Catering and Events Manager

Position Title: Catering and Events Manager

Location: San Jose, CA

Work Schedule: typically Monday-Friday with evenings or weekends flexibility required based on business needs

Salary: $76,240 - $80,000 / year

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

We are seeking a creative and organized Catering and Events Manager to join our Bon Appetit team. The Catering & Events Manager is responsible for the end-to-end service and experience of our event operations, ensuring that every function reflects the values and excellence of the Food program.

In this role, you will motivate, train, and direct a dedicated team to deliver exceptional service while accomplishing complex event goals. You will oversee the execution of all event-related operational tasks, including culinary innovation, hospitality excellence, and rigorous food safety protocols. Reporting to the Catering Director, you will leverage your expert communication and event-planning skills to partner with key stakeholders - including Culinary, Marketing, Concept Development, and Risk Management - to promote program standards and enhance the partner experience.

Bon Appetit is deeply committed to a culture of workplace and food safety, which you will champion every day! As the Catering and Events Manager, you will set the standard for responsible practices, ensuring the well-being of you, our guests and our valued team members.

The Food program’s vision is to inspire and enable the world to make food choices and use food experiences to develop more sustainable lifestyles and communities. Apply now and become an integral part of our philosophy!

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Architect the Event Experience: Design, manage, and take total ownership of the holistic event experience, ensuring that every touchpoint - from decor to service - exceeds expectations.
• Drive Strategic Hospitality: Establish and maintain an expectation of hospitality that is warm, inclusive, and proactively engages our guests across all event types.
• Direct Event Logistics: Ensure that all daily catering orders are processed and fulfilled with precision, adhering strictly to both partner and sector expectations.
• Develop Bespoke Offerings: Create specialty menus and unique event concepts tailored to client needs, ensuring alignment with budget guidelines and unit standards.
• Cultivate Talent & Service Excellence: Train, develop, and schedule catering associates; lead ongoing education in service techniques, menu presentation, merchandising, and standard policies.
• Ensure HR Integrity: Conduct all employee reviews, coaching sessions, and development actions with professional urgency and precision.
• Champion Safety & Compliance: Promote a definitive culture of Food/Allergen and Workplace Safety, ensuring all events meet the highest safety and risk management standards.
• Foster Partner Relations: Respond to all guest feedback within 24 hours and communicate with our partners with honesty, accuracy, and executive-level clarity.
• Manage Administrative Timelines: Meet all deadlines for weekly, monthly, quarterly and year-end reporting as required by our partners and sector leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree is preferred but not required, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: A minimum of 3 - 5 years of applicable experience in high-volume catering, event management, or premium hospitality leadership environment.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead diverse teams and influence stakeholders.
• Resilience: A proactive mindset with the proven ability to remain calm under pressure and adapt quickly to a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Working knowledge of Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides).
• Culinary Passion: A strong, demonstrable passion for high-quality food preparation, taste, and innovative presentation.
• Professionalism: Ability to work independently and as a collaborative team player while treating everyone with professionalism, care, and respect.
• Certifications: ServSafe Manager Certification is preferred.
• Leadership in Union Environments: Experience leading and navigating within a Union environment is preferred.

While this schedule and location are currently projected, they are flexible and may be adjusted to meet evolving business demands, including evenings and weekends for specific events.

Apply to Bon Appetit today!

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Associates at Bon Appetit 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

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.

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:

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID: 1579196

Bon Appetit

Allison Murphy