Role Overview:
Join a gre team where students are the heart of everything we do!
Sodexo's Campus Segment is seeking an experienced Cering Manager 3 to lead and grow cering operions for the University of Southern Maine. Supporting the Portland, Gorham, Lewiston/Auburn, and Maine Law School campuses, this role is responsible for delivering exceptional cering experiences ranging from everyday meetings and student events to formal receptions, pled dinners, and Board of Trustees functions.
Based primarily on the Portland campus, this position will oversee a thriving cering program with more than $1 million in annual volume and significant growth opportunities. The successful candide will be a dynamic leader who is passione about hospitality, event execution, client sisfaction, and team development. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact while helping expand cering services across a growing university community.
Wh You'll Do:
- Lead all aspects of cering operions across multiple campus locions, ensuring exceptional service and flawless event execution.
- Manage a diverse portfolio of events, including meetings, conferences, receptions, banquets, VIP functions, and special university events.
- Partner with clients to cree customized cering experiences th exceed expections and build long-term relionships.
- Oversee event logistics, staffing, scheduling, setup, service, and post-event follow-up.
- Drive cering revenue growth by identifying new business opportunities and developing relionships with internal and external clients.
- Manage food and labor costs while maintaining financial performance and budget targets.
- Collabore with culinary teams on menu development, food presention, and innovive cering offerings.
- Lead, coach, train, and develop hourly cering staff to foster a positive, service-focused culture.
- Ensure compliance with food safety, sanition, allergen awareness, and company standards.
- Maintain inventory controls, purchasing processes, and operional efficiencies to support business goals.
- Support summer conferencing and special programs associed with the university's expanding facilities
Wh We Offer:
Compension is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candide's educion level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candide's specific criteria, like experience, skills, educion, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package th may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Mching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive informion is provided to new employees upon hire.
Wh You Bring:
- Experience leading cering, banquet, conference, or hospitality operions, preferably within higher educion, hotels, convention centers, or large-scale event venues.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motive, develop, and engage a diverse team.
- Proven ability to manage multiple events and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent client relionship management skills and a passion for delivering outstanding customer service.
- Financial acumen with experience managing budgets, controlling costs, and analyzing operional performance.
- Knowledge of menu planning, food presention, event execution, and hospitality best practices.
- Understanding of food safety regulions, sanition standards, allergens, and special dietary accommodions.
- Strong organizional, communicion, and problem-solving skills.
- High tention to detail and commitment to quality.
- Experience with sustainable dining practices and innovive cering solutions is a plus.
- Ability to clearly communice expections, delege effectively, and lead teams through successful event execution.
Who We Are:
At Sodexo, our purpose is to cree a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we opere. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, cering, facilities management, and other integred solutions worldwide.
Our company values you for you; you will be treed fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, nional origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual oriention, military stus, protected veteran stus, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, ste, or local law. If you need assistance with the applicion process, please complete this form.
Qualificions & Requirements:
Minimum Educion Requirement - Associe's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 2 years
Minimum Functional Experience – 1 year work experience in food or culinary services including restaurants, fast food, vending, cering services, institutional services, mall food courts, etc.
