Food & Beverage Manager

Compass Group UK; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A catering and hospitality firm located in Birmingham is seeking a Food & Beverage Manager to oversee operations in a Defence Sector unit. The successful candidate will lead a team, manage financial budgets, and ensure outstanding service delivery. The role requires strong leadership and communication skills, along with a passion for food and drink innovation. Benefits include a pension scheme, career development programs, and various discounts. This is a full-time, permanent position.

Benefits

Contributory pension scheme

Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Digital GP access

Exclusive travel discounts

Discounts on groceries

Cinema ticket discounts

Cash rewards on spending

Wellness and mindfulness classes

Share discounts with friends and family

Qualifications

• Experience in catering or hospitality management.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Financially astute with experience managing budgets.
• Passionate about food and drink innovation.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Strong delegation and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the team for smooth operations.
• Manage catering and payroll budgets.
• Serve as the main contact for catering requests.
• Deliver innovative customer experiences.
• Adapt to challenges while prioritising tasks.
• Demonstrate hands-on leadership when needed.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure success.
• Oversee room delegation and operations.

Job description

Food & Beverage Manager – Birmingham, Longbridge | Full-Time / Permanent

We are looking for a Food & Beverage Manager for a unit within our Defence Sector.

As our Food and Beverage Manager at this venue, you will oversee the overall operation of our Catering, Hospitality & Accommodation facilities, leading a dynamic team to deliver exceptional service across the facility.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead & Manage the Team: Ensure smooth day‑to‑day operations. Inspire your team to deliver excellent customer service and exceed expectations.
• Financial Management: Manage catering & payroll budgets in line with goals and maintain financial targets.
• Client Relationships: Serve as the main point of contact for all catering requests, ensuring guest satisfaction and proactively driving our offering.
• Food & Drink Innovation: Deliver exceptional customer experiences with a passion for innovation in food and drink.
• Effective Communication & Prioritisation: Adapt and solve challenges while prioritising tasks in a fast‑paced environment.
• Delegation & Hands‑on Leadership: Demonstrate strong delegation skills with the ability to step in and lead by example when needed.
• Collaboration: Work across departments to ensure the success of food & beverage operations and guests satisfaction.
• Accommodation: Oversee room delegation & operations.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Experience in catering or hospitality management.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to manage both front and back‑of‑house teams.
• Financially astute, with experience managing budgets and aligning with objectives.
• Passionate about food and drink innovation, delivering excellent customer service.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks in a fast‑paced setting.
• Strong delegation and influencing skills, with the flexibility to be hands‑on when necessary.
• A team player, willing to collaborate with other departments to achieve great results.

Benefits:

• Contributory pension scheme.
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes.
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits.
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more.
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more.
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster.
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands.
• Un‑wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes.
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families.

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK & I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Compass Group UK & I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!