Catering Manager University Dining & High-Volume Catering

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Catering Manager to lead high-volume catering operations at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. This role oversees a dynamic university dining and catering program delivering residential dining, retail services, and full-service catering for campus and community events.

You will manage a complex catering operation exceeding $1.5M in annual catering volume, ensuring seamless execution of events, strong financial performance, and exceptional client satisfaction in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end catering operations, including food production, inventory control, procurement, invoicing, and delivery coordination
• Manage daily catering execution using catering systems, recipes, and operational tools to ensure accuracy and timeliness
• Oversee catering sales and event planning in collaboration with clients, conference services, and campus stakeholders
• Design and execute high-volume and VIP catering events, including multiple simultaneous functions
• Supervise, schedule, and develop catering staff; assign priorities and monitor performance standards
• Control labor, food, and operational costs while maintaining budget compliance and profitability goals
• Maintain Kronos (or equivalent) timekeeping, payroll, and labor scheduling accuracy
• Ensure compliance with food safety, physical safety, and regulatory standards; promote a strong Zero Harm culture
• Coordinate closely with culinary and front-of-house teams to ensure flawless execution, including last-minute event requests
• Maintain accurate event documentation and ensure full compliance with catering policies and procedures

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
• Minimum 3 years of experience in catering, food production, or food service management
• Minimum 3 years of supervisory/management experience in catering or food service operations
• Proven experience managing high-volume catering operations ($1.5M+ annual catering volume or equivalent scale)
• Experience overseeing catering sales, event execution, and client relationship management
• Strong background in labor, inventory, and cost control management
• Experience using scheduling/timekeeping systems (Kronos or similar)
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority events in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Experience

• University dining, campus catering, or institutional food service operations
• Large-scale hospitality environments (conference centers, hospitals, corporate dining, stadium catering)
• Experience managing VIP and high-profile events
• Strong cross-functional coordination between sales, culinary, and service teams

Compensation & Benefits

• Sign-on bonus eligible (details provided during interview process)
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Career development and tuition reimbursement programs

Equal Opportunity

This organization is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of background in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.