Cape Town Region: F&B Manager posted by Tanya Serra Food, Wine, Hospitality Recruitment

Job Purpose The Director of Food & Beverage is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the full food and beverage strategy across all outlets (restaurants, bars, functions, and in-room dining) within the hotel’s portfolio This role combines strong commercial leadership with guest experience curation, ensuring F&B is positioned as a key profit driver while elevating the overall brand and guest journey. The Director is accountable for financial performance, operational excellence, concept development, and the leadership of high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams. Core Role Overview Owns and drives the end-to-end F&B strategy across all properties and outlets Accountable for revenue growth, profitability, and cost control (including GP, labour, pricing, and waste management) Shapes F&B concepts, positioning, and guest experience in alignment with brand and market expectations Leads, develops, and retains high-performing teams across multiple departments Ensures consistency, quality, and service excellence across all guest touchpoints Oversees procurement, supplier partnerships, and stock management governance Works collaboratively with Executive Chef, Sales, and Rooms Division to optimise total property performance Drives innovative programming, including menus, events, and activations, to maintain relevance and competitiveness In essence: A commercial operator and experience curator – responsible for turning F&B into a key profit driver while elevating the overall guest journey. Key Responsibilities Strategic & Commercial Leadership Define and execute a cohesive F&B strategy aligned with overall business objectives and brand positioning Drive total F&B revenue, profitability, and market share across the portfolio Develop and implement pricing models, revenue optimisation strategies, and cost control frameworks Identify and execute new business opportunities, concepts, and partnerships Lead F&B capital planning and investment decisions with a strong return-on-investment focus Multi-Property Operational Excellence Provide executive oversight of all F&B operations, ensuring alignment in standards, systems, and service delivery Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, controls, and performance benchmarks Conduct regular operational audits and implement continuous improvement initiatives Ensure full compliance with health, safety, hygiene, and statutory requirements Optimise labour structures and productivity in line with business demands Leadership & People Development Lead and inspire F&B leadership teams, including outlet managers and senior culinary leaders Build a culture of accountability, service excellence, and high performance Drive talent development, succession planning, and retention strategies Partner with HR on workforce planning, training, and performance management Brand, Guest Experience & Programming Position F&B as a core differentiator within the V&A portfolio Align the F&B experience with brand identity across all guest touchpoints Collaborate with Sales & Marketing on campaigns, partnerships, and activations Oversee the development and execution of signature events and experiences Monitor guest feedback and market trends to continuously enhance the offering Culinary Direction & Innovation Provide strategic direction on menu engineering, concept development, and innovation Ensure offerings are commercially viable, trend-relevant, and brand-aligned Drive sustainability initiatives, local sourcing, and efficient procurement practices Oversee beverage strategy, including wine programmes and bar concepts Financial Management & Governance Full accountability for F&B financial performance across all properties Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and performance reporting Monitor key financial metrics and implement corrective strategies where required Ensure strong controls in procurement, stock management, and cost of sales Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field (preferred) 8–10 years’ experience in senior F&B leadership roles within a luxury or multi-property environment Proven ability to drive revenue growth, profitability, and operational excellence at a portfolio level Strong commercial and financial acumen with advanced analytical capability Experience in concept development, brand positioning, and large-scale F&B operations Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills In-depth understanding of industry trends, compliance, and best practices