Food & Beverage General Manager - RICE University

Proof of the Pudding is an award-winning catering company renowned throughout the Southeast for its commitment to delivering quality culinary innovations and exceptional service. Established as a leader in the hospitality industry, the company has consistently raised the bar by expanding into Sports and Entertainment Hospitality Services. This venture includes providing elevated concession experiences and premium offerings to prestigious venues such as collegiate stadiums, PGA golf tournaments, International Boat Shows, professional sports teams, and convention centers. These expansions exemplify the company’s dedication to excellence and its ability to adapt to diverse event environments while maintaining top-tier service standards.

As a General Manager at Proof of the Pudding, you will be entrusted with managing the Food Service team at RICE University, a position that demands expertise in leading large venue catering operations. Your role will focus on concession operations and premium hospitality logistics, ensuring that all aspects of food service run smoothly and efficiently. Serving as the primary point of contact for day-to-day operations, you will guide the team’s development and uphold strong client relations. This leadership position requires not only operational acumen but also a passion for fostering a dynamic, growth-oriented work atmosphere.

The General Manager's responsibilities encompass a wide scope of management tasks, including overseeing a team of three managers and up to 50 hourly employees. You will play a critical role in designing and implementing business operations aimed at maximizing efficiency and profitability within the food service department. Financial management is key, with duties such as forecasting requirements, preparing budgets, scheduling expenditures, and analyzing performance results to meet and exceed financial objectives. The role also calls for meticulous communication with corporate leadership, providing financial statements and operational insights.

Your leadership will extend to ensuring continuous improvement in quality, productivity, and cost control while encouraging innovation in service delivery. You will set comprehensive goals for the department’s performance and growth, monitor team schedules, and hold staff accountable through performance evaluations. Developing talent and coaching organizational leaders are integral to this role, along with maintaining a positive, accountable workplace culture that emphasizes company policies. Furthermore, you will cultivate strategic partnerships with clients, vendors, venue partners, and other business relationships to strengthen the company's market position.

The role involves a balanced work environment, split roughly between office duties and event attendance. Office work involves computer tasks, interdepartmental communication, and coordination, while event attendance puts you at the forefront, leading execution teams and ensuring service excellence on-site. You will occasionally travel to support other Proof of the Pudding venues, with about 30% travel anticipated. Physical demands include periods of sitting at a desk and active movement during events, alongside lifting and carrying equipment and food items.

This full-time salaried position offers an opportunity for yearly bonuses and includes comprehensive benefits such as basic life and AD&D insurance, long-term disability coverage, and options for medical, dental, and vision insurance. Additional perks include car allowances and a cell phone stipend. Proof of the Pudding is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion, valuing all applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics. This role is ideal for an experienced hospitality professional with a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to excellence in food and beverage management and event hospitality.