Culinary Director

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The Bedford Hotel Belfast is seeking an experienced and passionate Culinary Director to join its exceptional opening team. This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role in one of Belfast's most anticipated luxury hotel openings.

Who We Are:

Opening in Autumn 2025, The Bedford Hotel will be a prestigious boutique hotel in the heart of Belfast, set within the iconic Scottish Mutual Building. With 82 luxury bedrooms, a destination restaurant, cafe bar and private dining rooms, we are setting new standards for hospitality in Northern Ireland.

The Bedford Hotel, operated by Focus Hotels Management, seeks a skilled and driven Culinary Director who thrives in a luxurious hospitality environment. You are a natural leader with a passion for service excellence and an unwavering commitment to creating unforgettable guest experiences. Your proactive approach, eye for detail, and ability to inspire those around you make you the perfect fit for our team.

Key Responsibilities:

As Culinary Director you will be responsible for overseeing all culinary operations within the restaurant and bar including working alongside the Head Chef with menu development, quality control, staff training, cost management, and ensuring consistency across both bar & restaurant while collaborating with other departments to maintain a high standard of food quality and customer experience.

• Develop and implement F&B strategies to achieve operational excellence.
• Design and refine menus in collaboration with the General Manager, Head Chef, creating and maintaining a cohesive culinary vision by developing new menu concepts, seasonal dishes, and special offerings aligned with brand identity and market trends.
• Establishing and enforcing standards for food presentation, and service to ensure consistency across all areas of the food and beverage department.
• Develop drink and cocktail menus and ensure bar service runs smoothly.
• Recruit, train, and lead a high-performing F&B team.
• Design training programs and creating career development pathways within the Food and Beverage team.
• Analyse food costs and beverage costs, managing labour expenses, and optimising procurement to maintain profitability.
• Overseeing the operation of all food and beverage throughout the Bedford Hotel.
• Coordinate with vendors and suppliers for inventory control.
• Ensure top-tier guest service and maintain quality standards.
• Monitor customer feedback and incorporate insights to refine menus and enhance the dining experience.
• Monitoring the quality of the product and service provided and taking action to improve any shortcomings.

Criteria:

• Proven experience as an Operations Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager in a fine dining restaurant, or similar leadership role in hospitality.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to drive revenue growth.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for food, beverages, and delivering outstanding guest experiences.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-end hospitality environment.
• Knowledge of industry trends and best practices.

Key Qualities We Value:

• A passion for guest-centric service and attention to detail.
• Proven experience in luxury or boutique hotels.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• A commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

What We Offer:

At the Bedford Hotel, we believe that exceptional service starts with exceptional people. We offer:

• Competitive salary.
• Training and development programs.
• Clear career progression pathways and leadership opportunities.
• A supportive, employee-centric culture.
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
• Work-life balance initiatives.

Why Join Us?

Be part of something special: Join the opening team of Belfast's luxury hotel.

Innovate and inspire: Work in an environment that encourages new ideas and continuous improvement.

Grow your career: Benefit from professional development opportunities designed to help you thrive.

Ready to Elevate Your Career?

Apply now to join the Bedford Hotel Belfast and become part of a team that values excellence, passion, and progress.