What does a catering supervisor do?
A catering supervisor oversees and spearheads the daily operations of a catering business, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They primarily meet with clients or representatives to identify their catering needs and develop menus according to their budget and preferences. From there, a catering supervisor coordinates with staff, develops plans, sets goals and guidelines, delegates responsibilities among teams, and secures the necessary supplies. They also maintain an open communication line with clients, updating them regularly. Moreover, they lead and encourage employees to reach goals, supervising all procedures to ensure they comply with the industry standards and regulations.
Catering supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real catering supervisor resumes:
- Manage servers and dishwashers on a daily basis making sure everything are always maintain accordingly.
- Train employees on company policy, POS systems.
- Take catering orders over the phone and enter them into POS.
- Cater to the guest of event as wait staff also bartending for private gatherings.
- Experience includes bar management, bartending, meetings, banquets, dinners, green room and V.I.P.
- Perform all inventory and payroll relate functions.
- Introduce culinary artistry to overall operation increasing in house sales.
- Coordinate logistics with client, operations and culinary team to ensure timely and accurate order fulfillment.
- Create unique menu items and standardize innovative production recipes to maintain consistent cuisine and guest satisfaction.
- Train FOH staff in catering department
- Manage servers and dishwashers on a daily basis making sure everything are always maintain accordingly.
Catering supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Catering Supervisors are proficient in Customer Service, Food Service, and HACCP. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Catering Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 17%
Supervised catering events including banquets, weddings and other high profile gatherings interacting with clientele and providing excellent customer service.
- Food Service, 13%
Established and implemented written policies, procedures, techniques and methods to achieve departmental goals and objectives for food service units.
- HACCP, 8%
Plan and execute high level catering functions Position Responsibilities: Must comply with all ServSafe and HACCP programs and principles.
- Cleanliness, 8%
Supervised the cleanliness, maintenance, and sanitation of banquet rooms, main dining room, and dining services equipment.
- Food Preparation, 7%
Maintain compliance with safe and sanitary food preparation/storing guidelines.
- Culinary, 6%
Coordinated logistics with client, operations and culinary team to ensure timely and accurate order fulfillment.
Common skills that a catering supervisor uses to do their job include "customer service," "food service," and "haccp." You can find details on the most important catering supervisor responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a catering supervisor to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what catering supervisors do because "food service managers must be courteous and attentive when dealing with patrons." Additionally, a catering supervisor resume shows how catering supervisors use customer-service skills: "developed variety of menu items catering to customers with food allergies and diet restrictions such as gluten-free and vegan items. "
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of catering supervisors is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday catering supervisor duties, as "managers have many different responsibilities, including scheduling and overseeing staff, budgeting, and maintaining financial records." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "possess strong organizational skills, exceptional customer service skills, and have to ability to train new employees. "
Problem-solving skills. catering supervisor responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "managers need to be able to resolve personnel issues and customer-related problems." This resume example shows what catering supervisors do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "provided excellent customer service and resolved problems as needed. "
Business skills. A commonly-found skill in catering supervisor job descriptions, "business skills" is essential to what catering supervisors do. Catering supervisor responsibilities rely on this skill because "food service managers must understand all aspects of the restaurant business, including how to budget for supplies, comply with regulations, and manage workers." You can also see how catering supervisor duties rely on business skills in this resume example: "oversee catering staff and customer relations while periodically attending company funded events to build connections with local businesses"
Communication skills. Lastly, "communication skills" is an important element of what a catering supervisor does. Catering supervisor responsibilities require this skill because "food service managers must give clear orders to staff and be able to convey information effectively to employees and customers." This resume example highlights how catering supervisor duties rely on this skill: "displayed excellent customer service, communication, and maintain a well-groomed appearance. "
The three companies that hire the most catering supervisors are:
- Sodexo Management, Inc.61 catering supervisors jobs
- Compass Group USA46 catering supervisors jobs
- Aramark33 catering supervisors jobs
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Catering supervisor vs. Front of house manager
A front of house manager coordinates and supervises the front house team. Front of house managers make sure that every client receives a warm welcome. They see to it that all house services are performed smoothly. The scope of their duties and responsibilities may involve the recruitment of team members. They carry out administrative tasks in an organization or establishment such as a theater, concert hall, or restaurant. It is their job to handle the preparation and daily operations of these areas.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a catering supervisor are more likely to require skills like "haccp," "culinary," "allergies," and "food handling." On the other hand, a job as a front of house manager requires skills like "wine," "guest service," "cash handling," and "inventory management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Front of house managers really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $39,179. Comparatively, catering supervisors tend to make the most money in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $36,948.front of house managers tend to reach similar levels of education than catering supervisors. In fact, front of house managers are 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Catering supervisor vs. Kitchen assistant manager
An assistant kitchen manager is in charge of a large establishment or restaurant when the manager is not around. They supervise all operations in the kitchen, monitor the performance of the staff, train the newly hired crew, and create an inventory report of all supplies. They must also ensure that clients expectations are met by providing them the best service. An assistant kitchen manager needs to be customer-oriented and detail-oriented, and they must also have management skills, critical thinking skills, and organizational skills.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, catering supervisor responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "haccp," "pos," "allergies," and "quality service." Meanwhile, a kitchen assistant manager has duties that require skills in areas such as "kitchen equipment," "fifo," "slicers," and "kitchen operations." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Kitchen assistant managers earn a higher average salary than catering supervisors. But kitchen assistant managers earn the highest pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $41,915. Additionally, catering supervisors earn the highest salaries in the hospitality with average pay of $36,948 annually.In general, kitchen assistant managers achieve similar levels of education than catering supervisors. They're 1.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Catering supervisor vs. Shift leader
Shift leaders are tenured or experienced employees who are assigned to oversee employees in specific work shifts. They manage team members who are assigned in their shift. They also ensure that business goals are met. Shift leaders check whether team members are working, and they ensure that they always comply with company policies and guidelines. They also monitor the performance of their employees and coach them should the employees need help in any area of their work. Shift leaders should have good communication skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from catering supervisor resumes include skills like "haccp," "food preparation," "culinary," and "allergies," whereas a shift leader is more likely to list skills in "patients," "math," "cash handling," and "management. "
Shift leaders make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $36,581. On the other hand, catering supervisors are paid the highest salary in the hospitality industry, with average annual pay of $36,948.Most shift leaders achieve a similar degree level compared to catering supervisors. For example, they're 1.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Catering supervisor vs. Deli manager
A deli manager is responsible for monitoring the daily operations of the restaurant, delegating tasks to staff, supervising the food orders and services, maintaining adequate stock inventory, and finding ways to minimize production costs without compromising quality service. Deli managers strategize on techniques in maximizing the productivity of the operations staff to boost revenues and increase the business' profitability. They also attend to the guests' needs, respond to their inquiries, and resolve complaints immediately. A deli manager analyzes current food trends to update the restaurant's menu and meet the guests' demands.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between catering supervisors and deli managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a catering supervisor might have more use for skills like "customer service," "haccp," "culinary," and "allergies." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of deli managers require skills like "basic math," "pallets," "math," and "quality customer service. "
Deli managers enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $36,922. For comparison, catering supervisors earn the highest salary in the hospitality industry.The average resume of deli managers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to catering supervisors. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.3% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.Types of catering supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025











