Catering Operations Manager - Boston, MA

Job Summary:

The Catering Operations Manager will lead the flawless execution of sophisticated on- and off-premise events for a premier corporate client in Boston, MA. This highly visible role is responsible for delivering exceptional, white-glove hospitality experiences while ensuring every event reflects the highest standards of service, quality, and attention to detail.

The ideal candidate is an organized, client-focused hospitality professional with a proven ability to manage multiple high-profile events simultaneously. Success in this role requires outstanding communication, meticulous planning, and seamless coordination across culinary, operations, vendors, and client stakeholders. You will build trusted client relationships, anticipate needs, and deliver memorable event experiences through exceptional presentation, operational excellence, and a polished, hospitality-driven approach. Additionally, you will be expected to have excellent client skills in presentation and marketing ability.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• • Consults clients as to scope, expectations, setting, menu, collateral, and entertainment to have a successful and appropriate event within the client’s budget
  • Plans menus in consultation with the clients and chefs
  • Negotiates individual vendor contracts
  • Delegates to, and ensures that, the Event Manager coordinates and executes the event within the parameters established by the Catering Event Manager
  • Recruits, interviews, selects, and trains permanent and casual staff
  • Organizes, leads and motivates the catering team
  • Plans staff and event schedules
  • Maintains and develops accurate financial and administrative records
  • Serves as liaison and coordinator between Sales Catering Managers, Supervising Chefs, Staffing, Captains, Suppliers, Vendors, Rental Companies and Clients as needed to plan events
  • Assesses contract requirements and ensures satisfaction with the services delivered
  • Performs final review and assessment of catering events to determine if they meet performance and quality standards
  • Resolves customer concerns and ensures timely customer payment 

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3-5 years of experience in a hospitality management environment (preferably in an off-premise catering environment)
• Hands-on experience supporting catering events in a high-volume setting
• Demonstrated ability to lead in a client-focused, hospitality-driven environment with an entrepreneurial mindset and a proven track record of driving business growth, operational excellence, and long-term client partnerships.
• Operationally savvy industry professional with demonstrated leadership in managing people, events, and the overall guest experience
• Strong organization, time management, and team motivation skills are essential for success in this role
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision
• Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) with clients, senior management, and WPC support staff
• Ability to respond effectively to continuously changing demands
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, P&L, labor and sales forecasting and reporting
• Effective use of discretion to problem solve in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent negotiating skills
• Ability to establish credibility with senior culinary professionals
• Human Resource experience including hiring, training, mentoring and development