Catering Manager - East London at Empact Group

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Catering Manager to oversee and manage all aspects of our catering operations. The ideal candidate will have a passion for food and customer service, as well as strong leadership and organizational skills. The Catering Manager will be responsible for planning and executing events, managing staff, and ensuring the highest level of customer satisfaction plus the overall understanding of HACCP.

Desirable Education and experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in food and beverage services or culinary arts is compulsory.
• Minimum 3 Years of experience of progressive/kitchen management is compulsory.
• Experience working within budget guidelines to deliver results is compulsory.
• High Volume, complex food service operations experience is highly desirable.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Managing daily operations of the assigned unit.
• Implementation of the production process.
• Managing food/labour costs
• Overall understanding of HACCP.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies:

• Knowledge of the catering environment ranging from fine dining to restaurant dining.
• Knowledge of South African and industry-specific laws.
• Plan, organize, and oversee catering events from start to finish.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Hire, train, and manage catering staff, including chefs, servers, and other support staff.
• Create and adapt menu options based on client needs and preferences.
• Ensure that all health, safety, and sanitation standards are met.
• Monitor and manage food and labor costs to meet budgetary goal.
• Develop and implement marketing strategies to promote catering services.
• Handle customer inquiries, feedback, and complaints in a professional and timely manner.
• Stay up to date on industry trends and adjust operations accordingly.