Catering Operations Manager
11 days ago
Atlanta
Job DescriptionBenefits: • Employee discounts, • Opportunity for advancement, • Training & development, • Bonus based on performance, • Competitive salary, • Free food & snacks, • Paid time off Catering Operation ManagerCompany: Social Express Catering & Meal Prep (SECMP) Location: Metro Atlanta, GA (On-site) Job Type: Full-Time Compensation: $50,000$55,000/year (based on experience) + KPI bonus opportunity Schedule: Early mornings required; some weekends/evenings depending on business needs Reports To: COO + CEO/Executive Chef Direct Reports: Kitchen staff (Catering Specialists/Cooks), Drivers, Shift Leads Role SummarySocial Express Catering & Meal Prep (SECMP) is hiring a seasoned Operations Manager to run the day-to-day execution of our production kitchen, staffing, and delivery operations. This role is for a true operatorsomeone who is organized, disciplined, and can lead people while driving performance through KPIs. You will be responsible for making sure our daily operations run smoothly across: Large-scale daily meal production + packing Delivery logistics and on-time dispatch Inventory readiness and waste control Kitchen structure, cleanliness, and compliance Staff scheduling and accountability Support for catering and event readiness (Chef-led execution) This is not a desk job. You will be hands-on and fully responsible for keeping the business running without chaos. Key Responsibilities1) Own Daily Production & Kitchen Execution • Run daily operations including prep, cook, packing, staging, load-out, and reset, • Lead daily pre-shift huddles and assign stations with deadlines, • Enforce consistency in portioning, food quality, packaging, and accuracy, • Prevent fire drills by planning ahead and controlling the pace of the kitchen, • Ensure the kitchen is clean, organized, and production-ready at all times2) Build the Daily/Weekly Plan (No Guesswork), • Create daily production timelines and prep lists, • Coordinate staffing coverage based on volume and deadlines, • Ensure all teams know the plan: who is doing what, by what time, and how it must look, • Control overtime by planning aheadnot reacting late3) Dispatch & Delivery Accountability, • Confirm driver coverage daily and ensure smooth route execution, • Maintain strict dispatch procedures:, • correct loading order, • route-ready staging, • equipment sign-out and return tracking, • departure time tracking, • Identify delivery risks early and correct them before they become failures, • Hold drivers accountable for accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism4) Inventory, Ordering & Waste Control, • Maintain par levels for food, packaging, and disposables, • Track key inventory items that impact daily output (protein, trays, containers, labels, etc.), • Reduce waste through better forecasting, FIFO, and prep discipline, • Communicate shortages immediately to leadership with a solution plan 5. Food Safety, Quality & Compliance • Enforce food safety and sanitation requirements daily, • Ensure all required logs are completed (temps, sanitation, cleaning schedules, etc.), • Maintain compliance culture: no shortcuts, no excuses, • Correct issues fast and prevent repeat mistakes6) Staff Leadership & Performance Management, • Train and coach staff to standards (SOPs, station expectations, speed, cleanliness), • Hold staff accountable for punctuality, professionalism, and performance, • Support hiring and onboarding in partnership with CEO/COO, • Document recurring performance issues and implement corrective actions7) Catering & Events Support (Executive Chef-Led) The Executive Chef owns all event strategy, planning, day-of execution, and culinary direction. The Operations Manager supports Chef by ensuring readiness. • Coordinate staffing support for event prep needs, • Ensure equipment, supplies, and disposables are staged on time, • Keep kitchen production protected so events dont disrupt daily obligations, • Ensure the kitchen is reset and ready after event prep work 8. Daily Reporting & KPI Management • Track performance with clear metrics and trends, • Provide a daily recap to COO/CEO including:, • on-time dispatch status, • packing accuracy/mistakes, • staffing issues/callouts, • inventory gaps, • corrective actions taken, • Lead weekly KPI review and improvement actions KPI Scorecard (What Success Looks Like)Execution & Delivery • On-time dispatch: 98% weekly, • Missed routes/sites: 0, • Packing accuracy: 99%Quality & Compliance, • Log completion: 95% daily, • Critical food safety incidents: 0, • Client complaints: decreasing trendLabor & Efficiency, • Labor hours within weekly plan, • Overtime controlled and approved only, • Reduced waste month-over-monthTeam Reliability, • 100% route/shift coverage, • Improved punctuality + reduced callouts, • Training completed within required timelines QualificationsRequired • 37+ years leadership in catering, meal prep, high-volume kitchens, or food production, • Proven ability to manage a team and hit deadlines consistently, • Strong organization and time management, • Confident communicator and firm leader, • Comfortable being hands-on and moving fast in a production environment, • ServSafe Manager, • Experience with multi-route delivery logistics and packing systems, • Kitchen runs with structure (huddles, stations, deadlines, checklists), • Accuracy improves, fewer mistakes, fewer emergency issues, • Operations runs smoothly without owner micromanagement, • KPI targets consistently hit, • What is the largest kitchen/production operation youve managed?, • What KPIs have you been responsible for?, • What is your leadership stylefirm, structured, fast-paced?