Catering Director

Wilmington, NC, USA|Travel, Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Compensation

Salary

Range $95,000.00 - $110,000.00

Work Schedule

Flexible

Benefits

Health Insurance

Performance bonus

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan

Career development opportunities

Travel opportunities

Employee Discounts

Job Description

Tailwind Hospitality is a dynamic and innovative company specializing in airport hospitality, offering a variety of dining and concession experiences across multiple locations. Known for its commitment to quality service and premium offerings, Tailwind operates cafes, restaurants, bars, and concessions designed to enhance the travel experience for airport partners, corporate clients, local communities, and travelers. As part of its strategic growth, Tailwind is now expanding its services by launching a scalable catering platform that will complement its existing airport hospitality concepts nationwide. This expansion aims to deliver high-touch, exceptional catering services reflective of Tailwind's reputation for premium hospitality and operational excellence.

The Director of Catering role at Tailwind Hospitality is an entrepreneurial and leadership-driven position tasked with the foundational development and launch of the catering program in Jackson Hole. This role plays a pivotal part in shaping the future of Tailwind's catering strategy across the company's airport hospitality portfolio. The Director will be responsible for designing the catering program from the ground up, developing operational workflows, managing end-to-end service delivery, and driving revenue growth through proactive business development and strong client relationships. The position requires a strategic mindset to build scalable systems and partner effectively with culinary, operational, and airport teams to ensure that all catering offerings align with Tailwind's premium service standards.

This full-time role offers competitive base compensation along with performance-based bonus opportunities linked directly to the catering program's revenue growth and financial success. The Director of Catering will be a key ambassador for Tailwind in the Jackson Hole market, tasked with building lasting relationships with location management, airport partners, and local hospitality networks, further positioning Tailwind as a recognized leader in airport hospitality catering.

Beyond launching the program, this leadership role will also contribute to long-term strategic initiatives aimed at expanding Tailwind’s catering model into new airport locations. The Director will evaluate growth opportunities, recommend infrastructure and staffing solutions, and collaborate cross-functionally to ensure operational consistency and premium guest experiences. With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurial leadership, and operational excellence, the Director of Catering is critical to driving Tailwind’s vision of delivering distinguished hospitality services that meet the evolving demands of premium clientele in fast-paced, multi-location environments.

Job Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in hospitality or related field
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in catering or hospitality business development
Proven track record of developing and launching scalable hospitality programs
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to build and maintain client relationships
Demonstrated ability to manage operational processes and teams
Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-location environment
Willingness to travel frequently to operational locations
Ability to handle multiple priorities effectively
Commitment to delivering premium service standards
Proficiency in relevant software and business tools

Job Qualifications

5+ years of experience in catering, hospitality business development, premium foodservice, private aviation catering, or luxury service environments
Proven experience building client relationships and growing recurring revenue
Strong understanding of high-touch hospitality service expectations
Experience launching, growing, or scaling hospitality programs
Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build processes from the ground up
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and sales skills
Strong operational instincts with the ability to translate sales into execution
Experience in airport hospitality, private aviation, FBO catering, or premium resort hospitality is preferred
Familiarity with premium resort and destination-driven service environments is preferred
Knowledge of aviation catering platforms and customer expectations is preferred

Job Duties

Build Tailwind's catering program from the ground up at Jackson Hole
Develop catering workflows, ordering procedures, service standards, packaging expectations, and fulfillment processes
Establish scalable operational systems that can be replicated across Tailwind locations
Partner with culinary and operational teams to align catering offerings with existing airport concepts
Drive catering revenue through relationship-building and proactive business development
Identify opportunities to expand catering services to private aviation customers, airport partners, corporate travelers, and other premium clientele
Build repeat business through exceptional service delivery and strong client engagement
Develop strategies to convert one-time orders into long-term recurring accounts
Build and maintain strong partnerships with location management teams, airport partners, local community contacts and organizations, and corporate and local hospitality partners
Ensure seamless execution of catering orders with exceptional quality, presentation, accuracy, and responsiveness
Develop service standards for urgent and short-turn catering requests
Support menu development and service enhancements that reflect the Jackson Hole market and premium guest expectations
Collaborate with on-site leadership to ensure operational consistency
Evaluate opportunities to expand Tailwind’s catering model into additional airport locations
Provide recommendations for infrastructure, staffing, and systems needed for broader program growth
Help establish Tailwind as a recognized airport hospitality catering partner across the organization