Catering & Market Operations Lead

CATERING & MARKET OPERATIONS LEAD

The Catering & Market Operations Lead is responsible for leading the operational execution of Bonton Farms' catering program, Farmers Market, and associated front-of-house hospitality operations. This role ensures exceptional guest experiences across corporate catering, donor events, community gatherings, farmers market operations, and retail sales while maintaining operational excellence behind the scenes. Serving as the operational bridge between the kitchen, front-of-house, market, and event teams, this individual oversees the planning and execution of catering events from initial booking through event completion. They ensure staffing, logistics, inventory, customer communication, event setup, service standards, and post-event reconciliation are executed with consistency and professionalism. In addition to catering leadership, this position oversees the day-to-day operations of the Farmers Market, manages retail inventory systems, supports external product fulfillment initiatives, and helps drive revenue through outstanding hospitality and operational execution. The ideal candidate is a highly organized hospitality professional who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys leading teams, anticipates operational needs before they arise, and creates memorable guest experiences while advancing Bonton Farms' mission through excellence in service.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Catering & Event Operations Leadership:

• Lead the operational execution of all catering events, ranging from intimate meetings to large-scale corporate, donor, fundraising, and community events.
• Provide oversight of all front-of-house catering operations, ensuring professional presentation, exceptional guest service, and flawless event execution.

Coordinate event logistics including:

• Event timelines
• Staffing assignments
• Equipment needs
• Rentals
• Transportation
• Event setup and breakdown
• Vendor coordination
• Client communication

• Partner with culinary leadership to ensure food preparation aligns with event timelines and service expectations.
• Conduct pre-event planning meetings and post-event debriefs to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Ensure every event reflects Bonton Farms' standards of hospitality, professionalism, and mission-driven service.
• Serve as the operational lead during large events, proactively resolving issues and ensuring an exceptional guest experience.

Front-of-House Hospitality Leadership:

• Oversee all front-of-house operations during catering events and hospitality activations.
• Lead event staff, apprentices, and volunteers to ensure consistent execution of hospitality standards.
• Ensure service stations, buffets, beverage service, dining areas, and guest-facing spaces are organized, clean, and professionally presented.
• Develop and maintain hospitality service standards, event setup procedures, and guest service expectations.
• Coach team members on customer engagement, professionalism, and service excellence.

Catering Sales Coordination:

• Respond promptly to catering inquiries and assist clients throughout the booking process.
• Coordinate event details, menus, timelines, special requests, invoicing, and customer communication.
• Maintain organized event calendars and documentation.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Development to support donor events, community activations, and strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Support repeat business through exceptional customer service and relationship management.

Farmers Market Operations:

• Oversee daily Farmers Market operations, ensuring readiness for weekly markets, pop-ups, and seasonal events.
• Maintain merchandising standards, pricing accuracy, product freshness, and inventory availability.
• Coordinate produce tastings, educational experiences, and customer engagement opportunities.
• Ensure a welcoming and mission-centered customer experience.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness throughout the market.

Inventory & Retail Systems:

Manage inventory across:

• Farmers Market retail
• Catering supplies
• Event equipment
• Retail merchandise
• Packaged goods
• Produce

• Maintain accurate inventory within Toast, Shopify, ExtraChef, and related systems.
• Conduct regular inventory counts and identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve purchasing efficiency.
• Ensure pricing, product availability, and retail systems remain current.

External Partnerships & Fulfillment:

• Coordinate product fulfillment for DFW Airport and additional wholesale or community partners.
• Manage order preparation, logistics, inventory allocation, and communication with external partners.
• Support expansion of retail and wholesale opportunities through reliable operational execution.

Reporting & Operational Performance:

Track and report operational metrics including:

• Catering revenue
• Event profitability
• Farmers Market sales
• Community participation
• SNAP utilization
• Double Up Bucks participation
• Inventory performance
• Guest satisfaction

• Prepare operational reports for leadership and recommend process improvements.
• Identify operational challenges early and implement practical solutions.

Standard Operating Procedures & Compliance:

Develop, document, and continuously improve SOPs for:

• Catering execution
• Event operations
• Front-of-house service
• Farmers Market operations
• Inventory management
• Opening and closing procedures
• Food safety
• Hospitality standards

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, and health regulations.
• Promote consistency through training, documentation, and accountability.

Leadership & Team Development:

• Partner closely with Food & Beverage, Marketing, Development, Farm Operations, and Executive Leadership.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for event staff, apprentices, volunteers, and temporary team members.
• Assist with staffing plans for catering events and large community activations.
• Coach team members while fostering a culture of hospitality, teamwork, accountability, and service excellence.

Professional Expectations:

• Demonstrate exceptional professionalism in all customer and donor interactions.
• Maintain reliable attendance and flexibility to support evening and weekend events.
• Communicate proactively regarding operational needs, staffing, and scheduling.
• Present a polished, customer-focused appearance consistent with Bonton Farms' hospitality standards.
• Take ownership of operational execution and consistently deliver high-quality results.
• Represent Bonton Farms with warmth, professionalism, and a servant leadership mindset.

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience in catering operations, hospitality management, restaurant operations, event management, or food service leadership.
• Experience managing large-scale catering events, corporate functions, nonprofit galas, donor events, or hospitality operations preferred.
• Strong knowledge of front-of-house service standards and event logistics.
• Experience with inventory management and POS systems such as Toast, Shopify, or similar platforms.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and customer service skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and events simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience supervising event teams, volunteers, or hospitality staff preferred.
• Commitment to Bonton Farms' mission and passion for serving the community through hospitality.

Compensation: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where change yields health, wholeness and opportunity as the norm.

The change in Bonton becomes the change in the World.

Our values are bathed in our Christian faith, born out of a passion for people