Dir Food & Beverage C📣 Job Ad

About the Role

Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts is seeking a Director of Food & Beverage to lead the culinary and beverage operations in Medina, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position functions as the strategic business leader for all food and beverage operations, including Restaurants/Bars, Room Service, and Banquets/Catering. The Director is responsible for developing and implementing departmental strategies, ensuring adherence to the brand service strategy and initiatives, and meeting the target customer's needs while maximizing financial performance.

Strategic Leadership and Financial Oversight

This role involves comprehensive strategic planning and financial management for the food and beverage division. The Director will develop and manage the departmental budget, review financial reports to assess performance against targets, and make recommendations for CAPEX funding in line with business strategy. A core focus is on identifying opportunities to improve financial performance, ensuring cash and liquor control policies are strictly followed, and maintaining profit margins without compromising guest or employee satisfaction. The position also involves establishing challenging, realistic, and obtainable goals to guide operational performance and striving for continuous service improvement.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, influence, and encourage the food and beverage team, advocating sound financial and business decision-making with honesty and integrity.
• Foster mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members, serving as a role model for appropriate behaviors.
• Develop and execute a food and beverage operating strategy aligned with the brand’s business objectives.
• Identify developmental needs within the team, providing coaching and mentoring to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Ensure regular, ongoing communication across all food and beverage areas, including pre-meal briefings and staff meetings.
• Hire food and beverage leadership team members who demonstrate strong functional expertise, creativity, and entrepreneurial leadership.
• Set clear goals and expectations for direct reports, holding them accountable for successful performance.

Guest Experience and Operational Excellence

• Ensure the delivery of exceptional customer service that exceeds expectations and drives guest satisfaction and retention.
• Improve service quality by communicating guest needs, providing guidance, feedback, and individual coaching to the team.
• Review findings from comment cards and guest satisfaction results with the F&B team, implementing appropriate corrective actions.
• Empower employees to provide outstanding guest service while balancing profit and service satisfaction.
• Stay informed of market trends and introduce new food and beverage products to meet customer expectations and maintain a competitive market position.
• Estimate consumption of food, liquor, wine, and other beverages to anticipate purchasing needs and manage inventory effectively.
• Order and purchase necessary equipment and supplies for the department.

Human Resources and Communication

• Provide guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring their performance.
• Coach and support the food and beverage leadership team in effectively managing wages, food and beverage costs, and controllable expenses.
• Ensure that expectations and objectives are clearly communicated to subordinates, fostering an environment where questions and concerns can be raised.
• Address human resource issues as necessary, ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
• Inform and update executives, peers, and subordinates on relevant information in a timely manner through various communication channels.
• Analyze information and evaluate results to choose optimal solutions and resolve problems efficiently.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5-10 years of experience in food and beverage leadership, preferably within a hotel or resort environment.
• Demonstrated ability to function as a strategic business leader, overseeing complex food and beverage operations.
• Proven track record in developing and managing budgets, driving revenue growth, and maximizing financial performance.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to lead, influence, and build collaborative relationships.
• Experience in implementing brand service strategies and ensuring exceptional customer satisfaction.
• Ability to analyze data, evaluate results, and make informed decisions to solve operational challenges.