ABOUT US 

Off the Grid is a placemaking platform that transforms temporary event spaces into powerful food truck community experiences. Our experiences create moments of connection and discovery for our Guests and Hosts that are scalable, modular and authentic to their own visions. We set the stage for discovery through public markets in the Bay Area, supporting over 60 events weekly and routinely serving more than 100,000 customers each week. Off the Grid is proud of its role providing excellent turn-key event production, catering, and scalable employee dining experiences through our food truck platform.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the planning and execution of all Off the Grid events, with a focus on customer journey and event logistics. The Operations Manager works closely with Off the Grid’s Sales Team and Account Executives to ensure a smooth transition throughout the client’s journey from their initial contact through the close of their event and is responsible for managing the client relationship by providing a high level of expertise in events, specifically with food and beverage, event logistics, and onsite production. As the Operations Manager, this role leads a team of Event Producers and directly reports into the General Manager. 

 The ideal candidate is a natural leader, mentor, and thrives in a fast-paced work environment, continuous change, and lead improvements to systems and processes. The ideal candidate works well under pressure and can change gears quickly in order to respond to staff and customer requests with efficiency and grace. Possessing a positive attitude and being a team player is a must. In addition, you exemplify leadership and act as a role model to others, find resolution to problems while multi-tasking the day to day tasks, and have a willingness to work hard, and of course play harder. 

This is a full-time position which requires a Monday-Friday schedule with occasional nights and weekends as necessary to support the production of our catering events.

 The Operations team is a group of individuals passionate about providing our customers with exciting and innovative temporary mobile food experience offerings and unique events. 

This is a full-time, exempt position, based out of our Pier 19 Warehouse in San Francisco but with required weekend and evening availability. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include and are not limited to the following: 

Event Production and Operations:

• Oversee the design and execution of full production plans for onsite and offsite services of large-scale events to include budgets, event experience design, catering, rentals, production schedules, timelines and floor plans.
• Maintain and develop overall catering process and SOPs for event planning, execution, and debriefs.
• Manage team of Event Producers and Assignments of Events and Support and coach team by attending client meetings, visiting onsite, shadowing events, executing quality control, ensuring safety and quality of event production.
• Manage and maintain Supplier relationships: support growth of business by developing and maintaining preferred supplier and vendor relationships, identifying best quality, price, and standards.
• Maintain company brands and standards for Catering Events and relationships through consistent and quality service, clear communication, hospitality, and professionalism.
• Proactively address client and partner satisfaction and maintain feedback loop, creating repeat business and growing partner relationships, including but not limited to internal and external event debriefs.
• Ensure flawless execution, quality of service and timely delivery of all necessary components, properties, and materials for each event, on-site through catering event process.
• Build relationships with existing talent, partners and stakeholders maintaining the brand status of excellent service, client satisfaction while focusing on increased sales opportunities.
• Enforce third party compliance protocol and process with license, insurance, City and Fire Codes, and other permitting requirements.
• Negotiate contracts/agreements with 3rd party vendors and team contractors.
• Ensure all catering equipment is accounted for and properly prepared & organized for future events.

Reporting:

• Maintain process and record of department-related expenses.
• Work with the Accounting and Finance team and support client on planning, execution and post-event reporting. Maintain consistent and thorough communication with all involved.
• Monitor P&L to operate catering events and collaborating on and managing costs, pricing, and staffing in accordance with company goals.
• Develop and track project and event schedules, agendas and event flows as needed.
• Review vendor sales performance for optimized guest experience and appropriate cuisine curation in catering opportunities.
• Strategize and collaborate on catering marketing initiatives to increase business pipeline and growth.

Team Experience:

• Manage, train, and coach team of catering event producers and contracted onsite event producers in accordance with brand standards of safety and hospitality.
• Build a hospitality environment that encourages employee engagement and supports positive guest experiences.
• Build, maintain and grow a highly-engaged team, communicating and empowering the vision of Off the Grid and supporting others to achieve superior results through recruitment, hiring/onboarding, training, and performance management.
• Develop and maintain process for time controls and management for all catering production.
• Drive employee development initiatives and provide meaningful, timely performance feedback and recognition.
• Promote health and safety of employees and enforce company policies and procedures.
• Maintain training materials and SOP’s as necessary, ensuring staff are up to date with current company procedures and are continuing to provide superior hospitality service.

JOB REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS

Years of Related Professional Experience: 3 years of relevant operations experience

Management Experience: 2 years of progressive leadership experience required..

Educational/Position Requirements: preferred Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Valid CA driver’s license and clean driving record required

Computer/Software Applications: Efficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Word and Excel

Travel: up to 30% travel throughout the bay area to events.

Skills:

• Possesses strong interpersonal skills applicable for teaching, coaching, encouraging, negotiating, clarifying and collaborating.
• Possesses and demonstrates self-discipline, initiative, strong leadership ability and outgoing personality.
• Demonstrated management/leadership experience to motivate employees to work as a team to ensure that food and service meet appropriate standards.
• Must be able to handle the pressures of simultaneously coordinating a wide range of activities and recommend appropriate solutions to production challenges.
• Has excellent verbal and written communication skills and can succinctly and effectively communicate to all levels in the internal organization and the general public.
• Able to present / represent oneself and the business to guests, the community and the media in an engaging and professional manner. 
• Ability to accurately budget equipment and labor needs to support execution.
• Expert communicator, both written and verbal.

Reporting Relationship

Number of Direct Reports (if applicable): up to 15-20, including contractors

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This job occasionally occurs inside, frequently occurs outside, and is subject to outside environmental conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

While performing the job duties, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required include visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned, close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. In addition, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

OFF THE GRID DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Off the Grid is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values differences among our associates, customers, vendors, and the communities in which we live and conduct business. Our continued success and growth is enhanced through initiatives that promote diversity throughout the company and our communities. Off the Grid is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.