Catering Manager 3

Sodexo is seeking a Catering Manager 3 for Ouachita Baptist University-located in Arkadelphia, AR.  Ouachita Baptist is located 28 miles from Hot Springs and next to beautiful Lake DeGray.

Our catering program offers the best catering equipment and facilities to work with.  In this Catering Manager role, you will manage an innovative, casual to high-end catering program for the campus as well as manage the day-to-day scheduling and technical delivery of events including oversight of 25 employees/student staff. You will be charged with executing casual, elegant and sophisticated catering experiences that exceed culinary and service expectations while enhancing client program objectives.

Reporting to the General Manager, the ideal candidate will have:

• 3+ years of catering management experience (full event life-cycle), preferably within a high-volume campus dining setting or hotel setting.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills. 
• Proven ability to build/mentor a solid catering team that shares your level of commitment and passion for exceptional catering.
• Proven experience in labor management and control systems.
• Client satisfaction skills; professional demeanor; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and delegate to coordinate multiple events and utilize a systems-based approach to meet each event’s timelines/specifications and quality of product.
• Ability to drive continuous system improvements within a catering program.
• Experience in driving catering sales through suggestive selling and contract negotiation.
• Experience with catering event software such as CaterTrax, CaterEase or EMS.Chase Nowlin is our chef, is very creative and loves to show off his food skills with catering and special events.  We have a great relationship with our client, campus, and the Arkadelphia community, Sodexo has been serving Ouachita since 1972.  This is an ideal job for a person with cutting edge ideas and presentation skills.  The current catering manager will stay on and assist through the transition. 

At Sodexo, we believe every employee should have the resources to be their best. As part of our overall rewards, we offer benefits programs designed to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle including health, dental and vision insurance. We also offer other benefits like paid time off, financial and savings programs, 401k, and access to our employee assistance program and other discounts. 

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement - Associate's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, catering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.