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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 global brands. 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!
