Venue Manager

About us:

From innovative menus and striking design to impeccable service and critical attention to detail, at Great Performances, we weave our mission into all we do. Serving New York City for over four decades, Great Performances has evolved from a waitress staffing agency to the leading catering, events, and hospitality companies in the greater New York area. We provide food services in an array of celebrated New York City cultural institutions, including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Wave Hill, and The Apollo Theater. We are known for full-service catering and events, corporate workplace dining and amenity programs, and large-scale event and festival production. Great Performances is the nation’s first caterer to own and operate an organic farm, Katchkie Farm, located in Kinderhook, NY. Progressive from the start, we consistently set the pace for industry best practices.

We are seeking highly motivated and talented individuals to join our team and to support our vision, mission, and values through everything they do. If you share our passion and want to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply. 

Our Vision: Building Community to Better Our World

Our Mission: Unleash Joy through Genuine Hospitality

Our Core Values:

Craftsmanship: developing new menus, designs, and moments to deliver engaging experiences to our clients and guests.

People: creating fair access, opportunity, and advancement for everyone. Our employees are our greatest asset.

Sustainability: upholding and elevating standards for sustainable behaviors that support our planet.

Collaboration: aligning with our clients’, colleagues’, and community’s visions to execute a successful experience.

Doing Good through Food: engaging in action around food access, health and wellness, education, and philanthropy.

Great Performances is looking for a dynamic, hands-on, and hospitality-driven Venue Manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment and leads by example! This exciting opportunity is ideal for a self-motivated leader who is passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences, driving operational excellence, and creating a welcoming café atmosphere.

The Venue Manager will take an active role in daily café operations, lead and support a small front-of-house team, oversee financial performance, and coordinate café services and internal events. Working closely with culinary leadership and the Venue Director, this individual will ensure the highest standards of hospitality, service, food safety, and DOH compliance while building strong client relationships and contributing to the continued success of Great Performances.

Responsibilities

Employee Management

• Recruit, select, train, and manage employees to maintain a high-performing team.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to staff.
• Facilitate ongoing team education and training, including daily pre-shift meetings.
• Direct and assist staff before, during, and after service to ensure seamless operations.
• Create and manage employee schedules to support operational needs.
• Address and mediate employee concerns in a professional and constructive manner.
• Foster strong working relationships with the client team and venue partners.

Operational Management

• Operate the café from open to close, including making all coffee beverages and cocktails, serving prepared food items, and maintaining cleanliness.
• Coordinate and manage the entire operation of the venue during scheduled service, ensuring a smooth service flow and operational efficiency.
• Foster strong client relations by serving as the primary day-to-day point of contact, maintaining open and proactive communication, responding to needs and concerns, and ensuring consistent follow-through to support a positive and productive working relationship.
• Prepare reports on operational performance, financial results, and client satisfaction to support data-driven decision-making.
• Resolve guest concerns and service issues promptly and professionally.
• Enforce company service standards, policies, and procedures as outlined in the Great Performances Employee Guides.
• Maintain strong communication between front-of-house and back-of-house teams.
• Partner with commissary culinary leadership to ensure menu execution, food quality, and service standards are maintained.
• Ensure compliance with all Department of Health regulations, food safety standards, and workplace policies.
• Manage all venue purchasing and inventory orders.
• Perform additional duties as required based on the needs of the operation.

Venue Promotional & Events

• Support the Venue Director with promotional initiatives and operational improvements.
• Manage logistics for internal catering events and venue functions.
• Assist with rental orders and special event coordination.
• Accommodate special client and guest requests as directed by the Venue Director.

Qualifications 

• Minimum 2–3 years of hospitality management experience.
• Combination of relevant education and practical hospitality experience.
• Strong leadership and employee management skills.
• Proven experience in restaurant or venue management.
• Knowledge and enforcement of Department of Health guidelines and food safety standards.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and written skills.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and coordinate a wide range of operational activities.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound operational decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word and Excel).
• Ability to maintain computer proficiency in operational systems including MS Office, Egnyte, Nowsta, ADP, and CaterXpert.
• Self-motivated with strong initiative and leadership ability. Must be comfortable working alone.
• Food Handler’s Certificate, or willingness to acquire one shortly after hiring.

Location: Poster House, 119 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011

Schedule:  Full-time, On-Site

Base salary: $75,000 - $80,000

Benefits: Vacation, 401(k), medical, dental, and vision insurance, transit benefits, paid and unpaid safe and sick time, and an FSA (Flexible Spending Account).

Must be able to provide valid documentation that you are legally eligible to work in the United States.

Great Performances is an equal opportunity employer. At Great Performances, we employ qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience. Great Performances does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based on race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.