Food & Beverage Supervisor

Chester Zoo; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a passionate Food & Beverage leader to oversee a dynamic team at a high-traffic venue. This role involves managing the Bembe restaurant, ensuring exceptional customer service, and driving sales while adhering to safety standards. With a commitment to excellence, you will lead a diverse team in a fast-paced environment, embracing current food trends and maximizing profitability. Join a renowned organization that values career development and offers a supportive work culture, making a difference in the lives of millions of visitors each year.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Holiday buy/sell scheme

Staff pass for zoo visits

Cycle to work scheme

Healthcare plan

Discounted gym membership

Discounts on cinema and restaurants

Pension scheme with employer contributions

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a busy food court or high-volume operation.
• Practical knowledge of budgets, forecasting, and target setting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the Bembe restaurant.
• Implement and adhere to food safety systems and best practices.

Skills

Team Leadership

Customer Service

Budget Management

Communication Skills

Food Safety Knowledge

Microsoft Excel

Tools

POS Systems

Stock Management Systems

Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Food & Beverage leader—someone who lives and breathes hospitality and thrives on providing excellent customer service—to help us deliver the world-class experience that Chester Zoo is known for. You will be responsible for leading, supervising, and motivating your team to ensure optimal performance, maximizing sales, net profits, and customer satisfaction.

Food & Beverage at the zoo includes a variety of restaurants, serving everything from fast food to traditional family favorites, a gastro-pub, coffee shops, kiosks, our staff canteen, and a 450-seat street kitchen serving Indonesian-inspired street food.

The Role

We are seeking a hands-on leader with solid management experience to oversee our fast-paced operation. Initially, you will be responsible for the day-to-day running of our Bembe restaurant at the main entrance of the zoo, which also leads to our new Heart of Africa project. Bembe includes a 200-seat restaurant, a coffee shop, and a hot food and snack kiosk. During our busy summer period, you will manage a team exceeding 30 staff members, operating alongside your Coordinator and under the supervision of the Food & Beverage Operations Manager.

In addition, you will:

• Assist in achieving and monitoring budgets to meet departmental targets and KPIs.
• Implement and adhere to policies, standard operating procedures, and safe working practices, including food safety systems, and support training programs to ensure best practices are followed.
• Stay informed about current food trends in the leisure, tourism, and broader food industry sectors to ensure we remain industry leaders.
• Manage the POS and stock management systems effectively.

Our Requirements

• Proven experience in a similar role, ideally within a busy food court or high-volume operation.
• Experienced people manager capable of leading and inspiring a diverse team.
• Practical knowledge of budgets, forecasting, and target setting.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, capable of liaising at all levels.
• Understanding of balancing customer needs with service capabilities and profitability.
• Familiarity with performance monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of health and hygiene safety legislation and processes.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.

The Package

You will work various shifts, five days out of seven, including weekends and bank holidays, generally during core zoo hours, with evening work for special events like Into the Night and The Lanterns.

• Permanent contract
• Salary of £29,260.20 per annum
• 33 days annual leave
• Holiday buy/sell scheme
• Staff pass for zoo visits during your time off, plus guest tickets
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance program
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema, restaurants, shops, and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with up to 9% employer contributions

The zoo attracts 2 million visitors annually, and our Food & Beverage outlets are very busy. Therefore, the ability to work in a high-volume, fast-paced environment and perform well under pressure is essential.

Why Work at Chester Zoo?

As the UK’s largest and most renowned zoo, we have ambitious goals and exciting plans. We are an inclusive, diverse organization with over 600 permanent and 500 temporary staff, committed to investing in our colleagues' career development. Join us for a long-term, rewarding journey.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We recommend applying promptly to be considered, as shortlisting and interviews may occur while the advert is live.