Food & Beverage Team Leader

National Trust; Robertsbridge; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free National Trust places for you and

Season ticket loan

Flexible working

Job summary

The National Trust is seeking a Food and Beverage Team Leader to oversee front-of-house service at Bodiam Castle. You’ll lead a busy cafe team, ensuring memorable guest experiences and consistent high standards across every service shift.

With 37.5 hours per week and a permanent contract, you’ll supervise induction and training, monitor displays, and collaborate with the kitchen to deliver great food and drinks. The role requires flexibility to work weekends and bank holidays.

Qualifications

• Customer-service driven approach with a positive attitude.
• Ability to lead, support and develop a team to deliver consistent service.
• Strong organisational skills and adaptability to a busy cafe environment.
• Confidence in handling a variety of situations including complaints.
• Willingness to learn new skills and participate in training.

Responsibilities

• Provide day‑to‑day support to the cafe team to ensure great service.
• Lead front-of-house activities and guest interactions.
• Supervise induction and training of colleagues for a high-performing team.
• Ensure displays and signs are accurate and attractive, coordinating with kitchen when needed.

Skills

Great customer service

Team leadership

People management

Organised and adaptable

Problem solving

Job description

Summary

The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to join us.

We’re looking for a Food and Beverage Team Leader to join us at Bodiam Castle.

Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.

Benefits

We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours

37.5 per week, this will include some weekend and bank holiday working.

Salary

£25,837.50 per annum

Duration

Permanent

Interview date

5th October

Potential start date

ASAP

Assessment

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.

About the role

What it's like to work here To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

What you'll be doing

As a Team Leader, you’ll be giving day‑to‑day support to your team, to make sure they’re consistently giving great service to everyone who comes to the café. This is a busy, lively place to work, so you’ll need to be adaptable.

Your focus will be front of house, dealing directly with people and serving them food and drink. Crucial to this role will be your love of working with people, your positive ‘can‑do’ attitude and your desire to provide an outstanding service.

Using your excellent eye for detail, you’ll make sure all displays and signs are accurate, and that the food is looking good. At times, you may need to help the kitchen team with preparing food.

You’ll also be supervising the induction and training of colleagues, to help build a team that’s dedicated to great service and to giving people a day to remember.

We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish.

You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.

Who We're Looking For

• focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
• a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
• well‑organised and adaptable
• ability to lead, support and develop a team
• confident dealing with a variety of situations including complaints
• willing to learn new skills.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

National Trust place

Bodiam Castle, Bodiam, Robertsbridge, TN32 5UA

Documents

Food & Beverage Team Leader - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date

27th September 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.