Director of Banquets

About the Role

In this role, you'll oversee all aspects of banquet operations, ensuring adherence to quality, service, and operating standards. From supervising day-to-day activities to coordinating with kitchen staff and vendors, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring guest satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Direct all banquet and event operations, ensuring alignment with organizational standards for quality, service, and operational excellence.
• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the banquet department, including staffing plans, operational processes, and service delivery.
• Lead, mentor, and develop banquet managers, supervisors, and service staff to cultivate a high-performance, guest-focused team culture.
• Establish clear objectives and performance expectations while fostering accountability and professional growth across the department.
• Supervise day-to-day activities of the banquet department, communicate objectives, and schedule/assign work.
• Communicate and enforce policies and procedures.
• Recommend and/or initiate salary, disciplinary, or other staffing-related actions in accordance with company rules and policies.
• Alert management of potentially serious issues.
• Ensure all staff is properly trained and have the tools and equipment needed to effectively carry out their job functions.
• Ensure that rooms are set-up and service delivery is carried out according to guest expectations and banquet event order.
• Conduct pre-function meetings with scheduled staff and review all information pertinent to the service and set-up of groups.
• Inspect scheduled function areas/rooms, table set-ups, bar set-ups, buffet tables, receptions, and coffee breaks for cleanliness, attractiveness, and proper layout.
• Meet with Kitchen Staff to review scheduled groups’ menu, ensure agreement of delivery times, amounts, and arrangements.
• Coordinate AV equipment or other technical needs.
• Ensure guests are greeted upon arrival and respond to guest requests and complaints in a prompt and professional manner.
• Establish and implement appropriate service recovery guidelines to ensure total guest satisfaction.
• Review guest check with client after function and obtain signature.
• Maintain procedures to ensure security and proper storage of banquet inventory and equipment, security of monies, credit and financial transactions, and replenishment of supplies, inventory, and uniforms.
• Minimize misuse and breakage of china, glassware, linen, and supplies, and ensure no re-usable goods are wasted.
• Establish par levels for supplies and equipment.
• Control departmental labor and expenses, provide input into the preparation of the annual departmental operating budget.
• Ensure equipment is prepared for the following day’s work and all banquet equipment is in proper operational condition and cleaned regularly.
• Ensure all banquet facilities are cleaned, vacuumed, and properly stocked according to anticipated business volumes.
• Ensure guests' total satisfaction and vendors have adequate inventory of supplies and equipment; resolve any vendor performance issues.
• Promote teamwork and quality service through daily communication and coordination with other departments.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent required; some college preferred.
• Must have at least 3-5 years’ experience with advanced banquets and food and beverage operations training and operations, including two years supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must speak fluent English.
• Proven ability to lead a team and communicate efficiently, both verbally and in writing.
• Exceptional time management and organization skills.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with customers, employees, and third parties in a manner that reflects highly on the brand and the Company.
• Ability to handle, carry, or lift items weighing up to 75 pounds, move about function areas, bend, stoop, stand, and kneel, and withstand potential climate temperature changes in assigned work areas.

This employer is an Equal Opportunity Employer.