Director of Catering
Position Summary
- Develop client relationships and book catering events for all Fountainhead Hotels assets.
- Actively grow Fountainhead Hotels Catering in volume, scope and quality as we open two new event spaces in 2026.
- Working closely with Hotel Director and General Managers, ensure a high quality delivery of all catering services.
Duties
Note: this role is highly collaborative and consultative. Leadership of the catering program is developed and sustained by working collaboratively with company senior leadership and alongside hotel operations. With no direct reports, the Director of Catering will inspire, support and lead by example.
Sales and Event Planning
- Develop and sustain client relationships
- Maintain a visible professional presence in the community to attract new clients
- Working with Marketing, develop materials to support catering sales in different situations, e.g. initial consults, trade shows, Chamber luncheons, cold calls
- Meet with clients to understand their needs and vision for events ranging from small board meetings to large multi-day conferences
- Collaborate with Executive Chefs in menu design and pricing
- Collaborate with AV Technician on audio visual, lighting, staging and other tech support.
- Maintain oversight of Infor SCS, the sales and catering system. Ensure ongoing training and full and correct use of system.
- Collaborate with reservations, accounting and other stakeholders on development of proposals, contracts, sales packets and other materials supporting accurate contracting and delivery of services.
- Work with senior leadership to negotiate rates
- Work with senior leadership on continual advancement and development of our product
Operational Execution
- Respecting the creative output and autonomy of the property level Catering managers, oversee at a higher level the protocols for setup, execution, and teardown of events to ensure timelines and quality standards are strictly met.
- Consulting with AV Tech and the IT department and working closely with the Hotel Director, oversee the vision and direction of Audio Visual, Lighting and Staging services.
- Working closely with the Fountainhead Hotels design team, develop Design Services at the highest level, routinely inspecting to ensure design concept, standards and client delivery expectations are all consistently met and exceeded.
- Communicate frequently with culinary staff across all properties and venues; participate actively in conversations about menu, logistics and food cost
- Working with front and back of house staff as well as senior leadership, respond to guest and client feedback and regularly taste/inspect food product to ensure presentation, service style, flavor profile and food preparation all align with the clients’ expectations.
Revenue Generation and Cost Controls
- Prepare lead, prospect, on the books and forecast reports for weekly sales meetings.
- Support hotel level catering managers in generating leads, following up with prospects and clients, supporting their event calendars and securing repeat business.
- Develop annual goals and review monthly statements to track progress to goal and opportunities for improved revenue generation.
- Monitor equipment and supply expense, liquor expense, labor as a percentage of revenue and labor efficiency to ensure the most efficient and profitable operation possible.
- Oversee contracting and billing processes to ensure all revenue is captured.
- Continually conduct market research through all means available including but not limited to considering data from ATIA and Explore Fairbanks, shopping competitors, attending trade shows, requesting feedback from lost business, etc.
Compliance with Fountainhead Policies
- Adhere to all company policies and report any policy gaps or violations to hotel General Manager for appropriate follow-up.
- Set positive and professional example regarding appearance, enthusiasm, teamwork, attendance, performance and adherence to company vision and standards.
Growth and Expansion of the Fountainhead Hotels Catering Program
The day-to-day focus in this key leadership position will shift as the Fountainhead Hotels Catering Program grows. To support company growth and the growth of the individual in this role, an annual review of this job description will be scheduled in mid-January each year for the first three years. Specifics duties outlined here will be adjusted at the mutual agreement of the company and the Director of Catering to better support continued growth of the operation.
Education, Knowledge and Skills:
- Alaska Food Worker Card required
- Alaska Alcohol Server Training required
- Working knowledge of beer, wine and liquors required
- Valid Alaska driver’s license required
- Current driving record sufficient to meet company insurance standards required
- 4 years of catering experience and/or education required
- 3 years Food & Beverage supervisory experience required
- 3 years of direct sales or related experience required
- 1 year bartending experience required
- 2 years POS computer experience preferred
- 2 years general computer experience; able to learn, understand and use computer software and hardware, including proficiency in Windows Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Strong customer service skills and knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service, to include assessing needs, meeting quality standards, and evaluating customer satisfaction
- Advanced English-speaking skills; able to clearly communicate with others and to listen to, understand and follow instructions
- Strong written and oral communication skills, to include effectively conveying information to others, and giving full attention to what other people are saying and taking the time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
- Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as data entry, managing documents and records, and other office procedures and technology
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Able to stay calm and productive under pressure
- Able to lift, push and move up to 45 lbs.
- Able to perform physical activities that require considerable use of arms, legs, and moving the whole body, to include, but not limited to, sitting, walking, bending, squatting, stooping, twisting, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, standing for long periods of time, and climbing and descending stairs; to operate restaurant equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a touch screen and cash drawer; to verbally communicate to exchange information; to see and hear within a reasonable range for a restaurant/banquet room environment with or without correction.
Work Values:
- Problem Solving – analyzing information and evaluating results to choose and implement the best solution
- Service Orientation – actively looking for ways to help people
- Concern for Others – being sensitive to others’ needs and feelings, and being understanding and helpful
- Tolerance – accepting criticism, and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations
- Dependability – being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations
- Cooperation – being pleasant with others and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude
- Attention to Detail – being careful about detail and thorough in completing tasks
- Integrity – being honest and ethical
- Confidentiality – maintaining strict privacy of information, documents, etc.
Hours
Vary depending on catering event calendar, hotel occupancy and workload, and will require the flexibility to work evenings, weekends and split shifts as needed.
Uniform
Business Attire
Minimum Age
21
All employees must meet professional grooming standards as per the Fountainhead Development, Inc. Handbook – Employee Personal Appearance.
Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
