Head of conference & events – catering
The head of conference & events is a senior leadership role with full responsibility for the strategic planning, commercial performance, and flawless delivery of all conference and events catering operations. This position plays a pivotal role in shaping the guest experience, driving operational excellence, and delivering strong commercial results across a diverse and high-profile events portfolio.
Reporting directly to the food & beverage director, the role has significant influence across operations, people leadership, and commercial performance.
Develop and deliver the conference & events catering strategy in line with wider business objectives
Identify and implement innovative approaches to event catering and guest experience
Continuously review operational models to improve efficiency, consistency, and performance
Lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing conference & events catering team
Create a culture of service excellence, accountability, and respect
Conduct regular 1:1s, team meetings, and business reviews
Provide clear direction, coaching, and structured development pathways
Manage departmental budgets including forecasting, cost control, and reporting
Oversee non-F&B purchasing in line with budgets and supplier agreements
Maximise labour productivity through effective workforce planning and forecasting
Monitor gross profit, cash handling, and stock control
Ensure accurate and timely client billing in collaboration with internal teams and third-party suppliers
Work closely with internal sales teams to support catering-led sales strategies for conferences and events
Contribute to menus, proposals, and commercial offerings
Oversee end-to-end event delivery, from planning and setup through to execution and breakdown
Liaise with logistics and operational teams to ensure seamless delivery
Undertake duty management and operational shifts as required
Act as a super-user for till systems and back-of-house conference & events functionality
Ensure compliance with workforce management systems for scheduling, approvals, and payroll accuracy
Monitor service delivery against agreed standards and SLAs
Ensure compliance with company policies, licensing laws, Trading Standards, and EHO regulations
Work with the people team to deliver a robust training and development framework
Ensure all statutory and bespoke training is completed and recorded
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
Act as the primary point of contact for client queries, ensuring service delivery exceeds expectations
Significant senior experience leading conference & events catering operations within a large venue or multi-site environment
Proven ability to lead and manage large teams through strong leadership behaviours, coaching, and structured communication
Strong commercial acumen with experience managing budgets, labour efficiency, and operational performance
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
Highly organised, resilient, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments
Self-motivated, proactive, and solutions-focused
Personal licence holder
Experience delivering large-scale or VIP events (500+ guests) from concept through to delivery and evaluation
Competitive salary
Staff meals
Personal training and development opportunities
Exposure across the wider business
Sick pay
Mint People: Flexible Hospitality Staffing That Just Works.
At Mint People, we provide fully trained, highly presentable, and dependable staff to the hospitality, leisure, and events industries. Whether it’s one bartender for a last-minute shift or 150 staff for a stadium event, we’re trusted by some of the UK’s best hotels, venues, and operators to deliver quality people – fast.
With over 10 years’ experience, we’ve become known as one of the most reliable and forward-thinking staffing partners in the North – and beyond. From front-of-house professionals to kitchen porters, housekeepers to event managers, our people are trained in-house through our 5-star onboarding and briefing programme to ensure they’re ready to hit the ground running.
Our clients come back year after year because we understand how unpredictable hospitality can be – and we’re built to flex with it. We’re proud to work with national hotel groups, global event brands, leading caterers and independent operators, offering:
• Fast, flexible staffing solutions – no long contracts or tie-ins
• Fully trained, presentable and prepared people
• Front and back of house cover – including chefs, kitchen teams, bar staff, waiters, housekeepers and more
• Festival and stadium-scale team deployment
• National reach with local knowledge
• On-site support and account management
Our quality promise? We only send people we’d trust to represent our own brand – because they are our brand.
If you need staffing support that’s consistent, stress-free and built around you – you’re in the right place.
Mint People – We've got you covered.
