Catering Event Sales Manager

Additional Information

Emergency Status Designation: Essential Personnel

Harvard University Central Administration's commitment to Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging is rooted in our belief in drawing on the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity. Our community strives to uphold these beliefs by honoring the rights, differences, and dignity of others and embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. We aim to foster a campus culture where everyone can thrive, a key to which is ensuring that each of us experience a profound sense of inclusion and belonging.

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' relevant work experience

Position Description

The Catering Event Manager is responsible for creating an event experience for clientele through creativity, menu development, execution of events, through building relationships with the community through professionalism, and effective communication making customer service a priority.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage all aspects of an event through conceptions and execution in multiple locations. Including assigning staff duties and responsibilities, pre-meal meetings, event timeline, special requests, and clean-up.

• Manage by assigning staff duties, addresses performance issues, including discipline, in a timely and consistent manner.

• Develop collaborative working relationships with catering clientele, community, on-site management. Maintains a continuous communication channel with clients and vendors to discuss timelines and expectations.

• Orders all materials necessary for an event, including linen, equipment rentals, bar services, temporary waitstaff, and floral décor.

• Creates unique and imaginative themes and properly executes the look for a variety of banquet events.

• Performs location site visits prior to event to review sales staff and client's vision for the event.

• Selects, develops, and retains hourly and temporary waitstaff to create a diverse workforce delivering excellence in service.

• Meets weekly with the catering office and production staff regarding details of upcoming events, including event logistics, food presentation, and arrival/departure timelines.

• Ensures employment practices are compliant with the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and all University personnel policy and procedures.

• Represents HUDS to students, faculty, staff and guests in a positive and professional manner at all times.

• Utilizes the EMS (Event Management System) to maintain, update, and communicate event information.

• Communicates updates diagrams/setups to HLS Event office as needed

• Responsible for ensuring sanitation standards are in compliance with city and state laws, Harvard Environmental Health and Safety regulations, departmental and HACCP policies.

• Ensures compliance with State of Massachusetts and Dining Services' "Food Employee Illness Policy".

• Ensures Unit-specific sustainability goals and programs are met and adhered to.

• Must have strong abilities be to multitask, problem solve, work with teams, communicate, and perform under pressure.

• Performs other duties as assigned.