Director of Food & Beverage Operations

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

Wolfgang Puck Catering is committed to recruiting individuals who express an interest in and passion for hospitality-driven experiences; who come from diverse backgrounds, are open-minded and curious about our clients and guests; and, most of all, who possess a welcoming smile and spirit. Our ultimate goal is to develop mentoring and career building opportunities through a talent pipeline that allows us to promote from within.

"The most important thing in life, whatever you do, has to be passion." Wolfgang Puck

Success on our team starts with our culture:

• We have Wolfgang's PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
• A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.
• Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
• We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don't have to.
• We curate company and partner resources to bring our client's vision to life. We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
• We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).
• Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.

"I can have the best food, but if we don't have good people, it won't get you very far."

Job Summary

Wolfgang Puck Catering is seeking a Director of Food & Beverage Operations to lead and evolve the dining experience across Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Momentary, and the broader campus supported by Art & Wellness Enterprises.

This role provides strategic and operational leadership for all food and beverage services, with a primary focus on Crystal Bridges while supporting campus‑wide programs, cafés, events, and experiences. The Director of Food & Beverage Operations partners closely with culinary, hospitality, and museum leadership to ensure food service enhances the guest experience and reflects the values of creativity, accessibility, and well‑being.

This is an opportunity for a collaborative, thoughtful leader who sees food as part of a larger cultural experience, and who enjoys balancing vision, people leadership, and day‑to‑day operations in a dynamic environment.

As Director of Food & Beverage Operations, you'll guide the strategy, performance, and culture of food service across campus while supporting teams in delivering consistent, high‑quality guest experiences.

What You'll Do

• Provide operational leadership for all food and beverage services across Crystal Bridges, The Momentary, and Art & Wellness Enterprises
• Partner with culinary leadership to bring menus and concepts to life in ways that align with the museums' missions and guest expectations
• Lead and support managers and supervisors, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth
• Oversee daily operations including service standards, staffing, scheduling, and guest experience
• Collaborate with museum and hospitality partners on special events, programming, and campus‑wide initiatives
• Support financial performance through thoughtful budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, and reporting
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and organizational standards
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, workflows, and the overall guest journey
• Serve as a visible, engaged leader who supports teams on the floor as well as strategically behind the scenes
• Shape a food and beverage program that feels welcoming, intentional, and aligned with a cultural institution
• Strengthen collaboration between culinary, hospitality, and museum teams
• Create environments where teams feel supported, empowered, and proud of their work
• Balance operational excellence with creativity and flexibility in a dynamic, guest‑focused setting

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading food and beverage operations in hospitality, cultural, or multi‑unit environments
• The ability to manage complex operations while maintaining a focus on guest experience and team engagement
• Comfort working with budgets, financial reports, and operational metrics
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner across departments
• A calm, adaptable approach in a fast‑moving, event‑driven environment
• A commitment to food safety, service standards, and continuous improvement
• Experience working within museums, cultural institutions, or destination venues
• Familiarity with wellness‑forward, community‑focused, or mission‑driven food programs
• A background with premium catering, restaurant groups, or hospitality organizations

Apply to Wolfgang Puck today!

Wolfgang Puck Catering is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Associates at Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Personal Leave
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Wolfgang Puck Catering maintains a drugfree workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_WPC.pdf

Req ID: 1524416

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Michael Abbey

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