What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Catering Conference Services position at Hilton Arlington Rosslyn at The Key?
Position Summary
The Director of Catering & Conference Services is responsible for the overall leadership, commercial performance, and operational excellence of the catering and conference services department.
This leader will oversee departmental strategy, revenue growth, team performance, client satisfaction, and cross-functional execution while ensuring the hotel delivers exceptional meetings, events, and catered experiences. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who can lead at a high level while remaining connected enough to the operation to support complex events, major client relationships, and critical business needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the overall catering and conference services operation, with accountability for revenue growth, client satisfaction, team performance, and operational excellence.
- Drive proactive business development, strategic sales efforts, and revenue optimization across corporate, association, social, wedding, and local market segments.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Catering & Conference Services team, fostering accountability, collaboration, and exceptional service standards.
- Oversee the full client journey from initial inquiry through event execution and final follow-up, ensuring seamless communication, strong partnerships, and outstanding guest experiences.
- Serve as the senior point of contact for VIP clients, complex business opportunities, escalated service matters, and high-profile events.
- Manage departmental budgeting, forecasting, financial performance, and administrative compliance while identifying opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency.
- Partner closely with Sales, Banquets, Culinary, Front Office, and Food & Beverage teams to ensure aligned execution and maximize total hotel revenue.
Qualifications
- Minimum 7 years of progressive hotel catering, conference services, and event leadership experience in a full-service hotel environment
- Demonstrated success leading catering/event revenue growth and managing high-performing teams
- Strong background in hotel catering sales, conference services operations, and client relationship management
- Proven financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, and revenue strategy
- Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and organizational skills
- Ability to lead strategically while maintaining operational credibility in a fast-paced environment
- Hilton experience preferred
What We’re Looking For
The ideal candidate is:
- A strategic and commercially minded hospitality leader
- Strong in sales, negotiation, and revenue growth
- A confident people leader who develops talent and drives accountability
- Operationally credible and respected by cross-functional partners
- Polished, relationship-driven, and guest-focused
- Calm under pressure, decisive, and solutions-oriented
- Experienced leading both corporate and social event business
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive full-time benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Paid Vacation
- Holiday Pay
- Life Insurance
- Hilton Team Member Travel Benefits
- Dynamic and growth-oriented leadership environment