As the Food and Beverage Venue Manager in our Student Union, you will be responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of our food and beverage outlets. This is a hands-on operational role in which you need to work well under pressure, have exceptional organisational skills, be a good leader and have a real passion for events.
Your role will involve managing a team, ensuring exceptional customer service, and maintaining high operational standards. You will have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the student experience and contribute to the success and sustainability of our commercial services.
Responsible to: Area Manager
Responsible for: Assistant Food and Beverage Venue Manager, Duty Manager, Coordinator, Supervisor, Team Leader, and Casual Staff
Department/Service
The Food and Beverage Venue Manager is part of the Greenwich Students’ Union Commercial Services. At GSU, we turn over £1.1m through our not-for-profit commercial services that provide services to students, staff, and the local population. We provide students at the University of Greenwich with social spaces to study, make friends and have fun.
Additionally, the profit generated through our varied income portfolio is invested back into the SU support services for students. We are a Living Wage Employer and a large employer of students putting money back in their pockets to support studying and living costs in London and Kent.
1.Duty and Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
- Take full responsibility for the daily operations of all food and beverage outlets within the student union.
- Ensure the delivery of high-quality food, beverages, events, and service to meet the expectations of our diverse student community and visitors.
- Proactively manage maintenance issues, and maintain the cleanliness, presentation, and overall ambience of the venues, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
- Placing orders to ensure stock is available that stock levels are correct and that gross profit margins are achieved.
- Ensuring all beverages are served in quantities as per licensing regulations and company policy.
- Ensuring high levels of presentation across our bars.
- Be the face of the outlets, actively engaging with customers and providing feedback and support to the team during service.
- Implement efficient roster management to ensure adequate staffing during peak hours and events.
- Ensure casual staff have appropriate levels of training and supervision throughout the department(s) and regularly monitor rotas, staff deployment and expenditure to drive excellent service in line with agreed budgets.
- Provide suitable instruction and direction to staff in order to deliver the bars and entertainment services in line with our policies.
- Respond quickly to changing business patterns, while effectively managing costs and staffing levels within budget.
- Complete departmental operating plans, strategic reviews, and reports on KPIs as required.
- Recruit, train, and lead a skilled team of food service professionals, fostering a positive and motivated work environment.
- Develop staff through ongoing training, performance evaluations, and regular feedback sessions.
- Liaise with the Sales and Events team to continually improve the events package for both internal and external clients.
- Running team incentives to promote sales and ensure upselling is an everyday practice.
- Monitor staff performance and correct problems where necessary in line with reporting.
Food and Drink
- Continuously reviewing and enhancing our food and beverage offerings to align with student preferences and market trends.
- Manage relationships with vendors and suppliers to ensure a consistent and reliable supply chain.
- Negotiate favourable terms with suppliers to optimise product quality and cost.
- Ensuring any offers and promotions are run at the correct times.
- Collaborate with the Area Manager to develop a strategic food and drink strategy.
- Work with the Area Manager to conduct annual competitor analysis and deliver pricing strategy reviews.
Events and Venue Hire
- Plan and coordinate special events and functions held within the food and beverage outlets.
- Take the operational lead on all events booked in by the Sales and Events Manager. Collaborate with event organisers and clients to understand their requirements and deliver exceptional service during events.
- Evaluate and critically analyse all events before their delivery to ensure success, including customer show around.
- Attend weekly meetings with the Sales and Events Team to ensure client needs are understood, met and discussed.
- Ensure compliance with licensing regulations and safety guidelines for all events.
Finance and Reporting
- Responsible for all department budgets
- Monitor expenses, control costs, and implement cost-effective measures without compromising on quality.
- Collaborate with the Commercial Area Manager to set and achieve financial targets and budgets for the food and beverage outlets.
- Maintain GSU’s Financial Regulations, Standards and Procedures at all times, particularly in relation to cash handling, stock control, purchasing, and payment of contractors and artists.
- Ensure the finance department receives all relevant financial information promptly.
- Prepare incident, accident, end of day reports.
- Analyse sales data and trends to identify opportunities for revenue growth and improved profitability.
- Record usage data, footfall data, and entertainment information as required for monitoring the venue’s performance in monthly reports for the Area Manager.
Health, Safety, and Compliance
- Maintain safe and comfortable conditions for all team members and visitors.
- Maintain strict adherence to food hygiene and safety standards, conducting regular checks to ensure compliance.
- Implement and update health and safety policies, ensuring all staff are trained appropriately to maintain the venue’s 5-star EHO audits achievement.
- Comply with all relevant legal requirements and licensing regulations.
- To complete written risk assessments for all events in line with policies and set procedures.
- Advise the Area Manager in connection with any equipment that may pose a hazard as used by in-house staff and contracted workforce.
2.General Responsibilities
- Represent and be an ambassador for GSU.
- Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
- Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
- Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
- Support and promote workplace liberation, diversity, equality, and inclusion of opportunity.
- Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive information about individual organisations, clients, staff, and Project data.
- Actively seek better ways to assist GSU in becoming a more sustainable workplace.
- Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential Attributes
- Proven management experience in a busy food, drink and events operations environment, including working towards financial targets.
- Strong financial acumen and ability to understand budgets.
- Track record of successfully implementing changes to drive growth within a food and drink environment.
- Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and openly in all interactions. Must also demonstrate a positive attitude while communicating with clients and co-workers.
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills with the ability to work effectively to meet deadlines.
- A passion for providing exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming environment for students.
- Experience working with suppliers of goods and services.
- Excellent time management, organisational, and planning skills
- Familiarity with relevant software and tools for managing schedules, inventory, and reporting.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, as well as an understanding of social media platforms
- Ability to engage, motivate, and develop a young team.
- Must demonstrate accountability; the ability to be responsible, reliable and amenable.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability and confidence to interact effectively with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.
- Must be willing to work late nights and weekends as required.
Desirable Attributes
- Formal relevant catering qualifications – Health and Safety Level 3, First Aid etc.
- HR experience, including contracting and performance management.
- Good experience in managing health & safety and security legislation.
- Technical understanding of lighting, sound, and other production equipment.
- Ability to write a business proposal and present a business case to inform future strategic development.
- Understanding and knowledge of working within the student sector.
- Concert Production Management skills
- Personal Licence holder.
- SIA door registration.
- A full, clean driving licence.
Personal Attributes and Other Requirements
- All Commercial Services staff may be asked to work at other campus outlets on an ad hoc basis to assist with day-to-day operations and events.
- Innovative and forward-thinking approach to continued improvement.
- Able to travel extensively within the Borough and Region.
- Able to work unsociable hours and stay overnight where necessary.
- Work well in a team with a flexible approach to work.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities.
- An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
- Commitment to the values and ethos of the Organisation.