Event Planner

ABOUT DC TASTE

DC Taste is a small, full-service catering company. Our mission is to make people happy through our excellent service and the best catered food in DC. Most of our events are smaller in range (25 - 125 guests) which makes it easier for us to serve the best of the best and provide excellent service during the event

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Event Planners position is critical to DC Taste’s success. It is the client liaison who coordinates all details of each event from the request to creating a proposal/estimate (and subsequent changes), determining rental & equipment needs which are tailored to each event, and placing those orders (including choosing linens, dishware, platters, etc), coordinating any other third party vendors (floral, entertaining, lighting, tent rental, etc.), additional fun supplies, which vary, and signage for every party. This person also will assist with breakfast, lunch, party drop offs during the week (if necessary) and sometimes on weekends. He/she must be an extremely organized individual who displays a sense of urgency but always keeps cool under pressure.

The position is oftentimes the onsite manager of an event, as well. He/she must provide exemplary customer service, from every aspect because the client is always (mostly) right. The ability to determine guest/client needs before they realize themselves is a major asset. He/she also needs to be able to communicate the vision and plan of the party to the other staff and execute it…and be able to go with the flow and solve any problem that can and usually will pop up!

The fact that Capitol Hill clients make up so much of our business also means, when congress is out of session, we have a few built-in breaks during the year. During these breaks, this person focuses on projects like seeking out wedding venues, marketing opportunities, social media tactics, developing event design strategies and catching up on anything else. This is the more creative side to the position. August and January are usually the months where there is little to no business in the Washington Metro Area.

This is a full time, salaried position with benefits and bonuses attached to sales goals as well as overall performance.

Additional information: We are lucky to have a clientele on Capitol Hill that we serve Mondays – Thursdays except when congress is in recess. We sometimes have as many as 18 events in those four days, which is both fun and crazy. Weekends consist of private dinners, engagement parties, weddings, baby showers and anything else our client-friends need catering, bartending, and great service for!

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage all inquiries, proposals, and contracts given by CEO and Director for DC Taste Events
• Client Communication - to include phone calls, emails, proposal creation, contracts, and sending invoices
• Prompt response to clients. ALL client emails and calls must be acknowledged within 24 hours or receipt. No Exceptions.
• Site visits & rental visits
• Clearly communicate all rules and guidelines to clients
• Follow all event guidance protocols
• Coordinate tastings and walkthroughs as necessary
• Attending and managing events as necessary
• Assist with choosing and ordering event decor
• Drop offs of breakfasts, lunches, or other, as necessary
• Making and printing signage for parties
• Ordering rentals
• Gather, organize, and communicate all organized event information to Event Operations and Kitchen team
• Assist owner with events setup, break-down, and production

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist President with administrative tasks as necessary
• Marketing & PR assistance
• Updating the events schedule regularly, emailing all servers/bartenders with the schedule to make sure qualified people are staffing each event
• Keeping a log of venues – each venue has its nuances and a log should be kept for details of loading dock, kitchen equipment, etc.
• Familiarity with everything that is non-food that goes to the events. Inventory of supplies kept up to date (disposables for drop offs as well as mini dishes, skewers, miscellaneous, etc. for hors d’eouvres). Familiarity with wine and beer is a plus or we will teach you.
• Assistance with packing of equipment and food before each party if necessary
• Assistance with replacement of returned party equipment and items if necessary
• Miscellaneous Shopping – Costco, Restaurant Depot & Beverage if/when needed.

This person will be issued a company credit card to order supplies and for shopping purposes, parking garages, ice, etc. Under no circumstances should this card be used for personal use. It is grounds for immediate termination – no questions asked.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong communication skills, particularly in translating client expectations to the Operations and Kitchen teams
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to manage clients autonomously
• Ability to effectively juggle multiple projects at once while focusing on the big picture
• Ability to work under pressure and have a high capacity
• Working knowledge of Total Party Planner or other comparable event planning software desired but not necessary
• Working knowledge of Google Suite and Microsoft Office or similar products
• Strength in fostering and maintaining relationships with clients
• Desire and willingness to prospect new clients

Experience

• 1 - 2 years of event planning or comparable experience

BENEFITS:

• Competitive salary, based on experience
• Health care
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• PTO and holidays

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $44,000.00 - $52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Event planning: 1 year (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Washington, DC 20002 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Washington, DC 20002: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20002