General Manager/F&B Manager

Summary:

We are seeking an experienced General Manager to lead our Pontoon Restaurant & Watersports Centre from pre-opening through to steady state operation. This is a hands-on leadership role combining commercial ownership, operational excellence, people management, and a strong safety-first culture — across both hospitality and marine/water sports disciplines.

You will own the build-out, licensing, hiring, systems setup, supplier relationships, launch marketing and day-to-day running of the business. You will report directly to the owner and will have the autonomy and accountability of an operator-partner.

Responsibilities:

Pre-opening, Build-out & Licensing:

• Project-manage the final stages of fit-out and pontoon commissioning, liaising with contractors, marine engineers, the Barbados Port Authority, Coastal Zone Management Unit and other statutory bodies.

• Secure and maintain all operating licenses and permits — food handling, environmental health, marine/mooring permissions, watersports operator licenses, public liability and marine insurances.

• Establish supplier relationships for fresh produce, seafood, coffee, juices, non-alcoholic beverages, consumables, uniforms and watersports equipment.

• Source and commission kitchen equipment, point-of-sale, booking system, CCTV, guest Wi-Fi and safety / communications equipment.

• Develop the full operating manual: SOPs, food safety (HACCP), marine safety, emergency response, opening/closing checklists, cash handling and stock control.

People & Team Leadership:

• Recruit a full team covering kitchen, front-of-house, watersports instruction, lifeguarding, cleaning and maintenance — prioritizing local Barbadian talent and building clear progression pathways.

• Design and deliver onboarding and ongoing training in service standards, food safety, water safety, first aid / CPR and guest experience.

• Set rotas, manage payroll inputs, track performance, coach team leads and build a culture that is warm, professional and safety led.

• Ensure full compliance with Barbados labor law, including NIS, income tax withholding and any applicable union/industry agreements.

Watersports Operations & Safety:

• Establish and enforce best-practice safety protocols for all on-water activities, including equipment checks, risk assessments, weather/sea-state monitoring and guest briefings.

• Ensure all instructors and lifeguards hold current certifications (e.g., RLSS / NPLQ lifeguard, first aid, powerboat where applicable, PADI/SSI for any snorkel or free-dive offer).

• Own the incident management process, including reporting, investigation and continuous improvement.

• Maintain equipment to manufacturer and regulatory standards and manage a planned maintenance schedule with the marine contractor.

Food & Beverage Operations:

• Work with the Head Chef to finalize a fresh, island-inspired, non-alcoholic menu — including signature mocktails, cold-pressed juices, specialty coffee and a kids’ offer.

• Own cost of sales, gross margin, wastage and portion control; set and hit monthly P&L targets.

• Guarantee consistent service standards across bar, floor, pontoon and boat transfers.

• Manage relationships with local fishermen, farmers and producers, prioritizing provenance and seasonality.

Marketing, Bookings & Guest Experience:

• Lead the launch plan in partnership with the owner: brand roll-out, website, booking engine, social media presence and PR.

• Build partnerships with local hotels, villa companies, cruise concierges, tour operators and watersports aggregators (e.g., Viator, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor Experiences).

• Own the guest journey end-to-end — from first enquiry to post-visit review — with a clear focus on repeat and referral.

• Monitor and respond to online reviews and use guest feedback to drive continuous improvement.

Commercial & Financial Management:

• Own the full P&L, weekly trading reports and monthly management accounts (working with the external accountant).

• Manage cashflow, banking, merchant services, and float control.

• Set annual budgets and rolling forecasts in conjunction with the owner.

• Identify new revenue streams — private hire, events, corporate away-days, wellness programming, retail.

• Minimum 8 years’ progressive hospitality management experience, with at least 3 years as a General Manager or equivalent of a standalone F&B venue.

• Demonstrable experience opening a new venue (or major relaunch) — ideally a beach club, pool club, marina venue or destination restaurant.

• Strong operational grounding: P&L ownership, labor/cost control, stock, SOPs, compliance and service standards.

• Recruiting, training and leading diverse teams of 20+ people.

• Comfortable in a warm-climate, outdoor, tourism-driven market with pronounced seasonality.

• Fluent English, excellent written communication, and a confident public-facing presence with guests, partners and media.

• Willing and able to relocate to Barbados and eligible for a CARICOM Skilled National Certificate or Barbados work permit (sponsorship supported).