Senior Catering & Events Manager, River Oaks Country Club, Houston, TX

Position Summary

Reporting directly to the Director of Catering and Events, the Senior Catering and Events Manager independently manages a portfolio of high-touch member, private, and Club events from the initial inquiry and contracting stage through planning, execution, billing, and post-event follow-up. The role is responsible for servicing approximately $1.5 million in annual food revenue while maintaining the level of personal service, discretion, and accuracy expected at River Oaks Country Club.

ROCC hosts approximately 3,000 events annually, ranging from intimate dinners and elaborate wine events to weddings, nonprofit galas, holiday functions, and large-scale Club events. The Senior Manager serves as the primary liaison among Members, event hosts, planners, vendors, and Club departments and takes ownership of each event's financial, administrative, and operational details.

This position requires a seasoned event professional who can manage complex events with limited oversight, make sound decisions under pressure, and lead others through clear direction and follow-through. The successful candidate combines private club awareness, luxury hospitality experience, strong business judgment, and a genuine commitment to Member service.

Key ResponsibilitiesEvent Planning & Member Service

• Manage member and sponsored events from initial inquiry through final billing, including proposals, contracts, deposits, planning, execution, and follow-up.
• Plan weddings, social celebrations, golf and tennis events, wine dinners, holiday programming, nonprofit galas, corporate events, and major Club functions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Members and event hosts by providing timely guidance, anticipating needs, and balancing creative requests with Club standards and operational realities.
• Lead planning meetings, site visits, menu consultations, tastings, and vendor walkthroughs; establish clear next steps and maintain consistent communication throughout the planning process.
• Guide hosts through menus, beverage service, room layouts, decor, entertainment, rentals, linens, floral arrangements, audiovisual needs, valet, and vendor logistics.
• Develop complete and accurate Banquet Event Orders, timelines, floorplans, setup instructions, and internal notes with sufficient detail for each department to execute successfully.
• Maintain accurate event records, correspondence, historical preferences, and task deadlines in Delphi and other departmental systems.

Event Execution and Operational Leadership

• Coordinate closely with Culinary, Banquets, Valet, Facilities, Housekeeping, Audiovisual, Communications, Golf, Tennis, and other departments before and during each event.
• Lead BEO meetings and internal meetings for complex functions, identify decision points and operational risks, and confirm ownership of all follow-up items.
• Anticipate challenges, resolve issues calmly and decisively, and communicate changes to the appropriate Member, host, vendor, and internal leaders.
• Ensure dietary restrictions, accessibility needs, security considerations, special requests, and relevant Member preferences are documented and communicated accurately.
• Manage several complex events at different stages of planning while protecting deadlines, accuracy, responsiveness, and service quality.

Financial and Administrative Management

• Prepare accurate estimates, contracts, deposits, guarantees, pricing updates, billing reconciliation, and final invoices in accordance with Club policies.
• Maintain responsibility for assigned event revenue, forecasting, tentative holds, contracting deadlines, and the accurate management of assigned business on the Club's event calendar.
• Review event charges and supporting documentation before invoicing, investigate discrepancies promptly, and ensure complete and accurate billing.
• Apply Club policies consistently while using sound judgment to find thoughtful solutions that preserve the Member relationship and protect the Club.
• Identify appropriate opportunities to enhance the event and increase revenue without compromising the host's priorities or the Member experience.

Team Leadership and Department Support

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and direction to the Catering Coordinator and Catering Administrative Assistant in partnership with the Director of Catering and Events.
• Delegate assignments, establish deadlines, review work for accuracy, and hold team members accountable for timely follow-through.
• Serve as a resource to other Catering & Events Managers and coordinators in the department by sharing operational knowledge, reviewing complex details, and helping maintain consistent departmental standards.
• Assist with training, onboarding, feedback, departmental procedures, calendar reviews, and other initiatives that strengthen the team's organization and service delivery.
• Represent the department in meetings and provide leadership coverage when requested by the Director of Catering and Events.
• Maintain professional relationships with Members, guests, planners, vendors, and colleagues and represent the Club with discretion and sound judgment.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of progressive catering or event management experience, including at least four years in a full-service Catering or Events Manager role.
• Demonstrated experience independently managing events from booking and contracting through execution, billing, and post-event follow-up.
• Proven success planning and executing high-touch weddings, galas, wine dinners, holiday events, VIP functions, and other complex social events.
• Experience managing a significant annual event portfolio, preferably approximately $1.5 million or more in food revenue, or comparable event volume and complexity.
• Strong knowledge of banquet operations, food and beverage service, event logistics, floorplans, timelines, vendor management, and luxury hospitality standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare accurate event documents and proofread detailed information.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to direct, coach, and hold support staff accountable while maintaining a collaborative working environment.
• Strong financial and administrative skills, including estimates, contracts, deposits, forecasting, billing reconciliation, and final invoicing.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours based on the event calendar.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a comparable private club or luxury member-driven hospitality environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Business, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Delphi, Social Tables, and similar hospitality or event management systems.

Professional Characteristics

• Polished, confident, and composed, with the judgment and discretion required in a private club environment.
• Understands the nuances of a private club environment, including Member relationships, discretion, traditions, Club policies, and personalized service
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and urgency.
• Proactive and solutions-focused, with the ability to recognize what needs attention before being asked.
• Warm and service-minded, clear, direct, and accountable.
• Adaptable under pressure and capable of managing changing priorities and last-minute requests with professionalism.
• Collaborative and respectful, with the ability to build trust across departments and lead without creating unnecessary friction.
• Dependable, self-motivated, and willing to be hands-on when the operation requires it.
• Committed to integrity, accuracy, follow-through, and exceptional Member experiences.

The Association of Club Catering & Event Professionals (ACCP) is conducting this search. Please send your qualified resume to Lynne LaFond DeLuca at the ACCP: Lynne@TheACCP.com

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• event planning: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: In person