Director of Catering Operations

Director of Catering Operations at M Culinary Concepts (Employee-Owned!)

If you have experience in the food and beverage world, M Culinary is searching for a passionate Director of Catering Operations to join our vibrant team and help us create incredible catering experiences across the Southwest. We’re an award-winning catering company based in Phoenix, AZ.

Bonus: you'll be part of an employee-owned company!

About the role:

The Director of Catering Operations is an executive leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence across M Culinary Concepts' core business operations. This position provides strategic leadership, direction, and support to General Managers and departmental leaders, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and consistent performance across Warehouse, Facilities & Fleet Management, Catering Operations, and WestWorld Venue Operations.

The Director of Catering Operations is responsible for developing and empowering departmental leaders, strengthening operational processes, and ensuring alignment with company standards and financial objectives. Through effective leadership, collaboration, and accountability, this role drives operational efficiencies, supports scalable systems, and contributes to the continued growth of M Culinary Concepts

Serving as a key connector between Operations, Culinary, Sales, Finance, and People Operations, the Director of Catering Operations ensures departmental leaders have the resources, guidance, and support necessary to deliver exceptional guest experiences, maintain financial discipline, and achieve company-wide operational goals.

Position Essential Functions:

People Leadership & Development

• Directly manage and coach Catering General Manager, WestWorld General Manager, Facilities and Warehouse Manager
• Build strong leadership benches through mentoring, performance management, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Event Staffing Operations Manager on workforce planning, training, and performance development.

Operations Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across Warehouse, Catering FOH, and WestWorld Operations.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability structures, and operating rhythms for all managed departments.
• Drive consistency in SOP execution, operational standards, and service quality across all locations and event types.
• Partner with executive leadership to support company-wide initiatives, growth planning, and continuous improvement.

Warehouse, Facilities & Fleet Management

• Provide leadership, direction, and support to the Warehouse Logistics Manager, ensuring departmental priorities align with company-wide operational needs.
• Establish clear expectations and accountability for warehouse performance, equipment readiness, facility maintenance, fleet management, and logistical execution.
• Partner with departmental leaders to anticipate operational needs, resolve challenges, and ensure resources are effectively allocated across all business units.
• Support the development and management of departmental budgets, capital investments, preventative maintenance programs, and equipment replacement strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiencies, strengthen processes, and ensure the department is positioned to support the company's continued growth.

Catering Operations

• Provide leadership, direction, and support to the Catering General Manager, establishing clear expectations and accountability for departmental performance.
• Ensure consistent execution of M Culinary Concepts' service standards, operational expectations, and guest experiences across all catering events.
• Partner with Sales, Culinary, and People Operations leadership to align event planning, staffing strategies, and operational resources with business needs.
• Support the development and management of departmental budgets, labor strategies, and financial performance, ensuring operational decisions balance service excellence with profitability.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen team development, improve operational efficiencies, and elevate the quality and consistency of catering execution.

WestWorld Venue Operations

• Provide leadership, direction, and support to the WestWorld General Manager, establishing clear expectations and accountability for departmental performance.
• Ensure alignment between venue operations, catering, concessions, and event execution, supporting consistent service standards and operational excellence.
• Partner with the WestWorld GM in developing and managing departmental budgets, revenue opportunities, labor strategies, and financial performance, ensuring operational decisions support profitability.
• Support the WestWorld GM throughout the event lifecycle, providing strategic guidance and facilitating communication and coordination between M Culinary Concepts, the City of Scottsdale, and event producers.
• Support the GM in managing key relationships, navigating operational challenges, and identifying opportunities to strengthen venue partnerships, improve efficiencies, and enhance the overall event experience.

Financial & Performance Management

• Develop and manage operational budgets across all areas of responsibility.
• Monitor KPIs, operational metrics, and financial performance to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.
• Ensure strong controls related to inventory, cash handling (where applicable), and asset management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Collaborate closely with Culinary, Sales, Finance, HR, and Technology teams to ensure operational alignment and execution.
• Champion the adoption of new systems, tools, and technologies that improve scalability, accuracy, and efficiency.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has the supervisory role of the Catering General Manager, WestWorld General Manager, and Warehouse Facilities Manager.

M Culinary Concepts: Where Food is Fun!

Forget stuffy corporate kitchens. Here at M Culinary, we're a passionate crew obsessed with crafting amazing food & beverage experiences. Our core values? Inspiring Passion, Service to Others, Humbly Confident and Making Huge Fun! Think fast-paced, collaborative, and full of good times (and of course, delicious food!).

The Perks You Deserve:

As an employee-owner, you'll enjoy a sweet benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) match, and daily grab-and-go lunches made by our amazing chefs! Plus, you'll stay connected with our internal app and experience the ownership spirit that makes M Culinary so special.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in catering, hospitality, or large-scale operations.
• Extensive knowledge of catering operations, high-volume food production, and supply chain management.
• Proven multi-unit and/or multi-site operational leadership experience.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and influence teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a track record of successful process improvements.
• Solid financial management skills, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and industry best practices.
• Proficiency in operational technology platforms and systems.
• Commitment to quality, service excellence, and sustainability practices.

Most importantly, we want someone who can excel in their role while having fun and bringing positive energy to the team!

Ready to Join the M Culinary Team?

If you're a passionate Director of Catering Operations who thrives in a fun and fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you! Apply today and help us deliver extraordinary experiences!