Manager of Events & Dining

About the role

The Manager of Event and Dining Operations supports the Director in upholding the museum’s brand of excellence while overseeing visitor dining, hospitality, and events. The role acts as a liaison with the third‑party food and beverage provider (Constellation Culinary Group) and collaborates with internal teams such as facilities, security, AV, retail, marketing, development/membership, learning and engagement, visitor services, finance, executive office, and facilities to ensure seamless event execution and a positive visitor experience.

Responsibilities

• Support internal event planners (Advancement team) by ensuring smooth building operations, collaborating with facilities, security, AV, retail, and submitting staffing requests; coordinate with the third‑party food and beverage provider as needed.
• Provide day‑of‑event on‑site execution support for internal and external events.
• Act as the exclusive food and beverage provider liaison, assuring successful integration with the museum in all aspects of facility rental and internal event operations.
• Foster a positive, proactive, collaborative working environment between the Operator and museum departments including marketing, development/membership, learning and engagement, visitor services, retail, finance, executive office, and facilities.
• Assist with processing museum staff requests for internal catering efficiently and timely.
• Regularly review and attend internal and external (facility rental) events to ensure excellent customer service, quality, and professionalism by the Operator, museum team, and external contractors.
• Ensure facility rental and internal event operations align with the Museum’s mission and standards, particularly sustainability and extraordinary visitor experience.
• Provide support to the Operator and museum team to operate effectively with minimal disruption to other museum operations.
• Facilitate museum approvals for menus, menu pricing, uniforms, signage, hours of operation, marketing materials, advertising, etc.
• Coordinate the Operator interface with the facilities department to ensure proper maintenance and servicing of museum‑owned buildings, equipment, fixtures, furnishings, and facilities.
• Ensure visitor feedback mechanisms are in place and effective for facility rental and internal event sales and operations; respond directly when appropriate on behalf of the museum.
• Regularly review facility rental and internal events and operations to maintain consistent services and high professionalism.
• Oversee and monitor the Operator’s key performance metrics related to visitor satisfaction, food and beverage quality and service standards, food safety and sanitation per contractual responsibilities and museum standards, using museum‑developed evaluation instruments to determine results, corrective action, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, with specialization in business, hospitality, and/or food services management preferred.
• Several (5) years of demonstrated successful experience in food services and/or the hospitality industry.
• Several (5) years of demonstrated successful experience in managing weddings and events.
• Understanding of and passion for the culinary and hospitality industry and providing an excellent guest experience.
• Proven knowledge of retail restaurants, public dining, food and beverage catering of all types, facility rental and event management services, operational policies, vendor management, vendor/operator contracts, and budgeting and financial management.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, writing and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent facilitation, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent skills with spreadsheet analysis and word processing software.
• Able to remain stationary for extended periods, use computers and office equipment, perform administrative duties in interior office, gallery, or exhibit spaces, and access most public and staff areas of the museum campus.
• Able to regularly set up, adjust, and operate a computer/keyboard and other office equipment to generate work/transmit data.
• Able to move items up to 30 pounds.
• Able to remain stationary for up to seven hours.
• Background check required after a conditional job offer.

Benefits

• Free general admission to the museum for you and your immediate family.
• Discounted guest tickets for admission.
• Discounts on gift memberships.
• Special staff tours and presentations from curatorial and conservation teams.
• Discounts at the museum restaurant, museum cafés, and museum retail and online stores.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Fully paid short‑term disability insurance, long‑term disability insurance, and life insurance.
• Health savings or flexible spending account