Food & Beverage Manager

Job Description

About Pulborough Brooks

Pulborough Brooks is one of the RSPB's flagship visitor destinations with a visitor centre that includes a shop, café, events and schools on reserve education programme. RSPB Pulborough Brooks is one of the most important sites for nature in Sussex. The cafe has beautiful views across to the South Downs and is set in one of the richest areas for nature in the country.

The Role:

We are looking for an enthusiastic and practical person who is able to deliver the highest standards and customer care and to be responsible for the day-to-day running of the cafe operation, in line with set RSPB procedures and routines. As a Food and Beverage Manager, you’ll help put our cafe at Pulborough Brooks on the local map. You’ll manage the food and beverage team and foster an inclusive culture where everyone feels respected, valued and able to speak their minds.

Typical opening hours are between 9am and 5pm. The role will offer a flexible shift pattern of 5 days over 7, with weekend and occasional evening working.

Key Skills Areas:

• Leading the Food and Beverage team in day-to-day operations.
• Has commercial awareness, knowledge of budgets, controlling costs and maximising income.
• Sets and monitors KPIs and targets to deliver organisational goals.
• Builds and maintains strong working relationships, has good people management skills including setting objectives and providing feedback.
• Provides a warm welcome for our visitors, is helpful and friendly with a positive attitude.
• Maintains food hygiene and health and safety standards in the work environment.
• Works in friendly, encouraging teams, with support from colleagues across the organisation.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A positive outlook, can-do attitude, willing to develop new skills and ask for help when needed.
• A genuine desire to deliver amazing experiences for our visitors.
• A passion for good food and drink.
• Effective time management and people management.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Level 3 Food Safety.
• Understanding of working EPOS systems.
• GCSE Maths and English, or equivalent.

What can the RSPB offer you?

• Discounts in RSPB Retail Shops, Cafes and Holiday Cottages
• Daytime working, no split shifts
• Free entry to RSPB Reserves
• Investment in your Personal and Professional Development
• Ability to define your own offer within the RSPB Menu Framework
• RSPB Pension Scheme, with matching employer contributions
• Health and Wellbeing support, including Employee Assistance Programme and free flu vaccine
• We’re here to save nature. In addition to a meaningful career in Food and Beverage, each year you will receive an extra day of paid leave to spend volunteering for any charity or voluntary organisation of your choice.

Does this sound like you? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week. For any questions or an informal chat about the role, please get in touch with: Verity Mason verity.mason@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

Before applying for this role, we recommend visiting the site and reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

Please note that we are actively recruiting for this vacancy and reserve the right to close the advert once suitable applications have been received. Previous applicants need not apply, thank you.