participate in recruiting, scheduling, and performance feedback processes for team members.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Event Management, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of catering sales or event management experience, ideally in a cultural institution, hospitality venue, or high-volume catering environment.
• Strong client relationship skills with a focus on collaboration and long-term partnerships.
• Solid financial management capabilities, including budgeting, forecasting, and interpreting P&L statements.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in catering software, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office Suite.

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Associates at Restaurant Associates are offered many fantastic benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, holiday time off, associate shopping program, health and wellness programs, discount marketplace, identity theft protection, pet insurance, commuter benefits, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, paid parental leave, and personal leave.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.