Director of Food and Beverage

Overall Job Purpose

-        Functions as the strategic business leader of the property’s food and beverage/culinary operation, including Restaurants/Bars, Room Service and Banquets/Catering.

-        Position oversees the development and implementation of departmental strategies and ensures implementation of the brand service strategy and brand initiatives.

-        The position ensures the food and beverage/culinary operation meets the brand’s target customer needs, ensures employee satisfaction, and focuses on growing revenues and maximizing the financial performance of the department.

-        Develops and implements property-wide strategies that deliver products and services to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of the brand’s target customer and property employees and provides a return on investment.

Competencies

• Great Organizational skills
• Customer service-oriented
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Creative thinking
• Problem solver
• Positive approach

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Fluent in both Italian and English
• Strong understanding of food and beverage management, culinary, event management
• Internationally experienced
• Affinity with a more refined lifestyle

Candidate profile

Education and Experience

Minimum 4-year experience in similar role in comparable property with sizeable rooms and meeting spaces.

Preferred:

• Has demonstrated the ability to always work on behalf of Guests
• Has demonstrated the ability to work with other Team Members
• Successful track record of working in a collaborative/matrixed environment
• Ability to evaluate and identify business opportunities for a business

Principal Accountabilities

Developing and Maintaining Food and Beverage/Culinary Goals

·       Set expectations and hold food and beverage leadership team accountable for demonstrating desired service behaviors.

·       Review financial reports and statements to determine how Food and Beverage is performing against budget.

·       Make recommendations for CAPEX funding of food and beverage equipment and renovations in accordance with brand business strategy.

·       Works with food and beverage team to determine areas of concern and develops strategies to improve the department’s financial performance.

·       Establish challenging, realistic and obtainable goals to guide operation and performance.

·       Strive to improve service performance

Developing and Maintaining Budgets

·       Develop and manage Food and Beverage budget.

·       Monitor the department’s actual and projected sales to ensure revenue goals are met or exceeded and opportunities are identified and addressed.

·       Ensure cash control and liquor control policies are in place in food & beverage areas and followed by all related employees.

·       Focus on maintaining profit margins without compromising guest or employee satisfaction.

Leading Food and Beverage/Culinary Team

·       Utilize interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision-making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.

·       Encourage and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

·       Achieve and exceed goals including performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc.

·       Serve as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.

·       Develop means to improve profit, including estimating cost and benefit, exploring new business opportunities, etc.

·       Identify opportunities to increase profits and create value by challenging existing processes, encouraging innovation and driving necessary change.

·       Ensure that regular, on-going communication occurs in all areas of food and beverage (e.g., pre-meal briefings, staff meetings, culinary team).

·       Establish and maintains open, collaborative relationships with direct reports and entire food & beverage team. Ensures direct reports do the same for their team.

·       Develop a food and beverage operating strategy that is aligned with the brand’s business strategy and leads its execution.

·       Identify the developmental needs of others and coaches, mentors, or otherwise helps others to improve their knowledge or skills.

·       Stay aware of market trends and introduces new food and beverage products to meet or exceed customer expectations, generate increased revenue and ensure a competitive position in the market.

Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service

·       Provide services that are above and beyond for customer satisfaction and retention.

·       Improve service by communicating and assisting individuals to understand guest needs, providing guidance, feedback, and individual coaching when needed.

·       Review findings from comment cards and guest satisfaction results with F& B team and ensures appropriate corrective action is taken.

·       Review comment cards, guest satisfaction results and other data to identify areas of improvement.

·       Empower employees to provide excellent guest service.

·       Estimate cost and benefit ratio, maintaining balance between profit and service satisfaction.

·       Share plans to take corrective action based on comment cards and guest satisfaction results with property leadership.

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities

·       Provide guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

·       Coach and support food & beverage team to effectively manage wages, food & beverage cost and controllable expenses (e.g., restaurant supplies, uniforms, etc.).

·       Hire food & beverage team members who demonstrate strong functional expertise, creativity and entrepreneurial leadership to meet the business needs of the operation.

·       Set goals and expectations for direct reports using the performance review process and holds staff accountable for successful performance.

·       Ensure that expectations and objectives are clearly communicated to subordinates; subordinates are also open to raise questions and/or concerns.

·       Bring issues to the attention of Human Resources as necessary.

·       Ensure employees are treated fairly and equitably.pò

·       Coach team by providing specific feedback to improve performance.

Additional Responsibilities

·       Inform and/or update the executives, the peers and the subordinates on relevant information in a timely manner.

·       Provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

·       Analyze information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

·       Estimate food, liquor, wine, and other beverage consumption in order to anticipate amounts to be purchased or requisitioned.

·       Order and purchase equipment and supplies.