Catering Manager - Trolley Hospitality Companies

About us:

Trolley Hospitality Companies is a Richmond-based hospitality company comprised of catering, vending, and corporate dining divisions in both Richmond and Norfolk. We were awarded one of the Top Workplaces by the Richmond Times-Dispatch three years running and have been voted one of Richmond's top caterers by Style Weekly and Virginia Living Magazine and 'Operator of the Year' by the National Automatic Merchandising Association.

We understand that our success is driven by the dedication and passion of our employees and together we strive to fulfill our purpose of delivering happiness to our customers, our community, and our employees. We hope you will join us!

Our Core Values:

• No excuses
• Do the right thing
• Can-do attitude
• Always growing
• Help first-be a part of the solution
• Transparency and honesty-no BS

Please visit our website at www.trolleyhouseva.com to learn more!

About you:

• You don't get flustered when there are multiple problems to be solved.
• You can visualize how to organize processes for best efficiency.
• Attention to detail is your superpower!
• You have a growth mindset and look for ways to develop deeper relationships with clients and vendors.
• You enjoy coming up with creative solutions for clients and know when to take smart risks.
• You have experience with and enjoy nurturing and managing teams.
• You love to help others be successful.
• You are naturally curious and value lifelong learning.

How You Will Make an Impact:

The Catering Manager oversees the operational departments of the Hampton Roads Groovin' Gourmets catering division and plays a key role in formulating and implementing strategies to deliver customized catering experiences that meet the client's vision and contribute to the company's financial success. As we seek to expand our services in Hampton Roads, this role offers a unique opportunity for the right candidate to significantly grow the business and advance their professional career. Some responsibilities of this position include:

Operations-

• Regularly evaluate the efficiency of business procedures/processes according to organizational objectives and apply improvements.
• Manage procurement processes and coordinate material and resource allocation.
• Evaluate overall performance by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data and metrics.
• Liaison between the front of the house, warehouse, sales, and production teams.
• Coordinate menu development with the culinary and sales divisions.
• Attend and advise/contribute at production meetings.
• Manage relationships with external partners/vendors, including venue onboarding (contracts/agreements/COIs).
• Spearhead action station/décor development.

Financial-

• Develop and maintain an understanding of the company's financial performance.
• Contribute to the company's financial success by preparing sales projections, managing team budgets, and analyzing profit and loss statements.
• Review financial information and be accountable to operational budgets to promote profitability.

Front of House-

• Ensure busy/high-profile events are covered with staffing and management.
• Fulfill special requests per client's needs, including creating specialty drinks.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of market needs for the catering goods and services provided.
• Oversee customer support processes and organize them to enhance customer satisfaction.
• Act as backup event manager and staff, as needed; ensure customer satisfaction.

People Management-

• Manage, supervise, and motivate employees towards accomplishing their responsibilities and goals.
• Screen, interview, and hire team members.
• Direct and track employee performance; meet with direct reports for quarterly and yearly performance reviews.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality management or related field or a minimum of 3+ years experience in hospitality or related industry
• 2+ years in catering operations or sales highly preferred
• Knowledge of industry's legal rules and guidelines
• In-depth knowledge of diverse business functions and principles, such as supply chain, finance, customer service, etc.
• Working knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics
• Familiarity with MS Office and various business software
• Flexibility to travel to Richmond during the first month for training (multiple overnight stays) and occasional trips to Richmond after the training period
• This position is very time intensive during the busy season (mid-March thru June; mid-August thru December) and requires attending events on the evenings and weekends along with normal business hours during the week

The Good Stuff!

• $55k-65k, depending on the experience you offer
• Discounts at all Trolley House Hospitality companies including catering services, Gourmet Gang Delis, and vending items in our warehouse
• Free daily meal from the onsite deli
• 6 paid holidays and 96 hours of PTO
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans available after 60 days
• 401(k) retirement plan and company match after 1 year of employment
• Voluntary supplemental insurance plans available