Catering Lead

Panera in Rapid City, Pennington County is hiring a full-time Catering Lead to oversee catering operations and deliver exceptional service for large-scale client events. This role combines hands-on leadership with strategic planning, making it perfect for someone ready to drive growth in our catering program.

What This Role Involves

You'll own the complete catering experience—from initial client consultations and menu planning through food preparation, delivery, and on-site service. Your leadership will ensure quality standards, team coordination, and customer satisfaction while managing the logistics of every event. This is both a leadership position and a working role where you'll stay actively involved in delivery and execution.

Responsibilities

• Process catering requests, develop pricing, and finalize event details with clients
• Plan event menus and coordinate food production with the kitchen team
• Organize event logistics including delivery, setup, and service for each catering job
• Lead and mentor catering staff to consistently deliver professional service
• Monitor food quality, presentation, and freshness throughout preparation and service
• Track catering inventory and communicate restocking needs to management
• Cultivate client relationships to build loyalty and secure repeat business
• Address customer concerns and resolve issues to maintain satisfaction

Requirements

• At least 2 years of catering, food service, or restaurant management experience
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop team members
• Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking abilities
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexibility for early mornings, evenings, and weekend event work
• Working knowledge of food safety and health code compliance
• Ability to work on your feet and handle physical demands of event execution

More About Panera

Panera builds a workplace centered on respect and growth. You'll find meaningful work alongside a team that values your contributions, supports your development, and celebrates shared success. We believe in creating an environment where you can bring your authentic self to work while growing professionally every single day.

Apply Today

To apply, complete your application directly on this page, or you'll be redirected to the employer's application platform to finish submitting there.