Food & Beverage Events Manager

Food & Beverage Events ManagerWexford Hilton Head is seeking an organized, service-oriented Food & Beverage Events Manager to oversee private events, catering, and event sales. This position coordinates event planning and execution while delivering personalized hospitality to Wexford members and guests.With annual catering, member, and private event revenues exceeding $450,000, this position is responsible for growing event revenue, increasing facility utilization, and developing new event opportunities while maintaining Wexford's service standards.The Food & Beverage Events Manager manages an active event calendar that includes weddings, member-hosted private events, golf tournaments and outings, corporate meetings and retreats, charitable events, holiday celebrations, and Club-sponsored social events.The successful candidate combines event sales experience with strong organizational skills and hands-on operational oversight. This position manages each event from the initial inquiry and booking through detailed planning, internal communication, and execution.The Food & Beverage Events Manager works closely with the Club Manager, Executive Chef, Food & Beverage leadership team, and other Wexford departments to meet revenue and profitability goals and provide an exceptional member and guest experience.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesSales and Revenue DevelopmentManage the full sales cycle for private events, weddings, member functions, corporate events, golf outings, and other catering opportunities from initial inquiry through signed agreement.Respond promptly and professionally to event inquiries, conduct site tours, prepare proposals, develop customized event experiences, and actively follow up with prospective clients to maximize booking conversion.Develop and maintain an active sales pipeline and provide regular reporting on inquiries, site tours, proposals, tentative bookings, confirmed events, projected revenue, conversion rates, and lost business.Maximize event revenue through strategic upselling of food and beverage packages, premium bar offerings, wine service, specialty culinary stations, late-night food offerings, room and venue rentals, and other appropriate event enhancements.Identify opportunities to increase utilization of Club facilities during historically underutilized dates, dayparts, and seasons.Build and maintain relationships with members, wedding planners, event professionals, corporate contacts, and other appropriate referral sources to generate future event opportunities.Partner with the Executive Chef and Club Manager to develop competitive and profitable banquet menus, packages, pricing strategies, and event offerings.Event Planning and Operational ExecutionManage the complete event workflow from initial inquiry, qualification, site tour, proposal, and contract development through detailed planning, internal handoff, and event execution.Prepare accurate and comprehensive Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), floor plans, timelines, diagrams, menus, and run-of-show documents.Ensure all event details, contractual commitments, pricing, menus, beverage selections, guest counts, billing instructions, setup requirements, vendor arrangements, and special requests are accurately documented and communicated.Lead weekly BEO meetings with culinary, dining, and Food & Beverage management, incorporating Golf, Racquets, Security, Facilities, Communications, and other Club departments as appropriate.Establish and maintain clear internal deadlines for final guest counts, menu selections, floor plans, rental requirements, staffing needs, and other critical event information.Coordinate with the Executive Chef and Food & Beverage leadership regarding staffing requirements, service standards, equipment needs, rentals, and event logistics.Maintain a visible management presence during major events, weddings, and other high-profile functions to ensure proper setup, execution, service standards, and member/client satisfaction.Provide execution oversight while appropriately utilizing banquet, dining, culinary, and service leadership so that sufficient time remains dedicated to sales development, lead follow-up, and future event generation.Conduct post-event reviews when appropriate to identify operational successes, service opportunities, financial results, and areas for continuous improvement.Wedding and Major Event SalesServe as the Club's primary sales contact for prospective weddings and other significant private events.Conduct professional venue tours, develop customized proposals, maintain consistent follow-up, and guide prospective clients through the decision-making and contracting process.Actively manage wedding leads with the objective of maximizing conversion while maintaining the exclusivity, service standards, and financial objectives of the Club.Maintain appropriate separation between the Club's responsibilities and those of an outside wedding planner or event coordinator while ensuring seamless communication and coordination among all parties.Coordinate Club-controlled elements including venue access, food and beverage, staffing, equipment, rentals, floor plans, facility requirements, and operational timelines.Protect the Club's financial and operational interests by ensuring contractual requirements, deposits, payment schedules, cancellation provisions, food and beverage minimums, venue fees, and established deadlines are consistently followed.Member and Client RelationsServe as the principal liaison for members and clients hosting private functions and provide highly personalized, responsive service throughout the sales and planning process.Develop trusted relationships with members and clients while professionally managing expectations, operational limitations, contractual requirements, and last-minute requests.Provide proactive and timely communication throughout the planning process so members and clients remain informed and confident in the Club's preparation for their event.Respond promptly to concerns and service-recovery situations and involve the Club Manager or General Manager/COO when appropriate.Conduct appropriate post-event follow-up and actively solicit feedback to strengthen relationships and encourage repeat business and referrals.Financial and Administrative ManagementMaintain accurate event records, contracts, deposits, payment schedules, BEOs, billing information, and related documentation.Maintain data integrity within the Club's management and technology systems, including Jonas, Clubessential, and other applicable POS, CRM, event-management, or administrative platforms.Review final event charges for accuracy and ensure all applicable food, beverage, labor, rentals, venue fees, taxes, service charges, and other event charges are properly captured.Assist the Club Manager with annual catering revenue budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, and event profitability analysis.Monitor event revenue, labor utilization, outside rental expenses, and other controllable event costs.Provide regular reporting regarding sales pipeline, confirmed business, forecasted event revenue, event profitability, facility utilization, and progress toward established goals.Track the source of event inquiries and lost-business reasons to identify sales opportunities, competitive trends, and areas for improvement.Perform other duties as assigned.Performance ExpectationsRevenue PerformanceMeet or exceed the annual catering and private event revenue budget.Demonstrate year-over-year revenue growth consistent with the Club's annual operating and strategic objectives.Sales Conversion and Pipeline ManagementMaintain established standards for inquiry response time, lead follow-up, site tours, proposal development, and conversion of qualified private-event and wedding leads.Maintain an accurate and current sales pipeline reflecting inquiries, tours, proposals, tentative events, confirmed bookings, projected revenue, conversion rates, and lost-business reasons.Profitability and Cost ManagementPartner with the Club Manager and Executive Chef to achieve established event food cost, beverage cost, and labor targets while maintaining Wexford's service and hospitality standards.Demonstrate sound financial judgment when developing event proposals, pricing enhancements, staffing plans, rentals, and other event-related expenditures.Facility UtilizationIncrease utilization and event revenue during targeted off-peak dates, dayparts, and seasons.Specific annual facility-utilization objectives will be established during the Club's annual budgeting and planning process based upon historical utilization and available capacity.Member and Client SatisfactionMaintain established member and client satisfaction standards for private events, weddings, and catered functions.Demonstrate consistent responsiveness, professionalism, communication, attention to detail, and successful service recovery when concerns arise.Administrative and Operational AccuracyMaintain a high standard of accuracy and timeliness for BEOs, contracts, billing information, floor plans, event timelines, deposits, payment schedules, and internal communication.Ensure critical event information is distributed to affected departments with sufficient lead time to allow for proper staffing, purchasing, setup, and execution.