Job Description

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates. This position is also eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

This position is also bonus eligible, subject to applicable terms and conditions.  

Aramark is seeking a Director of Operations, Catering & Events for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC — one of the largest convention and event venues on the East Coast, hosting citywide conventions, national association meetings, galas, and government functions year-round.

This is a catering-first operation. Approximately 85% of our revenue comes from catered events — plated dinners, receptions, and functions serving thousands of guests, often with multiple ballrooms and meeting rooms in service simultaneously. The balance of the business is our Retail operation supporting show floors and public space. The Director of Operations owns both, with the Catering Director and the Retail Director as direct reports.

We are looking for a leader — someone who builds a management team capable of executing at this scale, sets the standard, and holds people to it. This role runs on a flexible schedule driven by the show calendar.

Our hourly workforce is represented by a union. You will work daily within a collective bargaining agreement and partner closely with HR on grievances, scheduling, seniority, and employee relations. Prior union property experience is essential to success in this role.

The Director of Operations reports to the General Manager.

Compensation Data

COMPENSATION: The Salaried rate for this position is $120,000.00 to $130,000.00. If both numbers are the same, that is the amount that Aramark expects to offer. This is Aramark’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for this position as of the time of posting.

BENEFITS: Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage. Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works. For more information about Aramark benefits, click here Aramark Careers - Benefits & Compensation

There is no predetermined application window for this position, the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to all applicable Fair Chance Ordinances and Acts. For jobs in San Francisco, this includes the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

Job Responsibilities

The successful Director of Operations will:

• Own end-to-end execution of catered events — from BEO review through setup, service, and strike — for multiple concurrent functions across ballrooms, meeting rooms, and exhibit space.

• Lead and develop the Catering Director and Retail Director, setting standards, driving accountability, and building bench strength beneath them.

• Build event labor plans against a dynamic show calendar, deploying union staff by seniority and classification while controlling overtime and protecting service standards.

• Partner with Culinary, Sales, and the venue’s event services team to align menus, timelines, room sets, and staffing well ahead of show day.

• Manage the operation’s P&L — food cost, labor cost, and controllables — and explain variances with specifics, not generalities.

• Work within the collective bargaining agreement day to day: respond to grievances, build documentation that holds up, and maintain professional working relationships with union representatives.

• Manage the client relationship on the operations side, serving as a senior point of contact during high-profile events.

• Ensure compliance with Aramark’s standards of operation, including safety standards and Aramark’s Business Conduct Policy, at all times.

At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done make a positive impact for our employees and for our customers. In order to meet our commitments, job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice. 

Qualifications

In order to be prepared for this leadership role, qualified candidates will possess:

Required

• Prior union property experience. You must have worked under a collective bargaining agreement and handled grievances and employee relations within one.

• Large-scale catering and banquet leadership. Your primary responsibility in a current or recent role must have been running catering, banquet, or event operations — not retail or restaurant operations with catering as a side function. Convention center, large hotel banquet, stadium/arena premium, or comparable high-volume event experience.

• Demonstrated experience executing multiple simultaneous events, including functions serving thousands of guests.

• Proven ability to lead through other managers, including directors or senior managers with their own teams.

• Experience owning a departmental budget with full P&L accountability, financial controls, and variance analysis.

• Flexible availability to support an event-driven show calendar.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Service, Hospitality, or Business Management.

• Contract services experience with a client relationship to manage, including comfort reading and applying contract terms.

• Experience in a convention center, citywide convention market, or comparable large-venue environment.

This role may have physical demands including, but not limited to, lifting, bending, pushing, pulling and/or extended walking and standing. This role may also require uniforms and/or usage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.