Banquet Coordinator - Conferencing Office
About this role
JOB SUMMARY
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a non-profit, bipartisan public policy organization established in 1962 to provide strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision makers concerned with global security and prosperity. Over the years, it has grown to be one of the largest organizations of its kind, with a staff of some 275 employees, including more than 120 analysts working to address the changing dynamics of international security across the globe.
The Banquet Coordinator is expected to assist with conference room reconfigurations and provide food and drink services at conferences, dinners and special events at CSIS. This position is expected to interact with guests and CSIS staff in a positive, friendly and efficient manner.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Flexible and fully on-site schedule required
- Responds to general inquiries regarding all aspects of events at CSIS
- Provides support to the Director of Conferencing & Building Operations, and Deputy Director of Conferencing
- Responsible for accepting, preparing and arranging food orders from outside catering companies
- Maintains running inventory for kitchen supplies
- Keeps beverages refreshed during meetings
- Set up rooms (stages, chairs, translation booths, tables) for events and meetings
- Completes cleaning tasks and breakdown service after events
- Accepts and returns conference equipment and ensures it is properly stowed away at the end of the business day
- Assists with any special tasks, presentations, projects, and reports
- Performs a variety of other conferencing duties as assigned
- 40hrs per week in person at the CSIS headquarters in Washington, DC.
KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE
- High school diploma or equivalent preferred
- At least two years of previous waitress, waiter or banquet coordinator experience required
- Fluency in English and Spanish both verbal and nonverbal preferred
- Ability to follow instructions and exercise sound judgement
- Excellent customer service and communication skills
- Must be able to positively adapt to a constantly changing environment
- Ability to work in a team environment
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK CONDITIONS
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee working in an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.
Equal Opportunity Employer.
Company at a glance
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges.
Founded in 1962, CSIS is led by General Joseph F. Dunford, who was appointed chief executive officer in 2026. CSIS brings together more than 275 full-time staff and a global network of affiliated scholars working across four core areas of public policy: defense and security, geopolitics and foreign policy, economic security and technology, and global development. Our scholars are regularly called upon by Congress, the executive branch, the media, and others to explain the day’s events and offer recommendations to improve U.S. strategy.
CSIS’s purpose is to define the future of national security. We are guided by a distinct set of values—non-partisanship, independent thought, innovative thinking, cross-disciplinary scholarship, integrity and professionalism, and talent development. CSIS’s values work in concert toward the goal of making real-world impact.
X: cs.is/U4RJEq
LinkedIn: cs.is/33W0gX8
Instagram: cs.is/2ZbBTkF
Threads: cs.is/3vamuH2
Bluesky: https://bit.ly/4admmIb
YouTube: cs.is/2TKVQ0k
Podcasts: cs.is/2NuWcaD
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