Catering Event Manager

Patrick Properties Events - Charleston, SC

Full-time - Mid Level

Charleston, SC

Food Services and Drinking Places

About the position

The Catering Event Manager is a pivotal role within the organization, responsible for the comprehensive planning, detailing, and supervision of all culinary, beverage, and venue services for special events hosted by PPHG. This position serves as the primary liaison between clients or coordinators and various PPHG departments, ensuring that all aspects of event pre-planning and execution are handled seamlessly. The Catering Event Manager will oversee the entire event lifecycle, from initial client interactions to the final execution of the event, ensuring that all details are meticulously managed and that the client's vision is realized. In this role, the Catering Event Manager will be tasked with account and file management, acting as a secondary contact to the Sales Manager until the event tasting occurs. Post-tasting, the Catering Event Manager will assume the primary contact role, gathering essential information such as floor plans, timelines, and rental orders, and ensuring that all event order details are accurate and that final payments are processed on time. The position requires strong communication skills to facilitate discussions with clients and to coordinate with various departments to ensure that all event operations run smoothly. Menu consulting is another critical aspect of this role. The Catering Event Manager must possess a thorough knowledge of the menu offerings, including all ingredients, and be able to adjust menus based on dietary restrictions and allergies. Conducting menu tastings and consultations with clients is essential, as is the ability to suggest enhancements to elevate the event experience while meeting food and beverage minimums. The role demands excellent organizational skills to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines, particularly in a fast-paced environment. On the day of the event, the Catering Event Manager will take on the responsibilities of overseeing setup and breakdown, greeting clients and planners, and managing the venue, staff, and food and beverage service to ensure exceptional service delivery. This position also involves attending weekly operational meetings to stay informed about event details and logistics, actively participating in event operations, and promoting positive guest relations throughout the event.

Responsibilities

• Act as a secondary contact to the Sales Manager until the event tasting, then take over as the main contact for the client.
• Communicate with clients to gather necessary information such as floor plans, timelines, and rental orders.
• Ensure accurate Event Order details and timely completion of final payments.
• Lead event operations discussions and ensure timely communication with relevant departments.
• Possess proficient menu knowledge and adjust menus based on dietary restrictions.
• Conduct menu tastings and consultations with clients, describing menu items and assisting with selections.
• Uphold food and beverage minimums and suggest creative enhancements for events.
• Manage event day operations, including setup and breakdown, and greet clients upon arrival.
• Act as a liaison between PPHG venues and vendors on site during events.
• Oversee staff and food and beverage service during events to ensure outstanding service.
• Report any property maintenance or damage to venue interiors and grounds.
• Attend weekly event and operational team meetings to stay informed of event details.
• Submit all outside rental invoices, receipts, and closing inventories to the CFO and Sales Manager.
• Promote positive guest relations and accommodate reasonable requests during events.

Requirements

• Must hold a valid Bachelor's Degree.
• Must have a valid Driver's License.
• Possess a minimum of 2 years of prior event management experience, including file account holding.
• Possess knowledge of proper table service.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including in-person, phone, and email correspondence.
• Ability to analyze and resolve problems with good judgment and solution-based thinking.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize and organize work assignments.
• Ability to motivate and manage assigned staff while maintaining a cohesive team.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Ability to be on feet for extended periods if needed.
• Willingness to adapt in a fast-paced office environment and multi-task effectively.
• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with all departments.
• Must possess a mature, professional demeanor to interact with vendors and team members.
• Ability to be punctual and have a flexible schedule.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and follow through on assigned tasks.