Conference and Food & Beverage Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Conference and Food and Beverage Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for large and small scale events, banquet operations, and dining environments to ensure exceptional guest experiences and strong financial performance. This role drives service excellence, team alignment, and revenue optimization while supporting a high-performing, hospitality-focused culture.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Oversees and manages all areas of the Conference and food services and makes decisions on matters of importance.
• Responsible for ensuring that all financial (invoices, reporting) and team member/payroll related administrative duties are completed accurately, on time, and in accordance with Company policies and procedures.
• Enforces sanitary practices for food handling, general cleanliness, and maintenance of kitchen and dining areas.
• Ensures compliance with operational standards, Company policies, federal/state/local laws and ordinances.
• Responsible for ensuring consistent high quality of food preparation and service.
• Responsible for communication with event planners, clients, and guests with regards to their event, including meeting room, event area set-up, audio/visual and other meeting needs as well as assists in all food choices for the event.
• Accurately estimates food and beverage costs.
• Works with the Corporate office team for efficient provisioning and purchasing of supplies.
• Supervises portion control and quantities of preparation to minimize waste.
• Accurately estimates food needs, places orders with distributors, and schedules the delivery of fresh food and supplies.
• Prepares food or supervises food preparation for events and guests.
• Ensures positive guest/client service in all areas.
• Responds to complaints, taking any and all appropriate actions to turn dissatisfied guests/clients into return guests.
• Attendance is a key component of this position.
• Maintains a professional appearance in accordance with Company standards; wears the appropriate uniform or attire.
• Maintains open and effective communication with team members and management.
• Attends and participates in team meetings.
• Adheres to established safety and emergency procedures and protocols, this includes Company, federal, and state specific regulations and guidelines.
• Completes all required Company training/compliance courses as assigned.
• Adheres to Company standards and maintains compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION

• High school diploma or equivalent.

EXPERIENCE

• A minimum three (3) years of experience in related field required.
• A minimum two (2) years of supervisory experience in related field required.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversees and coordinates the department's activities, with a focus on supervisory and organizational goals. While a portion of the time may involve performing tasks similar to those of direct reports, the primary responsibilities are related to management and coordination. Analyzes and resolves issues, establishes work methods, ensures regulatory compliance, and maintains productivity. Uses judgment within established procedures and policies to make appropriate decisions and take necessary actions.

Specific supervisory duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Establishes objectives and goals for the team.
• Assigns, monitors, and reviews work; evaluates direct report's performance.
• Recruits and interviews.
• Orientates and trains.
• Issues corrective action and makes recommendations for termination.
• Investigates and resolves concerns and complaints.
• Creates department work schedules.
• Approves time records and time off requests.
• Proactively assesses risk to establish systems and procedures to protect organizational assets.
• Ensures compliance with safety regulations.
• Oversees the department's budget.
• Ensures accurate and efficient management of inventory.

LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS

• Food and Beverage Food Handlers Manager Permit - must be state/county-specific.
• Alcohol Awareness Training Certification - must be state/county-specific.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

This position requires the capability to understand and follow both oral and written directions, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with others in English and interact successfully with internal and external customers.

• Proficient in time management; the ability to effectively organize and manage multiple priorities.
• Recognizes an emergency situation and takes appropriate action.
• Emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with team members at all levels.
• Skilled in building and motivating a team, fostering a collaborative environment and inspiring high performance.
• Strong focus on accuracy and precision.
• Performs well with frequent interruptions and/or distractions.
• Able to communicate appropriately and effectively with all levels of management and external stakeholders.
• Business acumen, including but not limited to financial management, budgeting, cost control, and revenue optimization.
• Ability to effectively listen, understand, and resolve challenges and concerns from management, team members, and/or customers (internal/external).
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to include coaching, counseling, and mentoring.
• Able to identify and seize revenue-generating opportunities while effectively managing costs and resources.
• Knowledge of key industry trends, best practices, regulations, and the current industry landscape.
• Proven ability to drive revenue growth, optimize costs, and achieve financial targets.
• Able to engage diplomatically and effectively with third party operators and owners, empathizing, and reacting appropriately to partner feedback and helping resolve issues where necessary.
• Basic math skills.
• Basic knowledge of Google Docs/Microsoft Word.
• Basic knowledge of Google Sheets/Microsoft Excel.
• Basic knowledge of Gmail/Microsoft Outlook.
• Ability to adjust effectively to evolving work environments and shifting customer (internal/external) requirements.
• Able to maintain a positive and professional working environment.
• Fosters a culture of excellence.
• Able to work effectively in a culturally diverse environment and support diversity and inclusion within the organization.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• 10% travel required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Specifically, if it is to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks. Specifically, for long distances or moving from one work site to another often.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Specifically, if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Hands to Fingers: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
• Close Vision: Clear vision at 20 inches or less. Required to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, extensive reading or visual inspections.
• Distance Vision: Clear vision at 20 feet or more. Required to perform an activity where the seeing job is arm's reach or beyond.
• Color Vision: Ability to identify and distinguish colors.
• Focus Ability: Ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus.
• Medium Work: Work that requires constant walking or standing and involves regular lifting or moving of items weighing up to 25 pounds and occasional lifting or moving of objects weighing up to 50 pounds. The role may include frequent bending, reaching, or carrying throughout the workday.