Director Food & Beverage Development, Openings & Operations UKI&I
Job Description
Job title: Director Food & Beverage Development, Openings & Operations UKI&I
Company: Hilton
Job description: What will I be doing?
Reporting to the VP F&B Strategy & Development EMEA, the role is responsible for supporting and driving the commercial F&B performance of the UK. Ireland & Israel (UKI&I), delivering high quality profitable and innovative food and beverage concepts and solutions for both existing and pipeline managed hotels across all brands. The candidate will be responsible for leading a regional F&B team, sitting on the UKI&I ExCom representing F&B and delivering the EMEA F&B strategy within region across all brands in conjunction with the VP Food & Beverage Development and Strategy.
You will work with Hilton stakeholders and owner’s representatives on developing and opening hotel F&B within budget, agreed timescales and ensure both new and existing properties deliver against commercial performance, guest satisfaction metrics, brand, and legislative targets. The candidate will need to represent Hilton UKI&I F&B with external stakeholders such as owners, asset managers, contractors, and investors. The candidate will be required to lead on key EMEA projects for example the Destination Venues programme.
Position Summary:
F&B Operations
- Support the VP F&B Strategy deliver the EMEA F&B Strategy, annual plan, and key business objectives.
- Partner with SVP/VP Operations to drive the performance of regional F&B
- Lead and direct a team to support all managed properties deliver agreed budgets, forecasts and commercial KPIs.
- Builds and develops relationships within the wider industry to engage and support the Hilton F&B strategy and vision.
- Partner with F&B Commercial Finance Director to identify trends and opportunities to maximize F&B performance across the region.
- Support Hiltons commercial forecasts and annual budget process
- Lead and direct a team to ensure that all properties work within Hilton brand standards, EMEA F&B Strategy, food safety, health & safety, compliance, and local legislative requirements.
- Lead and support a team to ensure that the hotel teams are employing and attracting the highest calibre F&B teams and that development programmes and succession planning is in place.
- Lead and manage the team to deliver the Canvas model – including delivery of the full retail proposition including performance management, menu development, marketing, pricing
- Lead corporate involvement in the recruitment and promotion of senior F&B personnel within the hotel properties.
- Support and foster a culture of performance management to ensure the team are working with GMs and hotel property teams to maximize F&B performance through talent attraction and retention.
- Support and lead on F&B initiatives such as ESG, innovative technology innovation, F&B products and implement new Hilton or legislative requirements as they arise.
- Work with the Senior Culinary Director to ensure that all food brand standards are implemented. F&B Prototypes and concepts are relevant, commercial, innovative, and fit for purpose.
- Work with UK Operations team and HSM to ensure that all bars are commercial and responding to consumer trends. Bar prototypes are relevant, commercial, and innovative.
- Work with Brand Services & Product Development to ensure that Prototypes and Bespoke concepts are relevant for owners, Hilton brand, commercial and will meet the needs of Hilton guests. Work with F&B Brand services to implement operational SOPs for prototypes and bespoke concepts.
- Partner with HSM to ensure that F&B purchasing is driving best in class product, innovation, and commercial opportunities for the hotel F&B operations.
- Partner with F&B Brand team to understand and analyze F&B trends and incorporate them in Hilton F&B concepts where relevant and commercially viable.
- Work with Senior Marketing Director to ensure that EMEA strategy in terms of destination venues, pop ups, innovation and digital marketing are all in place.
- Support and lead on F&B Competitions, regional team activities such as Flavour & Flair, Roadshows, and conferences
Openings & Development
- Own the F&B Development process end to end delivering relevant F&B concepts in line with brand standards and ownership requirements that are commercially viable.
- Partner with Feasibility and Development to ensure that F&B input is considered on all potential deals in terms of Commercials, Brands and F&B concepts within the properties.
- Partner with Openings team to deliver all F&B concepts as per the agreed openings & development process.
- Partner with F&B Brand Services & Product Development to ensure that all F&B programming is as per Hilton brand standards, owner’s requirements, commercially viable and will deliver innovative and compelling F&B propositions.
- Partner with F&B Business Development to programme and launch successful third-party concepts.
- Support Openings & Hotel Property teams launch new F&B concepts.
What are we looking for?
To fulfill this role successfully, you must possess the following minimum qualifications and experience:
- Proven track record of F&B experience within the hotel, independent or retail sector
- Strong knowledge of F&B concept creation, project management and openings
- Good knowledge of both front of house and back of house equipment, layouts, and operating equipment
- Strong networker, first-class communicator with excellent relationship building skills.
- First-class commercial skills. A thorough understanding of F&B profit and loss and driving commercial performance in the sectors of hotel, independent or retail F&B
- Strong leadership skills and an absolute passion for food and beverage
- A good understanding of F&B trends, marketing, and PR
- An understanding of technology within F&B
- An appreciation of food and beverage digital media
- Up to date on social media trends
- Passionate about ESG in F&B
To be successful in this position you will demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:
- Minimum Education: Degree or equivalent or clear evidence of having worked their way up in the field of hospitality, F&B, or retail. A mix of corporate and independent F&B experience would be highly desirable.
- Strong experience in an F&B Regional Director or equivalent company level position.
- Experience of leading teams or projects with a variety of stakeholders at various levels
- Strong knowledge and passion for F&B
- Good commercial acumen, analytical and P&L proficient
- Fluent in English
- PC Self Sufficient and good knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, Internet, PowerPoint as a minimum)
- Experience of social media platforms and application to F&B would be a benefit.
- Experience of the UKI&I market.
What will it be like to work for Hilton?
Hilton is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For nearly a century, Hilton has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. Hilton is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its . Our vision “to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality” unites us as a team to create remarkable hospitality experiences around the world every day. And, our amazing Team Members are at the heart of it all!
Expected salary:
Location: Watford, Hertfordshire
