Director of Catering

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Director of Catering & Events  

Salary: $85,000 - $95,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefit Package 

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations!  Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards -  Best Places to Work,  This is R/A !

Job Summary

Longwood Gardens is seeking an experienced and collaborative Director of Catering & Events to lead the strategy, growth, and execution of a premier catering and events program. This role oversees the full event lifecycle, from client relationships to operational execution, financial performance, and service excellence. The Director will play a key role in driving food & beverage sales, event rental revenue, and memorable guest experiences across a diverse portfolio of weddings, corporate functions, social gatherings, donor events, and special programs.

As a highly visible leader, the Director serves as an ambassador for Longwood Gardens' hospitality and event offerings, building strong partnerships with clients, community stakeholders, and internal teams. The ideal candidate brings a balanced combination of business acumen, hospitality expertise, operational leadership, and a passion for creating exceptional experiences in one of the region's most distinctive destinations.

Start Date Flexibility: We recognize that many hospitality leaders have existing events and seasonal commitments to see through during the busy holiday season. While we're actively interviewing now, we're happy to consider exceptional candidates who would be available to join our team in January 2027. We believe the right opportunity is worth waiting for.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all catering, event, and hospitality operations.
• Develop and execute annual business plans, marketing initiatives, and revenue growth strategies for catering services, food & beverage programs, and event rentals.
• Identify opportunities to grow business while maintaining exceptional client and guest experiences.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, vendors, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Serve as a trusted advisor throughout the event planning process, ensuring client needs and expectations are consistently met.
• Oversee the sales, planning, coordination, and execution of weddings, corporate events, social functions, and special events.
• Partner with culinary leadership to develop innovative menu offerings and event experiences that align with guest expectations and business objectives.
• Ensure operational excellence across all phases of event execution, including setup, service, logistics, breakdown, and post-event evaluation.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, coaching, development, scheduling, and performance management for catering and events team members.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage departmental financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, expense management, and revenue achievement.
• Analyze business performance metrics and develop action plans to support operational and financial goals.
• Coordinate logistics related to staffing, transportation, rentals, equipment, vendor partnerships, and event resources.
• Collaborate closely with departments across the organization to deliver seamless guest experiences.
• Maintain compliance with all safety, sanitation, regulatory, and company standards.
• Evaluate event outcomes, client feedback, and business trends to identify enhancement opportunities and drive continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and the development of future hospitality leaders within the organization.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Event Management, Culinary Arts, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience leading catering, hospitality, events, food & beverage, or guest experience operations within a complex service environment.
• Demonstrated success managing client relationships, revenue-generating programs, and large-scale event portfolios.
• Experience developing and executing business plans, sales strategies, and operational initiatives.
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, contract management, and revenue optimization.
• Understanding of foodservice operations, event logistics, hospitality standards, and service delivery best practices.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing teams in a fast-paced hospitality environment.
• Familiarity with event management systems, catering software, CRM tools, and business reporting platforms is preferred.
• Strong relationship-building and client engagement skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day operational leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed business decisions.
• Collaborative leadership style with a commitment to developing inclusive and high-performing teams.
• Adaptability and sound judgment in a dynamic, guest-focused environment.
• Passion for hospitality, service excellence, and creating memorable experiences.

Apply to Restaurant Associates today!

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

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. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act. 

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details:

Associates at Restaurant Associates are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

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Req ID: 1589972

Restaurant Associates 

Michael Abbey 

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