Banquet Captain

Special Instructions to Applicants:All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston Texas Rice University is ranked among the nations top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system which supports students intellectually emotionally and culturally through social events intramural sports student plays lectures series courses and student government. Developing close-knit diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rices culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name RICE Responsibility Integrity Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Banquet Captain plays a key leadership role across Rice Hospitalitys event operations supporting Cohen House and campus-wide catering services. This position is responsible for executing high-quality events ensuring exceptional service standards and acting as a primary point of contact for clients before and during events.

The Banquet Captain leads the setup service and breakdown of luncheons receptions conferences and special university eventsincluding programs for the Presidents Office Board of Trustees Rice Business faculty staff students and external partners. They supervise and train part-time staff and student employees ensuring consistent polished and timely service across all venues.

S/he ensures that all event spaceswhether at Cohen House or off-site locationsare properly set clean well-maintained and aligned with Rice Hospitality standards. The Banquet Captain is responsible for monitoring equipment and reporting any deficiencies coordinating with culinary and operations teams and ensuring seamless event flow from start to finish. They handle customer concerns with professionalism and serve as the on-site leader for hospitality service execution and client communication.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a proactive and service-driven leader with experience in banquet catering or high-volume event service. They excel in coordinating and supervising service operations across multiple venues and are comfortable guiding and training part-time staff and student employees. They demonstrate exceptional customer service attention to detail and the ability to anticipate client and event needs.

They thrive in dynamic fast-paced environments easily shift between locations such as Cohen House and Rice Business School and manage multiple events simultaneously with professionalism and poise. Strong communication skills a polished presence and the ability to maintain Rice Hospitalitys service standards are essential. Experience with university events private event service or multi-site catering is highly preferred.

Workplace Requirements:

Physical Demands

Classified as LIGHT work requiring the ability to exert up to 25 lbs. occasionally and walk or stand for up to 8 hours. Additional physical requirements include manual dexterity; bending crouching kneeling; reaching climbing maintaining balance; lifting/carrying equipment; and the ability to see hear detect scents and discern flavors.

Work Environment

Work takes place in commercial kitchens banquet areas and event service environments with possible exposure to temperature extremes cleaning chemicals wet/slippery floors hot equipment and other typical commercial kitchen hazards. Hot oil steam and water. Commercial equipment such as fryers ovens stovetops knives slicers dough sheeters tortilla machines and other high-temperature or high-risk machinery

Workplace Location:

Work Location Schedule & On-Campus Requirement

This role is exclusively on-site and requires all duties to be performed in person across Rice Hospitality venues and assigned campus locations. Per Rice Policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change. Standard hours are MondayFriday 7:00 a.m.3:30 p.m. with variable scheduling based on event needs. Evenings weekends early mornings and any assigned shift may be required to support university events and hospitality operations.

Essential On Campus: This role is classified as an Essential On-Campus Position requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. During emergencies or crises the employee is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions.

Hiring Range: $20.64 to $22.12 per hour contingent upon qualifications and experience..

*Non-Exempt (hourly) positions underFLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• HS diploma or equivalent
• Two or more (2) years of related experience in food and event services
  • No substitution for education or experience allowed
• TABC seller-server license
• Certified Food Handlers Permit (Houston) or equivalent (ServSafe).

Skills:

• Ability to prioritize manage shifting demands and handle multiple time-sensitive projects.
• Demonstrated creativity problem-solving initiative sound judgment and decision-making.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Well-organized and detail-oriented.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of food and beverage preparation service standards guest relations and etiquette.
• Basic wine knowledge.
• Experience with POS systems and table/seat assignment tools.

Preferences:

• Experience as a bartender
• Forbes Standards of Service knowledge
• Banquet experience

Essential Functions:

• Ensures Proper Event and Dining Room Setup:
  Inspects the appearance cleanliness and complete setup of event spaces dining rooms and service areas
• Monitors Service Areas & Equipment:
  Regularly inspects all front-of-house and back-of-house service areasboth on-site and at satellite locationsto verify compliance with sanitation safety energy management and preventive maintenance standards. Reports deficiencies promptly.
• Manages Event Documentation & Ticketing:
  Closes out luncheon tickets verifies accuracy ensures all documentation is accounted for and resolves any ticketing or billing discrepancies in coordination with the events and administrative teams.
• Coordinates with Events and Culinary Teams:
  Collaborates closely with Banquet Servers the Events Manager and Culinary Leadership during special events to ensure all detailsroom layout menu execution décor AV needs flowers specialty items and timingare completed to specification.
• Executes Additional Assignments:
  Performs other operational or service-related duties as assigned to support Rice Hospitalitys multi-venue event operations.

Additional Functions:

• Ensures Exceptional Guest Experience:
  Actively checks on tables and service flow throughout events to ensure client guest and member satisfaction. Addresses and resolves concerns with professionalism and urgency.
• Provides Beverage Service:
  Serves alcohol safely and responsibly during events following Rice University and TABC guidelines.
• Maintains Inventory Across Venues:
  Organizes tracks and monitors inventory of equipment and service wareincluding silver china glassware linens and beveragesprimarily at Cohen House but also for campus catering operations as needed.
• Supports Event Breakdown & Reset:
  Assists with tear-down after the completion of functions and ensures smooth transitions between events across all venues.
• Oversees Staff Equipment Return & Room Reset:
  Ensures wait staff properly return equipment to designated storage areas that all spaces are left clean and orderly and that service standards are consistently met.
• Secures Facilities:
  Ensures that dining rooms banquet spaces and event areas are secured and properly closed at the end of service or the business day for the relevant location.
• Verifies Tabletop Standards:
  Inspects place settingslinens china glassware silverware condiments and tabletop décorensuring correct placement cleanliness and overall presentation consistent with Rice Hospitalitys standards.

Rice University HR Benefits: Mission and Values: Mission and Values Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race color religion age sex sexual orientation gender identity national or ethnic origin genetic information disability or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process please get in touch with Rice Universitys Human Resources Office via email at for support.

If you have any additional questions please email us at . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.