Director of Food & Beverage

Crescent Hotels & Resorts

Denver (CO)

On-site

USD 170,000 - 210,000

Full time

14 days+

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

Populus Denver seeks an accomplished Director of Food & Beverage to lead dining and beverage operations, driving profitability and guest experience across Pasque, Stellar Jay rooftop, private dining, banquets, and events.

This hands-on executive role requires strong financial acumen, guest-centric leadership, and collaboration with the General Manager, Sales, and Executive Chef to develop strategic programming and optimize performance across the property.

Qualifications

7–10 years progressive F&B management experience
3–5 years in senior leadership or director role
Proven revenue growth and profitability responsibility

Responsibilities

Oversee F&B operations across multiple venues
Develop and manage annual budgets and forecasts
Lead menu development, pricing, and beverage programs
Drive guest experience excellence and service standards
Collaborate with GM, Sales, and Executive Chef on growth initiatives
Lead talent development and operational discipline

Skills

F&B leadership

P&L management

Budgeting

Menu engineering

Operations leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality

Business Administration (preferred)

Tools

POS systems

Hotel PMS

Labor management tools

Job description

Populus Denver is seeking an accomplished, highly engaged, and commercially driven Director of Food & Beverage to lead the hotel's comprehensive food and beverage operations. This executive leadership position is responsible for the financial performance, operational excellence, guest experience, culinary collaboration, and strategic development of the property's diverse dining and beverage concepts.

As a distinctive lifestyle hotel in downtown Denver, Populus requires a Food & Beverage Director who combines the operational discipline of a seasoned hotel executive with the entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and commercial awareness of an independent restaurant operator.

The successful candidate will oversee multiple dining venues, including Pasque, the rooftop dining and beverage experience at Stellar Jay, private dining, banquets, catering, and other food and beverage activations throughout the property.

The Director will be accountable for building a cohesive, high-performing Food & Beverage division while preserving the individual identity, positioning, and guest experience of each venue.

This is a hands-on executive leadership position requiring strong financial acumen, consistent operational presence, exceptional people management, and demonstrated success in driving profitable revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Development

Provide executive oversight and strategic direction for all Food & Beverage operations, ensuring alignment with the hotel's positioning, brand standards, ownership objectives, and annual business plan.
Develop and execute a comprehensive Food & Beverage strategy that balances revenue generation, profitability, guest satisfaction, and market relevance.
Establish distinct operating and commercial strategies for each venue while maintaining consistency in service standards, leadership accountability, and financial discipline.
Identify opportunities to expand local market penetration, increase non-hotel guest traffic, and strengthen the property's reputation as a dining and entertainment destination.
Collaborate closely with the General Manager, Director of Sales & Marketing, Revenue Management, and Executive Chef on business development initiatives.
Lead the development of seasonal programming, culinary partnerships, special events, holiday activations, and other revenue-generating experiences.
Monitor Denver's competitive restaurant, rooftop, bar, and hospitality landscape to identify market opportunities and evolving consumer preferences.
Take an active role in developing the annual operating budget, business plan, and long-term Food & Beverage positioning.

Financial Performance & Profitability

The Director of Food & Beverage carries direct accountability for the financial results of the entire division.

Develop, manage, and execute annual operating budgets, monthly forecasts, and departmental business plans.
Assume full ownership of Food & Beverage revenue, departmental expenses, labor productivity, and operating profit.
Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly financial performance against budget, forecast, and prior-year results.
Establish disciplined cost controls for food, beverage, labor, operating supplies, and controllable departmental expenses.
Partner with the Executive Chef to manage menu engineering, food costs, purchasing, waste reduction, and production efficiency.
Develop beverage pricing, product mix, inventory management, and purchasing strategies that optimize profitability.
Implement labor scheduling practices aligned with forecasted business volumes, productivity standards, and service requirements.
Conduct regular profit and loss reviews, identify performance gaps, and implement measurable corrective action plans.
Monitor average check, covers, revenue per available seat, outlet contribution, banquet profitability, and other relevant financial indicators.
Ensure compliance with purchasing procedures, invoice approvals, inventory controls, and financial reporting requirements.
Work closely with Finance to manage vendor relationships, accounts payable priorities, and cash-flow-sensitive purchasing decisions.

Expected outcome: Consistent achievement of budgeted revenue and departmental profitability, supported by accurate forecasting, disciplined expense management, and measurable operating improvements.

Restaurant, Rooftop & Beverage Operations

Pasque - Restaurant Operations

Oversee breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and seasonal dining operations as applicable.
Drive consistent service execution, guest engagement, table management, and dining-room efficiency.
Collaborate with culinary leadership on menu development, pricing, and seasonal offerings.
Develop strategies to increase local patronage, repeat visits, and overall restaurant profitability.
Maintain effective staffing models and service standards across varying meal periods.

Stellar Jay - Rooftop Dining & Beverage

Position the rooftop as a compelling destination for hotel guests and the Denver local market.
Oversee beverage programming, service execution, reservations, guest flow, and seasonal operations.
Maximize revenue through strategic pricing, beverage mix, event programming, and utilization of available space.
Develop operating plans that address weather-related demand fluctuations, seasonal staffing, and outdoor guest comfort.
Maintain an elevated, energetic guest experience consistent with the venue's identity.

Additional Food & Beverage Operations

Provide oversight of private dining, in-room dining, event spaces, and other Food & Beverage services as assigned.
Ensure each operation has clearly established revenue goals, expense controls, staffing expectations, and service standards.
Coordinate operational support between venues without compromising individual concept integrity.

Banquets, Catering & Event Execution

Oversee the operational execution and profitability of all banquet, catering, private dining, and special event business.
Collaborate with Sales and Catering teams to maximize event conversion, revenue opportunities, and guest satisfaction.
Ensure accurate planning, staffing, setup, service delivery, and post-event reconciliation.
Review banquet event orders, event profitability, labor allocation, and operational requirements.
Develop innovative event concepts and programming to maximize underutilized spaces.
Establish clear communication and accountability between Sales, Culinary, Banquets, and Operations.
Identify opportunities to improve beverage attachment, event check averages, and overall catering contribution.

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

Establish and maintain elevated service standards consistent with Populus Denver's lifestyle positioning.
Maintain a strong operational presence during peak dining periods, major events, weekends, and holidays.
Lead service training focused on hospitality, product knowledge, personalization, anticipation of guest needs, and service recovery.
Review guest feedback, online reviews, satisfaction surveys, and direct guest comments to identify recurring service opportunities.
Personally engage with guests, resolve escalated concerns, and ensure timely follow-through.
Develop measurable service improvement initiatives with clear ownership and deadlines.
Ensure consistent presentation, cleanliness, ambiance, music, lighting, and overall venue readiness.
Partner with hotel leadership to create seamless experiences between Food & Beverage and other hotel departments.

Leadership, Talent Development & Accountability

Lead, mentor, and develop Food & Beverage managers, supervisors, and service teams.
Establish a structured leadership model with clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability.
Conduct regular departmental leadership meetings, operational reviews, and individual performance discussions.
Recruit and retain qualified hospitality professionals while developing internal succession opportunities.
Establish onboarding, training, and certification programs for all Food & Beverage positions.
Promote a culture of professionalism, teamwork, ownership, and consistent execution.
Address performance deficiencies promptly through coaching, documented development plans, and appropriate corrective action.
Ensure scheduling, staffing, and labor deployment support both financial objectives and service expectations.
Foster productive relationships between Front of House, Culinary, Sales, Finance, and hotel operations.
Maintain compliance with applicable employment regulations, collective bargaining agreements where relevant, and company policies.

The Director must demonstrate the ability to develop independent, accountable managers rather than relying on constant executive intervention to sustain daily operations.

Preferred Leadership Competencies

Commercial & Financial Acumen

Ability to translate operating data into practical strategies that drive revenue, control expenses, and improve profitability.

Executive Leadership & Accountability

Ability to establish expectations, develop leadership talent, make difficult decisions, and hold teams accountable for results.

Restaurant & Beverage Expertise

Strong understanding of independent restaurant dynamics, beverage profitability, culinary trends, and competitive positioning.

Guest-Centric Hospitality

A visible, engaged leader with the ability to inspire authentic service, anticipate guest needs, and deliver exceptional experiences.

Entrepreneurial & Strategic Thinking

Ability to develop new revenue streams, adapt to changing business conditions, and maximize the commercial potential of each venue.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Minimum 7-10 years of progressive Food & Beverage management experience, including at least 3-5 years in a senior leadership or director-level role.
Proven experience managing multiple restaurant and beverage concepts, preferably within an upscale lifestyle, boutique, luxury, or full-service hotel environment.
Demonstrated responsibility for significant Food & Beverage revenue and departmental profitability.
Strong working knowledge of restaurant operations, beverage programs, banquets, catering, and event execution.
Proven ability to manage complex operating budgets, forecasts, financial statements, and labor productivity.
Experience developing managers, leading diverse teams, and establishing measurable performance standards.
Strong understanding of food safety, alcohol service regulations, and hospitality operating procedures.
Experience working with hotel property management systems, point-of-sale platforms, labor management tools, and financial reporting systems.
Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and major events.
Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant leadership experience considered.