F&B Director: Ground-Up Hospitality Leader

Dsrt Surf; Palm Desert (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Surf privileges

Job summary

DSRT SURF is seeking a Director of Food & Beverage to own the full F&B vision from concept to launch, with pre-opening expertise and hands-on culinary leadership. You will design menus, establish SOPs, and drive P&L accountability across all F&B revenue streams.

You will build a high-performing team, manage budgets, vendor relationships, and ensure compliance with California health codes while delivering exceptional hospitality at a ground-up venue in Palm Desert.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive F&B leadership experience, with 3+ years at the Director level or equivalent.
• Experience leading an F&B program through a full pre-opening and launch cycle.
• Hands-on menu development experience with strong culinary knowledge and costing skills.
• Proven P&L management in a high-volume hospitality or entertainment venue environment.
• Experience building and leading teams from the ground up.
• Working knowledge of California health codes, ABC licensing, and food safety regulations.
• Experience in resort, entertainment venue, or experiential hospitality strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with POS systems, inventory platforms, and scheduling tools.
• Strong communication, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all F&B pre-opening planning including concept development, permitting, health department licensing, city approvals, floor plan and kitchen layout coordination, and full operational readiness through launch.
• Design and execute menus across all F&B outlets – poolside, casual, premium, private events, and catering.
• Build all standard operating procedures, service standards, and training programs from scratch.
• Own full P&L accountability across all F&B revenue lines including food, beverage, and private events.
• Build and manage departmental budgets, labor models, and cost of goods frameworks.
• Source and manage all vendor, purveyor, and supplier relationships.
• Recruit, hire, and build the full F&B team from management through hourly staff.
• Lead all F&B training programs and establish a culture of hospitality, consistency, and accountability.
• Coordinate kitchen buildout and equipment procurement in collaboration with operations leadership.
• Establish inventory management, ordering systems, and waste reduction protocols.
• Design and execute F&B programming for private events, group bookings, and special activations.
• Partner with marketing on seasonal promotions, launch campaigns, and experiential programming.
• Monitor performance KPIs and report to VP/GM with clear analysis and action plans.
• Ensure full compliance with California health codes, ABC licensing, and food safety requirements.

Skills

F&B leadership

Pre-opening experience

Menu development

P&L management

Vendor management

Team building

California health codes

Hospitality culture

Tools

POS systems

Inventory platforms

Scheduling tools

Job description

DSRT SURF is seeking a Director of Food & Beverage to own the full F&B vision from concept to launch, with pre-opening expertise and hands-on culinary leadership. You will design menus, establish SOPs, and drive P&L accountability across all F&B revenue streams.

You will build a high-performing team, manage budgets, vendor relationships, and ensure compliance with California health codes while delivering exceptional hospitality at a ground-up venue in Palm Desert.