Divisional Director of Catering

Job Description

Job Description

Experience the Family Difference in Hospitality

About AVI Foodsystems

Founded in 1960, AVI Foodsystems has grown into one of the nation’s most respected and trusted food and hospitality companies. Today, AVI serves thousands of clients and millions of guests through our contemporary cafes, restaurant concepts, premier catering, concessions, retail, fresh market and specialty beverage programs.

From modest means, AVI has grown into the largest independently owned and operated food service company in the United States by exceeding the expectations of our customers. Today, AVI is still a family company dedicated to serving our guests with the same personal relationships and integrity as we did 60 years ago. Our unprecedented growth and account retention reflect our devotion to excellence and relationships, two of the ten core values we live by every day.

About AVI Fresh

AVI Fresh , the higher education division of AVI Foodsystems, serves nearly 50 colleges and universities with a fresh culinary and family approach. Our teams deliver exceptional resident dining, innovative retail, and sophisticated catering programs designed around the unique culture of each campus.

The Opportunity

AVI Fresh is looking for an accomplished Divisional Director of Catering to help shape the future of catering across our higher education division.

This is an opportunity to provide vision, strategy, and leadership to nearly 50 university catering programs while developing a strong community of catering professionals who share ideas, best practices, resources, and a passion for hospitality.

You will elevate standards, grow revenue, develop leaders, present culinary innovation, strengthen financial performance, and help our campuses deliver exceptional experiences—from everyday campus events to presidential receptions, donor events, alumni celebrations, conferences, and large-scale university functions.

This is a builder’s role for a hospitality leader who sees the bigger picture and is excited by the opportunity to make an impact across an entire organization.

What You'll Lead

Strategy & Growth

• Communicate the divisional vision and strategy for catering excellence, revenue growth, and profitability.
• Establish consistent service standards, best practices, and operating systems across nearly 50 campuses.
• Identify new business opportunities and innovative ways to expand catering services.

People & Leadership

• Coach, mentor, and develop campus catering directors and their teams.
• Build a connected, collaborative catering community across the AVI Fresh division.
• Develop training, tools, resources, and career pathways that strengthen catering leadership.

Hospitality & Client Experience

• Define what exceptional higher education catering looks and feels like.
• Build strong relationships with university leaders, development teams, alumni organizations, conference services, and campus partners.
• Provide strategic support for high-profile and complex events.

Culinary Innovation

• Partner with culinary leaders to develop creative, contemporary, seasonal catering menus.
• Establish standards for food quality, presentation, service, and event execution.
• Bring new ideas, trends, and experiences to the AVI Fresh catering program.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Develop divisional pricing strategies, financial benchmarks, and performance expectations.
• Drive revenue growth while maintaining disciplined food, labor, and operating costs.
• Use data and KPIs to identify opportunities and hold programs accountable for results.

Divisional Collaboration

• Develop a divisional catering calendar and resource network to support major events across the portfolio.
• Connect campuses with the people, expertise, and resources needed to execute exceptional events.
• Champion a culture of sharing, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

How You'll Make an Impact

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Client satisfaction and retention
• Event quality and consistency
• Adoption of divisional standards and best practices
• Leadership development and team retention
• Food and labor cost management
• Catering revenue growth
• Catering profitability

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a strategic hospitality leader, relationship builder, and developer of people who understands that great catering is about creating experiences—not simply serving food.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in catering, hospitality, conference services, events, or large-scale food service.
• Experience leading complex, high-volume or multi-unit catering operations and high-profile events.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, pricing, and operational analysis.
• A proven ability to develop leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
• A passion for culinary creativity, hospitality, and delivering memorable guest experiences.
• The ability to lead through influence, collaborate across functions, and inspire teams across multiple locations.

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree and experience in higher education, cultural institutions, luxury hospitality, convention/event venues, or other complex hospitality environments.

Location & Compensation:

• Location: Central or Northeast Ohio preferred; location is open for discussion and may be negotiable for the right candidate
• Salary: Targeted base salary of $80,000 - $90,000
• Travel: This is a divisional leadership role supporting nearly 50 college and university campuses and will require regular travel throughout the AVI Fresh portfolio
• Company Vehicle and gas card will be provided for business travel

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you are an innovative catering leader who is ready to think bigger, develop great people, elevate hospitality, and influence nearly 50 college and university communities , this is your opportunity to make a significant impact.

Bring your leadership. Bring your creativity. Bring your passion for hospitality.

Experience the Family Difference in Hospitality with AVI Fresh.