Senior Catering & Banquet Captain

Overview

Milwaukee-based Bars & Recreation owns and operates a diverse portfolio of entertainment brands including Amped, AXE MKE, Game Show MKE, Nine Below, NorthSouth Club, Splash Studio, The New Fashioned & Slingshot Bar. Amped offers private suite karaoke and event space, perfect for creative meetings and special events. Game Show MKE presents a live hosted experience featuring stage show games like The Feud, 20 Second Challenge, Pop Goes the Lyric, and more. Nine Below introduces a fun, team-oriented twist on indoor miniature golf. NorthSouth Club is home to AXE MKE and Wisconsin's first full-size deck shuffleboard facility, complete with 16 axe throwing lanes. Splash Studio is the premier “wine & paint” concept in Wisconsin – with a full bar and a great vibe. The New Fashioned offers family friendly activities like Hyperbowling, curling, and dartball in the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown Deer District. Slingshot Bar is the world’s first indoor slingshot arena paired with a full bar located in West Allis, Wisconsin.

Our guests come to us for memorable, immersive experiences, to celebrate life events, or just spend time with friends, family, and colleagues. They can easily make reservations online or plan custom events with help from our dedicated in-house Sales Team. Each brand maintains its own distinct voice, target audience, and atmosphere, while all operations are centrally managed under the Bars & Rec umbrella. At Bars & Rec, we prioritize delivering exceptional guest experiences, fostering continuous improvement, and promoting a collaborative, team-driven culture. As a rapidly growing company, we exclusively seek professionals who are energetic, hardworking, positive, and committed to taking care of each other and our guests.

About the role

The Senior Catering & Event Captain plays a critical leadership role in the successful execution of Bars & Recreation's catering program, offsite activations, and special events. This position serves as the primary Banquet Captain for onsite and offsite catered events while also providing transportation for catering, equipment, inventory, and event supplies between Bars & Recreation locations. The Senior Catering & Event Captain is responsible for ensuring catered events are executed safely, efficiently, and according to Bars & Recreation standards. This includes leading event staff, coordinating with the Culinary & Sales teams, serving as the primary onsite contact for clients during event execution, and maintaining a high level of hospitality throughout each event. In addition to event leadership, this position supports company operations by transporting food, beverages, and event equipment between facilities and assisting with event setup, teardown, and inventory movement. The ideal candidate is an organized leader who enjoys both hands-on operational work, logistics, and delivers exceptional guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Banquet Captain for onsite and offsite catered events.
• Lead banquet setup, service, room flips, and event breakdown.
• Supervise Crew Members, Crew Leads, Senior Crew Leads, and other support personnel during events.
• Serve as the primary onsite contact for clients, vendors, and venue representatives throughout event execution.
• Coordinate event timelines with the Sales, Culinary, Operations, and FLT teams to ensure seamless execution of offsite events, catering events, custom events, and other events/activations as needed.
• Ensure food presentation, beverage service, buffet displays, and event spaces meet Bars & Recreation quality standards.
• Monitor guest satisfaction throughout events and proactively resolve service issues.
• Assist with food service, beverage service, bartending, and event execution.
• Ensure all event equipment, supplies, and rental items are accounted for and returned following each event.
• Mentor and develop Crew Members, Crew Leads, and Senior Crew Leads in all aspects of custom event execution, including event setup, service standards, presentation, attention to detail, allergen awareness, and guest experience.
• Collaborate closely with the culinary team to communicate guest allergies, dietary restrictions, and special requests while coordinating buffet setup, chafing equipment, and service logistics to ensure seamless event execution and team readiness.
• Foster and maintain strong professional relationships with clients by providing constructive feedback, ensuring consistent service standards, and collaborating to enhance operational efficiency and the overall guest experience.
• Serve as the primary driver for catering deliveries and operational transportation.
• Safely transport food, beverages, furniture, décor, equipment, and event supplies between Bars & Recreation facilities and offsite event locations.
• Load, unload, and verify catering orders and event equipment before departure and upon arrival.
• Coordinate timely deliveries to support catering events, activations, and venue needs.
• Return all equipment to storage while ensuring it is cleaned and stored properly.
• Assist with inventory transfers between company locations.
• Promptly communicate any transportation delays or operational issues to management.
• If scheduled/needed, attend weekly Events Meetings to coordinate and prepare for the successful execution of all upcoming custom events.
• Prepare equipment, décor, signage, and supplies for upcoming events.
• Assist with setup and teardown of onsite and offsite events.
• Support company activations including festivals, community events, trade shows, promotional events, and mobile experiences.
• Assist with warehouse organization and event inventory.
• Attend additional meetings as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Hospitality & Operations Manager or senior leadership.

Job location and tier

This position is classified as a Tier 3 On-site Employee. Senior Catering & Event Captains will be trained to work at all the various facilities to support the overall team as needed.

Supervisor

This job reports to the Senior Operations Manager (SOM) but is directly managed by the Hospitality Operations Managers (HOMs) onsite.

Time commitment

Senior Catering & Event Captains are expected to work at least 30-40 hours per week and may not have any outside obligations or commitments (unless agreed upon and approved at hire). SCECs must be able to work days, nights, and weekends. Full and open availability is required on Fridays and Saturdays.

Compensation and benefits

• Starting base rate of $13.00 - $14.50/hour based on experience plus share of the bi-weekly Tip Pool. Gross rate range after tips = $24-$30/hr.
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance for all full-time employees (30+ hours/week)
• Life Insurance Policy for all full-time employees (30+ hours/week)
• Company sponsored 401k plan
• Paid Time Off (7 full days per year once fully vested)
• Company sponsored Employee Rewards Program
• Company sponsored social events
• Annual charitable donation of employee's choice
• Flexible scheduling
• Great variety of work with cross-training at all facilities
• Free/Discounted Play, Drinks, Snacks and Merchandise
• Company-wide communication platform

Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have at least a High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum three years of hospitality, banquet, catering, or event operations experience.
• Previous Banquet Captain or catering leadership experience preferred.
• Must successfully pass a background check.
• Must be insurable under the company's commercial automobile insurance policy.
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record (no suspensions in the last five years).
• Maintain personal automobile insurance with minimum limits of: $100,000 per occurrence, $300,000 aggregate.
• Comfortable driving company vans, pick-up trucks, and trailers.
• Ability to lift and carry 50+ pounds repeatedly.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, crouch, climb stairs, and work indoors and outdoors for extended periods.
• Available to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on event schedules.
• Ability to obtain Responsible Beverage Server certification and any required manager licensing. Must be willing to complete an online Responsible Beverage Server Course and submit proof of completion.
• Must have (or be willing and able to obtain) a Wisconsin Statewide Operator's (Bartender's) Permit.
• Must be able to operate a point-of-sale system and accurately conduct credit card transactions.
• Must have (or be willing to obtain) personal transportation and a personal cell phone.
• Must be able to read, understand, and follow the Bars & Recreation Employee Handbook.

A successful Senior Catering & Event Captain

• Leads event teams with confidence, professionalism, and a guest-first mindset, creating exceptional experiences for every client and guest.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments, effectively managing multiple priorities while adapting to last-minute changes with poise.
• Excels at coordinating event timelines, transportation, equipment, and staffing while ensuring no detail is overlooked.
• Takes pride in transporting catering, equipment, and supplies safely, efficiently, and on schedule.
• Anticipates challenges, makes sound decisions, and proactively resolves issues to keep events running seamlessly.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, vendors, and team members through clear, timely, and professional communication.
• Leads by example, willingly stepping in to assist with setup, service, breakdown, transportation, or any task needed for a successful event.
• Enjoys variety, embraces changing priorities, and is comfortable working at multiple venues, client locations, and community events.
• Maintains high standards for presentation, service, cleanliness, food safety, and operational excellence.
• Takes ownership of responsibilities, follows through on commitments, and can be counted on to represent Bars & Recreation with professionalism both on and off-site.

Guest service pillars

At Bars & Rec, we D.R.I.V.E. toward these Guest Service Pillars: Demonstrate expertise, Rally the team, Identify opportunities, Value every person, Exceed expectations.