Catering Manager - Mercersburg Academy

The Catering and Community Engagement Manager serves as a campus ambassador and key liaison between the dining services team and the school community. This role is responsible for improving the guest experience by coordinating events, supporting marketing efforts, engaging the campus community, and leading catering operations. The perfect candidate will have experience in hospitality, strong communication skills, and a proactive approach. This position requires strong project management, a hands-on approach to execution, and a passion for delivering high-quality, significant dining experiences.  

Key Responsibilities:  

• Plan, coordinate, and implement catering events and campus programs, ensuring excellence in service and presentation.  
• Collaborate with campus partners to craft and deliver engaging food-focused events that reflect the school culture.  
• Support marketing initiatives including social media content, promotional campaigns, and visual merchandising.  
• Lead and participate in staff training focused on hospitality, service excellence, and guest engagement.  
• Gather and analyze guest feedback through surveys, focus groups, and direct interaction to continuously improve the dining experience.  
• Build and maintain strong relationships with students, faculty, parents, and school administrators to promote positive community engagement.  
• Provide on-site support and problem-solving during events to ensure smooth execution.  
• Assist with the development and implementation of creative programming that enhances the dining experience throughout the school year.  
• Use catering software platforms (e.g., Catertrax, Spoonfed) to handle event details and communications.  
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and results for campus events and community initiatives.  

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Minimum 3 years of experience in hospitality, food and beverage management, or catering operations.  
• Associate’s degree or higher in Hospitality Management, Event Planning, Marketing, or related field preferred.  
• Experience in event planning, conference services, and campus catering strongly preferred.  
• Knowledge of food preparation and presentation standards; culinary background a plus.  
• Confirmed leadership and experience managing or training service staff.  
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities under tight timelines.  
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; public speaking experience a plus.  
• High comfort level in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with catering software systems preferred.  
• Creative problem solver with a passion for hospitality trends, guest engagement, and community-building.