Culinary Operations Manager

THE FIRM

As a leading international law firm, we are dedicated to excellence through impactful communication, collaboration, and community involvement. Our company culture has earned us one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" for 27 consecutive years. This honor, along with many others, highlights our commitment to innovation and professional development. At Alston & Bird LLP, our foundation is made of trust, reliability, and compassion.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Associate Director of Conference Services, the Culinary Operations Manager will lead the Firm's culinary and food & beverage program, driving the strategy, development, and execution of hospitality offerings across all offices. This role provides strategic leadership for food and beverage operations, overseeing vendor partnerships, menu development, culinary innovation, budgeting, and food safety standards. The position delivers a best-in-class dining and hospitality experience for clients and employees across the Atlanta dining room and other firmwide food outlets. Partnering closely with Conference Services staff, events teams, caterers, and firm leadership, this role will ensure culinary offerings enhance meetings, events, and client engagements while supporting operational excellence and exceptional service.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Firmwide

• Oversee firmwide food and beverage offerings, incorporating client products where appropriate.
• Develop consistent beverage offerings throughout all firm offices.
• Manage global suppliers and accounts.
• Coach CS managers on food products and trends.
• Develop open market vending concepts across offices.
• Serve as a resource for equipment needs across all offices.
• Oversee all Conference Services department food/beverage budgets.
• Work with Administrative Services to process billing.
• Serve as a member of the firm’s executive staff.

Local/Atlanta

• Advise Conference Services and all other departments in coordinating food and beverage for meetings and events.
• Serve in a chef capacity as needed for special client meetings, creative food amenities, and special lunch offerings.
• Design daily lunch menus and amenities program/pop ups with an emphasis on creativity, process food preparation and set up upon delivery.
• Advise kitchen staff on food production methods and menu item selection to maintain quality and consistency.
• Execute events and coordinate overtime with Conference Services Supervisor.
• Develop relationships with caterers and prospect new caterers and other relevant suppliers. Keep abreast of food and beverage trends and food sensitivities.
• Ensure food safety practices are being followed in accordance with the Georgia Department of Public Health for all team members.
• Ensure staff involved in catering services are ServSafe Certified by the National Restaurant Association.
• Maintain safe working environment in kitchen and dining area.
• Maintain all kitchen equipment in accordance with manufacturers daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance specifications.
• Serve as the point person to interface with OAC building management and security to make them aware of support services needed for meetings and events hosted in the firm dining room.
• Responsible for entering all pertinent information into reservation platform.
• Work in a Social Tables on-line room diagram environment.  Responsible for entering room diagram information into Microsoft on-line reservation environment.
• Flexible to work in the evening and on weekends as needed.
• Travel as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

SKILLS NEEDED TO BE SUCESSFUL

Organizational and Task Management

• Ability to organize work in a manner that facilitates timely and efficient completion of assigned tasks.
• Ability to discern and reconcile competing priorities, manage multiple tasks or assignments, and complete assignments within established deadlines.
• Ability to learn rapidly and adapt quickly to changing situations with minimal planning/information.
• ServSafe certification in Food Safety and Alcohol in accordance with state law
• Proficiency with firm issued mobile device, to be utilized during workday and on person, functioning at all times while in office. 
• Ability to resolve issues quickly and efficiently without disrupting client progress.

Communication and Listening Skills

• Strong command of the English language, both verbal and written.
• Ability to communicate Firm, Administrative Support Services, and Conference Center Standards outlined in the Firm Manual and ABnet Private Site to colleagues, clients and other individuals.
• Ability to effectively utilize verbal and written communication with colleagues, clients, and other individuals.
• Ability to clearly and accurately convey information in a professional and respectful tone with colleagues, clients, and others.

Performance Standards

• Brand Image – Maintain a positive perspective about Alston & Bird, your work responsibilities, and the competencies of the Conference Services department in both good and challenging times.
• Space Standards – Maintain and follow all operational standards associated with but not limited to Conference Rooms, Breakrooms, Red Carpet Service, Touchdown Rooms, Telephone Rooms, Visiting Attorney Offices, Common Areas and Conference Center.
• Event Service Standards – Understand and execute Alston & Bird Event Service Standards for dinner service and receptions outlined on the ABNet Private Site.
• Sustainability Standards – Support established firm practices.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Previous experience of 7 or more years in the hospitality industry.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Teams is necessary.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite is necessary.
• Proficiency in AI applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Positive interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Basic experience with audio visual equipment.
• ServSafe certification in Food Safety in accordance with state law.
• High school diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred:

• Previous experience with on-line reservations software is relevant.
• Experience in a 4-diamond resort or higher preferred.
• College degree specific to food and beverage.

PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Substantial movements of the wrists, hands, fingers and legs.
• Reaching above head, crouching and kneeling to gain access to food and bar supplies and equipment.
• Ability to remain standing and walk around during normal work shift for about six or seven hours each day.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs if necessary.
• Ability to push catering carts loaded with chafing dishes filled with food, china, glassware, silverware, flowers, or bar supplies weighing about 50-60 lbs.
• Ability to lift chafing dishes filled with food weighing about 30 lbs. or boxes of wine and alcoholic beverages and subsequently to lift them 40” high to set them on buffets or bars.
• Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word.  Ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately.
• Hearing - ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Alston & Bird LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer does not discriminate on the bases of any status protected under federal, state, or local law. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in relation to our recruiting, hiring, and promoting practices.

The statements contained in this position description are not necessarily all-inclusive, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned, and requirements may vary from time to time.

Professional business references and a background screening will be required for all final applicants selected for a position.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contact donavan.mclean@alston.com.

Alston & Bird is not currently accepting resumes from agencies for this position. If you are a recruiter, search firm, or employment agency, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if Alston & Bird hires the candidate.