Director of Beverage & Food - W London

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Job Description

Are you ready to take the reins of a vibrant and energetic team in one of London's most exciting hotels? W London is looking for a passionate, creative, and motivated Director of Beverage & Food to lead our dynamic team and elevate our guest experience to new heights.

Located in Soho, W London owns the stage in the epicentre of the city's cultural core. Plugged in to the pulse of London's energetic social scene, this is where louder-than-life Soho mixes with the glitzy West End.

What will you be doing?

Managing Day-to-Day Operations:

• Develop and execute a beverage and food operating strategy that aligns with the brand's business strategy.
• Supervise daily beverage and food shift operations, ensuring compliance with all policies, standards, and procedures.
• Oversee staffing levels to meet guest service, operational needs, and financial objectives.
• Lead the development and implementation of an effective order and purchase strategy for equipment and supplies.
• Supervise and manage the monthly self-inspection program to ensure quality standards.

Developing and Maintaining Food and Beverage/Culinary Goals:

• Set clear expectations and hold the food and beverage leadership team accountable for demonstrating desired service behaviors.
• Review financial reports and statements to evaluate food and beverage performance against budget and make necessary improvements.
• Recommend funding for food and beverage equipment and renovations in line with the brand's strategy.
• Collaborate with the food and beverage leadership team to identify concerns and create strategies for improving financial performance.
• Establish realistic and challenging goals to guide performance and operational efficiency.

Developing and Maintaining Budgets:

• Develop and manage the food and beverage budget to ensure financial targets are met or exceeded.
• Monitor actual and projected sales to identify opportunities to maximize revenue.
• Ensure adherence to cash control and liquor control policies across all food and beverage areas.
• Focus on maintaining profit margins while ensuring excellent guest and employee satisfaction.

Leading Food and Beverage/Culinary Team:

• Utilise interpersonal and communication skills to inspire, influence, and support the team to achieve success.
• Build trust, respect, and cooperation among team members and lead by example.
• Lead with creativity and motivate the team to explore new business opportunities, improving profitability and driving innovation.
• Foster regular communication through shift handover meetings, department meetings, and ongoing team interactions.
• Establish open, collaborative relationships with the entire food and beverage team and ensure direct reports follow suit.
• Identify developmental needs and provide coaching and mentoring to enhance team performance and skills.
• Stay ahead of market trends and introduce new food and beverage offerings to exceed guest expectations and maintain a competitive market position.

Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service:

• Deliver above-and-beyond service that drives customer satisfaction and retention.
• Continuously improve service by coaching team members to understand guest needs and provide personalized service.
• Review guest satisfaction feedback, including comment cards and surveys, to identify areas for improvement.
• Empower the team to deliver excellent guest service while balancing profit with service satisfaction.

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities:

• Guide and direct subordinates, setting performance standards and monitoring their performance.
• Coach and support the food and beverage leadership team to manage wages, costs, and expenses effectively.
• Hire and develop leaders who demonstrate expertise, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit to meet business needs.
• Set clear goals and expectations for direct reports, holding them accountable for successful performance.
• Foster open communication within the team, ensuring all questions and concerns are addressed.

What are we looking for?

• Ability to drive a young, energetic team to deliver exceptional results.
• Passion for liberated luxury and a strong understanding of the W brand's bold and vibrant ethos.
• Proven food and beverage background with a track record of managing high-energy teams.
• A creative mindset with a flair for innovation and bringing fresh ideas to the table.
• A motivator who leads by example and inspires the team to exceed expectations.
• Familiarity with the London food and beverage scene and a deep understanding of market trends to stay ahead of the competition.

Your benefits at W London

• Meals - Tasty and Varied Complimentary Meals in our Green Room canteen.
• Bonus Plan Eligible
• Service Charge - Paid each month!
• Learning and Growing - Access to the best digital and classroom based training resources and cross exposure opportunities
• Apprenticeships - Opportunities to undertake an apprenticeship to support your development in your role.
• Holiday - 23 days of holiday excluding public holidays (increase to 27 days with length of service
• Company Pension Scheme - Save for your future.
• Take Care - Access to our Take Care Emotional Wellbeing Resources & Associate Assistance Service
• Celebrate - Awards and Recognition Celebrations
• BenefitHub - Access to further discounts for shopping, cinema tickets, technology and more!
• Events - Monthly Calendar of Associate Focused & Fun Events
• Long Service Recognition - Dedicated appreciation events for when you reach career milestones within the company.
• Global Marriott Hotel Discounts - Accessible to you and your loved ones, travel the world with Marriott International.
• Food & Beverage Discounts - 20% Discount in all F&B outlets within Marriott Properties
• Spa Discounts - 30% discount in our Away Spa

To be considered for this role, all applicants must have a valid right to work in the United Kingdom.

W London is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.

About the Team

W Hotels' mission is to Ignite Curiosity, Expand Worlds. We are a place to experience life. We're here to open doors and open minds. We are constantly inspired by new faces and new experiences. A tuned-in, up-for-anything spirit is at our core and has made us renowned for reinventing the norms of luxury around the globe. Whatever/Whenever is our culture and service philosophy that brings our guests' passions to life. If you are original, innovative, and always looking towards the future of what's possible, welcome to W Hotels. In joining W Hotels, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.