Head Of Food And Beverage

A unique Higher Education organisation located in Bloomsbury, has an exciting new role at a senior management level within the Estates & Facilities department to head up and lead the inhouse catering function as the newly created Head of Food and Beverage. We are looking to recruit a visionary Catering leader who, within their role as the Head of Food and Beverage, can transform the inhouse catering operation and take it to the next level. If you are passionate about service excellence, team building and culinary experiences, whist driving sales and ensuring profitability, then this is the role for you.

This University offers some of the most generous benefits within the HE sector. In addition to the Grade 8 salary, starting at £49,745 and rising through to £58,554 within employment tenure, as the Head of Food and Beverage, you will also receive:

• 31 days paid holiday + Bank Holidays
• Enhanced USS Pension scheme
• Enhanced Family leave
• Season Ticket Loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Opportunities for professional development with the lifelong learning contribution
• Working hours 35 per week

Within this Head of Catering Soft Services Management role, you will have the opportunity to work for a unique world class research and teaching institution with a niche tradition of providing higher education to people in work. You will be joining the University at an exciting time in their history as they recently celebrated their 200th anniversary in 2023.

Based in the heart of London you will be reporting directly to the Head of Estates and Facilities and be responsible for the inhouse catering services consisting of a Restaurant, Bar, Hospitality functions, 3 cafes and over 20 members of staff.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of strategy, policy, and operational plans for the Catering and Events function, whilst maximising commercial opportunities, against the backdrop of the College’s strategic aims
• Drive operational excellence, optimise revenue and profit, deliver financial sustainability, and deliver excellent customer service and presentation
• Lead and motivate a high performing customer focused team with food safety culture in the heart of all Catering and Events’ activity
• Develop a highly profitable hospitality business that supports the College’s commercial and academic aspirations
• Operate the Catering and Hospitality function within legislation, College Policy, and approved budgets, including full operational control in the absence of the Catering and Events Manager.

To be successful in this role, you will have significant experience in:

• Leading a catering operation (not via contractor) which consist of restaurant, bar, cafes and hospitality functions
• Direct operational management of catering services and staff
• Financial management and reporting
• Food hygiene and health and safety regulations within catering.

It is essential that you have already led a catering operation with a directly employed team, and ideally you will be able to demonstrate experience of transforming a catering department and change management. This is a hands-on management role and would suit a Catering expert looking for a challenging but rewarding position as the Head of Food and Beverage.

If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, then we would love to hear from you! Please apply now.