Director of Banquets

Job Description

Job Description

Be a part of the most exclusive club in Palm Beach…

The Mar-a-Lago Club   exemplifies elegance and excellence. From the moment our members and guests arrive, our mission is to provide the finest experience anywhere in luxury, relaxation, dining, entertainment and recreation. This is achieved through the Club’s majestic location, world-class amenities, and the superior service provided by our dedicated team.

If you wish to join an elite team and contribute to our culture of excellence, The Mar-a-Lago Club invites you to apply. 

Successful candidates will demonstrate exceptional communication skills, strong leadership abilities, and the capacity to effectively manage, motivate, and collaborate with members, guests, and associates at all levels.

Applications are now being accepted for the following position:

Director of Banquets

Summary: Provides strategic leadership and oversight of all banquet service operations to ensure exceptional member and guest satisfaction. Partners closely with the Culinary, À La Carte, and Catering & Events teams to deliver seamless event execution, uphold the highest service standards, and create an outstanding member and guest experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Direct the complete execution of banquet functions from initial planning, setup, through event completion and breakdown, ensuring seamless operations, exceptional service delivery, and adherence to established standards. 
• Collaborate with the Director of Catering & Events, Executive Chef, Banquet Chef, and other departments to ensure accurate event planning, coordination, communication, and flawless execution.
• Develop, implement, and continuously maintain departmental service standards, operating procedures, and training programs to promote consistency and excellence.
• Hire, train, supervise, and develop banquet service team members, including liquor room staff, setup and facilities attendants, captains, servers, and bartenders.
• Conduct regular department meetings to communicate expectations and provide training on service standards.
• Monitor employee performance, provide coaching and feedback, and support professional development.
• Maintain accurate daily and weekly timekeeping records for all departmental staff, review and verify the accuracy of timecard entries, and approve payroll submissions through ADP.
• Actively participate in weekly Banquet Event Order (BEO) meetings to review upcoming events, operational requirements, and service expectations.
• Develop staffing schedules based on business demand while effectively managing labor costs and productivity. 
• Ensure event spaces, room layouts, décor, audiovisual equipment, and service details align with client expectations and club standards.
• Maintain a visible presence during events and communicate proactively with members, guests, clients, and event planners to ensure expectations are exceeded.
• Coordinate event setup and breakdown procedures while ensuring all equipment, supplies, and service areas are properly maintained and stored.
• Source and procure specialty items required for banquet events while maintaining strong cost controls.
• Manage the requisition and organization of linens, china, glassware, silverware, and other required equipment.
• Ensure adequate inventory levels of all banquet service equipment and supplies are maintained to meet the needs of the event and returned to inventory after the function.
• Conduct pre-function meetings with banquet staff to review event timelines, service expectations, station assignments, and course pacing.
• Oversee the cleanliness and maintenance of banquet facilities, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
• Maintain the highest level of member and guest satisfaction by handling inquiries, concerns, or comments and providing solutions. 
• Prepare Banquet Summary Reports after each event, documenting event details, staffing levels, operational notes, and other relevant information for management review and recordkeeping.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the banquet service operating budget to ensure financial accountability and effective resource allocation.
• Monitor labor costs, inventory, and material expenditures to ensure the department operates within established budget parameters.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations, food handling requirements, and club operating standards.
• Adhere to all Club policies and procedures.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  Manages all banquet service, setup/facilities and liquor room staff, providing overall leadership, direction, coordination and evaluation of the department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience:  Bachelor's degree (B. A.) from four-year college or university; a minimum of five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses or Certifications: Must have or be able to obtain   ServSafe food safety & handling certification and TIPS alcohol service certification. CPR certification preferred. 

Language Skills:  Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Mathematical Skills:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability:  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills:  To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), timecard management software (preferably ADP Workforce Now) and Point of Service systems (preferably JONAS).

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and talk &/or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

Work Environment:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

We offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Paid Time Off (vacation & sick/personal time)
• Paid Holidays
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Accident Coverage
• Critical Illness Coverage
• Hospital Indemnity Coverage
• Legal Plan Insurance
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
• Employee Discounts at participating Trump Hotels

The Mar-a-Lago Club  participates in the federal E-Verify program, an electronic system that verifies employment authorization in the United States by comparing information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with government databases. The company uses E-Verify only after an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. The company does not use E-Verify to pre-screen job applicants or candidates who have not received a job offer from the company.

EOE/DFWP