A catering coordinator is responsible for managing a catering team, including servers, at an event.
A catering coordinator manages the catering department of a restaurant, grocery store, food service provider, or special event company. He or she is typically responsible for organizing and scheduling catering events for clients and may be the public face of the company’s catering operations. A successful catering coordinator may need excellent interpersonal skills, managerial and supervisory experience, and a clear understanding of the world of catering.
A catering coordinator may or may not oversee the delivery, preparation and execution of the event.
It is quite unusual for a catering coordinator to serve as a chef; the job function tends to be more administrative in nature. However, creative skills can be important as it allows a coordinator to help clients see options and make decisions for the event being offered. An important part of a coordinator’s job is the preparation and execution of events, which can range from small business, such as a private dinner for a family, to gala openings, movie premieres, or society weddings.
Catering coordinators work with chefs to define menus.
When a client looks for a catering coordinator to organize an event, the coordinator usually sits down and analyzes the parameters of the specific situation. Important things the coordinator may need to know include what type of event it is, how many people will be attending, is there a desired theme or setting, and what the client thinks is a good budget range. With in-depth knowledge of the company’s catering menu, the coordinator can help the client design the perfect menu for the event. In some cases, this may include tastings of potential dishes to allow the customer to review the skill and quality of the chefs.
Catering coordinators rarely prepare food and instead perform administrative functions.
Once the order is received and processed, the coordinator can take charge of assembling a catering team to manage the event. This may include servers, bartenders, servers, and prep chefs, all of whom may report to the catering coordinator. Usually, the coordinator can call company staff or may have a contact list of good servers that can be hired on a daily basis. In some cases, the coordinator may also be responsible for preparing catering-related items such as chairs and tables, linens, flower arrangements, cutlery, and plates.
A catering coordinator may or may not oversee the delivery, preparation and execution of the event. In a large company, these functions may be handled by a manager, freeing up the coordinator to prepare for other events and get on with the day-to-day work of meeting with clients. With a different event or even multiple events spanning many days, the professional life of a catering coordinator can be quite exciting.