Occupation
Catering manager
Catering managers plan and deliver food and drink for functions, conferences, and contract sites. They quote and cost menus, order stock, and roster the kitchen and service teams for each event. The job runs on logistics: getting the right food, equipment, and people to the right place at the right time.
Also known as: Banquet manager · Catering operations manager · Functions manager
Occupation content
Part of Hospitality, travel and tourism
What the work involves
- Quote and cost menus and function packages against client briefs.
- Plan production schedules, transport, and equipment lists for each event.
- Roster kitchen, service, and casual staff across overlapping functions.
- Order ingredients and disposables and manage stock, waste, and returns.
- Supervise set-up and service on site and handle client changes on the day.
- Maintain food safety, allergen, and temperature records for off-site catering.
How people commonly enter
- Promotion from banquet supervisor, chef, or food service supervisor roles.
- A college diploma in hospitality, culinary, or food service management.
- A bachelor's degree in hospitality or business administration.
- A food safety or person-in-charge certification required by the operation's regulator.
Typical training: Certificate or college diploma
Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions — confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.
Typical work context
Team based · High responsibility · Client sites · Fast paced · Varied work
Related interests
Enterprising (leading) · Conventional (organizing) · Social (helping)
Related aptitude preparation
These are preparation links only. They do not measure eligibility for this occupation and no score here qualifies or disqualifies anyone.
Skills to practise
- Planning and scheduling exercises
- Management and supervisory judgment
- Numerical reasoning
- Safety judgment
- In-tray and e-tray exercises
Practice suites
Related learning
Family-level learning links for Hospitality, travel and tourism.
Official sources
Labour-market facts such as pay and employment projections are not reproduced here. Open an official source below for figures, with its own geography and reference period.
- Canada Job Bank — career planning and occupation search (food service managers) · Canada
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- US BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Food Service Managers · United States
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- O*NET OnLine — occupation quick search: catering manager · International
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Labour-market context (not part of exploration match)
This is broad family-level context for Hospitality, travel and tourism in Canada, not a figure for Catering manager. It does not affect matching scores and is not an eligibility determination.
This is a broad Hospitality, travel and tourism family. Explore the official profile for the chosen occupation; entry education and training can differ within the family.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Hospitality, travel and tourism: education pathways
Some roles in Hospitality, travel and tourism may be regulated. Confirm whether the specific role requires registration, certification, or a jurisdiction-specific licence.
Canada Job Bank Career Planning · Canada · Current official profile; consult source for its release period
Hospitality, travel and tourism: licensing
Find jobs
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- Search Canada Job Bank · Canada
- Search USAJOBS · United States federal
- Search EURES · European Union / EEA
- Search Indeed · International (choose location on Indeed)