Sign upLog in
Jobs in Atlanta, GA

Catering Operations Manager

SOCIAL EXPRESS CATERING & MEAL PREP

Atlanta, GA

Apply
JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Catering Services, Cook Dishes, Corrective Action, Event Management, Event Strategy Development, FIFO, Fire Prevention, Food Production, Food Quality, Food Safety, Forecasting, Leadership, Loading/Unloading, Logistics, Maintain Compliance, Onboarding, Operational Support, Operations, Operations Management, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Performance Metrics, Procedure Implementation, Production Systems, Risk Analysis, Scorecarding, ServSafe Certification, Strategic Planning, Team Lead/Manager, Time Management, Time Tracking, Training/Teaching, Transportation Routing
LOCATION
Atlanta, GA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Benefits:
  • Employee discounts
  • Opportunity for advancement
  • Training & development
  • Bonus based on performance
  • Competitive salary
  • Free food & snacks
  • Paid time off


Catering Operation Manager

Company: Social Express Catering & Meal Prep (SECMP)
Location: Metro Atlanta, GA (On-site)
Job Type: Full-Time
Compensation:$50,000–$55,000/year (based on experience) + KPI bonus opportunity
Schedule: Early mornings required; some weekends/evenings depending on business needs
Reports To: COO + CEO/Executive Chef
Direct Reports: Kitchen staff (Catering Specialists/Cooks), Drivers, Shift Leads


Role Summary

Social Express Catering & Meal Prep (SECMP) is hiring a seasoned Operations Manager to run the day-to-day execution of our production kitchen, staffing, and delivery operations.

This role is for a true operator—someone who is organized, disciplined, and can lead people while driving performance through KPIs. You will be responsible for making sure our daily operations run smoothly across:


  Large-scale daily meal production + packing
  Delivery logistics and on-time dispatch
  Inventory readiness and waste control
  Kitchen structure, cleanliness, and compliance
  Staff scheduling and accountability
  Support for catering and event readiness (Chef-led execution)


This is not a desk job. You will be hands-on and fully responsible for keeping the business running without chaos.


Key Responsibilities

1) Own Daily Production & Kitchen Execution
  • Run daily operations including prep, cook, packing, staging, load-out, and reset
  • Lead daily pre-shift huddles and assign stations with deadlines
  • Enforce consistency in portioning, food quality, packaging, and accuracy
  • Prevent “fire drills” by planning ahead and controlling the pace of the kitchen
  • Ensure the kitchen is clean, organized, and production-ready at all times
2) Build the Daily/Weekly Plan (No Guesswork)
  • Create daily production timelines and prep lists
  • Coordinate staffing coverage based on volume and deadlines
  • Ensure all teams know the plan: who is doing what, by what time, and how it must look
  • Control overtime by planning ahead—not reacting late
3) Dispatch & Delivery Accountability
  • Confirm driver coverage daily and ensure smooth route execution
  • Maintain strict dispatch procedures:
    • correct loading order
    • route-ready staging
    • equipment sign-out and return tracking
    • departure time tracking
  • Identify delivery risks early and correct them before they become failures
  • Hold drivers accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism
4) Inventory, Ordering & Waste Control
  • Maintain par levels for food, packaging, and disposables
  • Track key inventory items that impact daily output (protein, trays, containers, labels, etc.)
  • Reduce waste through better forecasting, FIFO, and prep discipline
  • Communicate shortages immediately to leadership with a solution plan

5) Food Safety, Quality & Compliance
  • Enforce food safety and sanitation requirements daily
  • Ensure all required logs are completed (temps, sanitation, cleaning schedules, etc.)
  • Maintain compliance culture: no shortcuts, no excuses
  • Correct issues fast and prevent repeat mistakes
6) Staff Leadership & Performance Management
  • Train and coach staff to standards (SOPs, station expectations, speed, cleanliness)
  • Hold staff accountable for punctuality, professionalism, and performance
  • Support hiring and onboarding in partnership with CEO/COO
  • Document recurring performance issues and implement corrective actions
7) Catering & Events Support (Executive Chef-Led)


The Executive Chef owns all event strategy, planning, day-of execution, and culinary direction.
 The Operations Manager supports Chef by ensuring readiness.
  • Coordinate staffing support for event prep needs
  • Ensure equipment, supplies, and disposables are staged on time
  • Keep kitchen production protected so events don’t disrupt daily obligations
  • Ensure the kitchen is reset and ready after event prep work

8) Daily Reporting & KPI Management
  • Track performance with clear metrics and trends
  • Provide a daily recap to COO/CEO including:
    • on-time dispatch status
    • packing accuracy/mistakes
    • staffing issues/callouts
    • inventory gaps
    • corrective actions taken
  • Lead weekly KPI review and improvement actions

KPI Scorecard (What Success Looks Like)

Execution & Delivery
  • On-time dispatch: 98% weekly
  • Missed routes/sites: 0
  • Packing accuracy: 99%
Quality & Compliance
  • Log completion: 95% daily
  • Critical food safety incidents: 0
  • Client complaints: decreasing trend
Labor & Efficiency
  • Labor hours within weekly plan
  • Overtime controlled and approved only
  • Reduced waste month-over-month
Team Reliability
  • 100% route/shift coverage
  • Improved punctuality + reduced callouts
  • Training completed within required timelines

Qualifications

Required
  • 3–7+ years leadership in catering, meal prep, high-volume kitchens, or food production
  • Proven ability to manage a team and hit deadlines consistently
  • Strong organization and time management
  • Confident communicator and firm leader 
  • Comfortable being hands-on and moving fast in a production environment
  • ServSafe Manager 
  • Experience with multi-route delivery logistics and packing systems
  • Experience implementing SOPs and KPI tracking

What Success Looks Like (30/60/90 Days)

First 30 Days
  • Kitchen runs with structure (huddles, stations, deadlines, checklists)
  • Dispatch procedure locked in and consistent
Staffing schedule stabilized and reliable
By 60 Days
  • Accuracy improves, fewer mistakes, fewer emergency issues
  • Overtime reduced through planning and control
Inventory is consistent with fewer shortages
By 90 Days
  • Operations runs smoothly without owner micromanagement
  • KPI targets consistently hit
  • Staff culture becomes more accountable and performance-driven
How to Apply
Submit your resume and a short message answering:
  1. What is the largest kitchen/production operation you’ve managed?
  2. What KPIs have you been responsible for?
  3. What is your leadership style—firm, structured, fast-paced?


About the Company

S

SOCIAL EXPRESS CATERING & MEAL PREP

Similar Job Searches

Area Director JobsArea Manager JobsArea Supervisor JobsAssistant Director JobsAssistant General Manager JobsAssistant Manager JobsAssistant Supervisor JobsClub Manager JobsDepartment Manager JobsDepartment Supervisor Jobs