Catering Manager

Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace is seeking an experienced Catering Manager for its very busy catering operations! This individual will lead our in-store Catering Team, plan unforgettable events, and ensure every catering experience exceeds our customers’ expectations.

About the Role

The Catering Manager is responsible for the full operation, execution, sales growth, and customer experience of the Catering Department. This is a hands-on operational leadership position that combines managing daily catering business with developing customer relationships, generating sales, coordinating events, and leading a team.

You'll thrive in this role if you're comfortable in a fast-paced, high-volume environment where priorities can change quickly, and if you bring strong leadership, organization, decision-making, communication, sales, and customer-service skills. We're looking for someone who shares our focus on family traditions, hospitality, food quality, and customer service.

This position requires weekend and holiday availability, as these are critical business periods for Catering. Catering operating hours are 7:00 AM–7:00 PM, and flexibility to work extended hours, nights, weekends, and holidays based on business needs is required.

What You'll Do

Catering Operations

• Take catering orders from customers in person and over the phone.

• Process and manage online catering orders.

• Accurately enter and ring catering orders through our point-of-sale system.

• Use our catering management platform to enter, review, modify, and track orders, including coordinating production tickets with the right departments.

• Review upcoming orders to identify production, staffing, delivery, or execution concerns before they become issues.

• Coordinate catering pickup and delivery schedules.

• Confirm customer payments are received and properly processed; monitor and follow up on unpaid orders.

• Maintain accurate catering paperwork, customer information, and order documentation.

• Ensure catering orders are properly prepared, organized, staged, and ready for scheduled pickup or delivery.

• Deliver catering orders, supplies, or event materials when business needs require it.

Sales & Customer Relationship Management

You'll be an active salesperson in addition to an operational leader.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with catering customers, and identify opportunities to grow catering sales within your market.

• Develop repeat catering business through strong service and relationship management.

• Understand customer needs and recommend appropriate menu items, quantities, packages, and services.

• Represent the company professionally with individual, corporate, community, and event customers.

• Participate in and support in-store demonstrations, sampling initiatives, and promotional programs.

Customer Service & Issue Resolution

• Respond professionally and promptly to customer questions and concerns.

• Handle customer complaints and determine appropriate resolutions, including credits, refunds, or replacements per company policy.

• Escalate situations to the appropriate leadership level when necessary and follow through to confirm resolution.

• Use customer feedback to identify opportunities to improve future execution.

Systems & Administrative Knowledge

You'll learn and operate our point-of-sale and catering management systems, including order entry, payment processing, refunds/credits, House Account transactions, and production coordination. All customer payment handling follows company data security and PCI-compliance standards.

Leadership & Team Management

• Delegate responsibilities effectively and clearly communicate expectations to associates.

• Support onboarding, training, and development of catering associates.

• Remain composed and make sound decisions under pressure, including during high-volume weekends and holidays.

• Coordinate with other departments and store leadership to ensure catering orders are executed properly.

Cross-Department Coordination

Catering requires close coordination with other areas of the store. You'll communicate effectively with production departments and store leadership to ensure orders are produced accurately and on time, flagging unusual or high-volume orders as needed.

Food Knowledge & Quality Standards

• Strong general food knowledge and the ability to speak confidently with customers about menu items, ingredients, and appropriate quantities/portions.

• Awareness of food presentation and quality expectations.

• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, allergen labeling, handling, storage, and transportation principles consistent with applicable health codes.

• A food safety certification is offered but not required at the time of hire.

What We're Looking For

• Strong decision-making skills and sound judgment under pressure.

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

• Effective delegation and team leadership.

• Sales confidence and relationship-building ability.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and customer-service skills.

• Administrative and clerical competency.

• Willingness and ability to learn new systems and processes.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and remain on feet for extended periods.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs. regularly (catering trays, supplies, equipment).

• Ability to work in varying temperature environments (coolers, kitchen, delivery vehicles).

• Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle for deliveries, where applicable.

Education & Experience

High school diploma or equivalent required; relevant post-secondary education a plus. Prior experience in catering, food service, restaurant, banquet/event, or hospitality management preferred.

We especially welcome candidates with experience in:

• Catering management

• Restaurant or food-service management

• Banquet or event operations

• Hospitality management

• Event planning

• High-volume retail food operations

• Catering or hospitality sales

• Customer relationship management / food-service logistics

Candidates with strong hospitality or operational management experience who can demonstrate the ability to learn catering-specific systems and processes are also encouraged to apply.

Good to Know

• This is a full operational management position that also requires the ability and willingness to sell and develop catering business.

• Catering operates 7:00 AM–7:00 PM; scheduling flexibility, weekend work, and holiday work are required components of the position.

• Extended hours may be required during holidays, special events, and high-volume business periods.

• This role is best suited for someone comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with multiple simultaneous deadlines and who is willing to work hands-on alongside their team when necessary.

This role is not a fit for someone seeking a traditional Monday-through-Friday office-management schedule, or who cannot meet weekend and holiday availability requirements.

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive salary

• Commission or incentive structure (varies by location and business volume)

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k)

• 50% off lunch, 25% off in-store shopping

• And more!