From service contracts to food delivery and site set-up, a catering supervisor is in charge of organizing and overseeing most catering industry operations. When it comes to booking events, the supervisor is usually the first person that prospective clients meet with. He or she is also in charge of establishing pricing structures and ensuring that projects are completed on time and on budget. The job is similar to that of a catering manager in some ways. A supervisor, on the other hand, is usually a more senior position that deals with finances, business management, and event coordination.
A catering supervisor is near the top of the food preparation and delivery industry’s hierarchy. This person is usually in charge of overseeing all aspects of a catering operation. The job entails hiring and training servers, collaborating with chefs to create menus, and keeping track of the master calendar. In most cases, the catering supervisor is also present at events to deal with any problems that may arise and to answer any questions that may arise.
Catering supervisors are business administrators in many ways. The catering world revolves around commercial food preparation and service, but marketing, client retention, and pricing on the front end require a great deal of foresight. The supervisor is usually in charge of these tasks. This person is usually in charge of not only planning and executing events, but also ensuring that the company’s books are in order and that it is profitable.
The scope of duties and responsibilities is one of the most significant distinctions between a catering supervisor and a catering manager. Much depends on the size of the company, but in general, a manager is in charge of food preparation and server readiness, but has no say in how those decisions are made. The supervisor’s vision and orders are essentially carried out the manager. Managers oversee any on-site preparations and ensure that the food is delivered in good condition during catering events. Supervisors are in charge of a higher level of work, such as managing physical space and scheduling.
Catering supervisors frequently begin their careers as managers, chefs, or servers. Most catering jobs are hierarchical, which means that with hard work and attention to detail, employees can work their way up the chain of command. It is extremely rare for someone to advance to the position of catering supervisor without at least some prior experience in the industry. Supervisors frequently go on to work for large corporations or hotel chains as event coordinators, wedding planners, or social managers.