Catering Experience Manager

Job Posting Title:

Catering Experience Manager

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Hiring Department:

University Housing and Dining

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Sep 09, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

BENEFITS: UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:  

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage 

• Free Capital Metro bus rides

• Retirement contributions  

• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays  

• Career growth & professional development

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website at https://hr.utexas.edu/  to learn more about the total benefits offered when you join our team!

Purpose

The Catering Experience Manager is responsible for managing the sales and client relations for Forty Acres Catering within Longhorn Hospitality under University Housing and Dining (UHD) at the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Represent Longhorn Hospitality as an expert in their role and as a brand ambassador for the organization. Effectively communicate with internal and external clients and other event staff to determine all event needs are met.

Responsibilities

• Execute overall sales strategies and ensure seamless event execution. Cultivate relationships with potential and re-occurring clients. Maintain knowledge of catering menus, products and services. Communicate new offerings to clients (new menus, limited time offers). Adhering to and maintaining sales calendar in accordance with intake limits, closure dates, and high-profile events. Follow up on placeholder events in sales calendar. Create, adjust, and convey communication tools (email templates, automated messages) for clients and division partners. Plan and create VIP event orders under the supervision of the Assistant Director. Partner with culinary team to create custom and VIP event order menus under the supervision of the Assistant Director. Create and oversee 800+ highly detailed events for key clients and partners. Deliver five-star guest experience providing highest level customer service ensuring to resolve client/guest concerns in a professional and prompt manner.

• Establish and maintain relationships with both internal and external customers fostering relationships within UHD and other university departments. Prepare Banquet Event Orders (BEO) and effectively communicate event details. Collaborate with culinary and production team by communicating detailed event execution requirements through BEO meetings and notes. Provide clear and timely updates to the Catering Coordinator for daily event changes email. Coordinate rented materials and vendors with the purchasing team for purchase order (PO) payments, and with production and culinary teams for details and necessary info for event execution.

• Ensure catering budget aligns with labor and product costs in event sales. Submit necessary information for invoicing and billing to the business services team. Notify the Assistant Director of any billing or invoicing issues. Assist in maintaining and tracking annual sales and budget. Partner with Assistant Director on staffing needs and managing labor cost.

• Assist with event execution during high volume periods. Attend high profile events and heavily coordinated events to check in with clients to ensure standards and client expectations are met. Participate in UHD committees as requested. Assist with other duties as assigned.

• Assist in creating core, supplementary, and limited time menus. Assist in developing and updating policies and procedures for event experience team. Assist with training new catering administrative staff.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Service Management, Culinary Arts, Nutrition, Business, or a related field.

• 3 years of experience in a supervisory and/or manager capacity.

• Ability to complete and maintain Food Safety Training required by University Housing and Dining.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two or more years of experience in catering sales.

• Experience with menu development.

• Experience working in higher education dining services.

• Experience using a food management software, such as FoodPro or similar.

• Experience with Microsoft Office.

• Experience using catering software, such as SpoonFed or similar.

Salary Range

$63,500 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

• Climbing stairs Climbing of ladders

• Lifting and moving

Work Shift

• Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 5:00PM. Hours and days can vary to include nights, weekends, and holidays depending on business needs.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.