Vendor Relations Associate at Cater2.me – Los Angeles, California

Our mission is to inspire authentic relationships through unforgettable live experiences. We deliver on that mission through two complementary platforms:

• Food Services platform which, under one roof, offers the nation's only one-stop shop for catering, ranging from recurring corporate meal programs to food truck-driven special events. The platform includes Roaming Hunger (the nation's leading food truck and mobile food marketplace), Cater2.me (a premier, curated, office catering provider), and Mobile Food Alliance (also known as MFA, which supports food entrepreneurs). Whether it’s a party, a large corporate event, a lunch service, a festival, or anything in between—if an event needs catering, we deliver the solution.
• Brand Experience platform, anchored by RMNG, is the country's premier experiential marketing agency focused on mobile and pop-up activations.

We aim to redefine industry standards, and we're on the lookout for talented individuals who share our vision and drive.

Cater2.me connects companies with the local food scene, enabling relationships through a mix of technology and committed customer service, bringing the hottest chefs and food startups into client offices.

Job Description

The Cater2.me Vendor Team eats, breathes, and dreams of great food. Exploring new cuisines and staying in the know about the top local eateries is an integral part of what our team does regularly.

In the role of Vendor Relations Associate, you will be key to creating memorable client experiences by overseeing the successful performance of our network of top local chefs, caterers, food trucks, and restaurants.

The Vendor Team is dedicated to establishing and nurturing strong vendor relationships, which is crucial for building the company's future in a sustainable direction and ensuring Cater2.me's successful long-term market positioning.

This is a hybrid role and the Vendor Relations Associate will be expected to work from the Los Angeles, CA office a minimum of 3 days per week.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish best-in-class vendor performance as it relates to error-free order execution and client satisfaction
• Nurture strong vendor relationships and positive service standards
• Actively support service recovery as needed in daily operations
• Update & enter vendor profiles and menus into the Cater2.me system
• Lead vendor menu curation to ensure menus meet client needs and Cater2.me standards
• Drive vendor menu development to meet market demand
• Maintain up-to-date legal documentation for all vendors
• Manage the collaborative relationship between all internal operational teams
• Analyze performance metrics to maintain successful markets
• Support onboarding and orientation for new vendors
• Conduct vendor and client onsite visits as needed to ensure service standards
• Support stakeholder initiatives through active participation in team projects
• Deliver solution-based results on challenging vendor issues

Skills and Qualifications:

• 1-3 years of hospitality/customer service experience
• Excel in setting and achieving goals and deadlines
• A sense of urgency and responsiveness to customer needs
• Ability to maintain long-lasting relationships with all types of contact points
• Strong communication and mediation/conflict management skills
• Persuasive & savvy enough to know how to get a “No” to a “Yes”
• Project management & working with large datasets is a plus
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently or as a team
• Knowledge of the local food & culinary trends
• Hospitality industry or nutrition experience a plus
• Working knowledge of Google Suite & Support Ticket systems like Zoho
• Startup experience is a plus

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base Salary: $45,000 + Bonus Potential
• Participation in our flexible PTO policy
• Healthcare benefits with employer contribution
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Opportunities for professional growth through learning programs and mentorships
• A great group of people to work with!
• To be part of an organization that truly lives its values

A NOTE TO CANDIDATES:

Cater2.me (Acacia NPU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not unlawfully discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of actual or perceived age, race, creed, color, national origin, sex, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, marital status, veteran status or other military status, legal alien status or citizenship status, genetic carrier status, genetic information, AIDS or AIDS-related complex or HIV status, being a victim of domestic violence, protected activity (i.e., filing a charge of discrimination, participating in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposing prohibited discrimination), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.