Director, Catering & Conference Services

The Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI is devoted to creating enduring relationships with our guests and members by providing highly personalized service and gracious hospitality in an informally elegant atmosphere. The Ocean House and OH! Spa at the Ocean House has been awarded the coveted 5 Stars from Forbes Travel Guide while our Seasons Restaurant has been awarded 4 Stars.
 

Service is executed at the highest level at the Ocean House.  Seasons is the Ocean House’s fine dining restaurant of farm-to-table cuisine. Our Chefs work closely with local farms to obtain the best ingredients available in New England, which allow for dishes to change daily based on what is freshest and just harvested.  The Club Room is our Members Dining Room which serves a Bistro menu along with dishes that are seasonally driven.

The Ocean House is a Five Diamond AAA hotel and a member of Relais & Chateaux. Also, the Travel + Leisure Best Awards 2012, voted on by Travel + Leisure readers, ranked the Ocean House as the #4 Top Resort in the Continental U.S. and #60 Top Hotel in the World.

Reopened in the fall of 2012, the Weekapaug Inn is located in the peaceful community of Weekapaug, Rhode Island, with sweeping views of Quonochontaug Pond, and the Atlantic just beyond.  Inspired by classis Cape-Cod style, the building is covered with red cedar shingles and accented by dark brown trim.  The property features 27 guest rooms and four Signature Suites, with farm-to-table fine and casual dining and boutique event space.

The Weekapaug Inn was recently accepted as a member of Relais & Chateaux.  There are 542 Relais & Chateaux properties worldwide but only 40 in the United States, 3 in Rhode Island and the Weekapaug Inn is the first to be a member after operating for only ninety days.

As sister property to the Ocean House, located just five miles away in Watch Hill. Guests of the Weekapaug Inn enjoy access to all of the amenities and facilities at the resort including five restaurants, a private beach, activities and programming, yachting, the OH! Spa and others.

We seek a Director, Catering & Conference Services. 

The Director of Catering and Conference Services is responsible for effectively selling the public space, food and beverage, and function planning services of the hotel to maximize revenues and profits for the hotel. This position will focus greatly on the Corporate Market while still planning from a social aspect as well.

The Director of Catering and Conference Services establishes new accounts, generates revenues, monitors booking pace, and books repeat business while keeping quality consistently high. The Director will work very closely with the Sales Team to offer seamless communication and planning needs to corporate planners.

The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative and guest support related tasks and will be able to work independently with little or no supervision.  This person must be exceedingly well organized, flexible and enjoy the administrative challenges of supporting a luxury catering operation at a five star level. Experience in Corporate Conference Services is required.

The ability to interact with staff (at all levels) in a fast paced environment, sometimes under pressure, remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient, with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality is crucial to this role.  Expert level written and verbal communication skills, strong decision making ability and attention to detail are equally important.

Director of Catering and Conference Services directly manages and is accountable for a team of Catering Managers as well as the Banqueting Team. 

Internal Relationship:

The Director of Catering and Conference Services works closely with hotel management, food and beverage management and all departments throughout the resort in order to clearly communicate the needs of the clients.

External Relationship:

Has regular contact with the company’s social and group clients, prospective clients, guests, members, and residences owners.  Maintains appropriate relationships with these and other constituencies in order to enhance the image of the Company and the attainment of its objectives.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree; at least 5 years of work experience that can be demonstrated to be applicable to the duties listed in the job description.
• Experience in Corporate Conference Services and experience in luxury hospitality is required.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Ability to effectively and efficiently handle multiple, simultaneous, and complex tasks and projects
• Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
• Employee development and performance management skills.
• Information research, analysis, and evaluation skills.
• Knowledge of office management principles and procedures.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse operation.