Temporary Director of Food and Beverage (Task Force)

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America. With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. www.highgate.com

The Newbury Boston at One Newbury Street, located in the premier shopping and dining neighborhood of Boston's Back Bay is an iconic property originally opened in 1927 as one of the first Ritz-Carlton hotels in the U.S. and most recently was the Taj Boston. The building was recently transformed into a 286-room luxury hotel with 16,000-sq-ft of stunning event spaces, signature dining experiences and a reimagined front entrance on Newbury Street.

The Director of Food & Beverage is responsible for coordinating, supervising and directing all property food and beverage operations, while maintaining a profitable F&B department and high quality products and service levels. He/she is expected to market ideas to promote business; reduce employee turnover; maintain revenue and payroll budgets; and meet budgeted productivity while keeping quality consistently high.

Employees must, at all times, be attentive, friendly, helpful, and courteous to all guests, managers, and fellow employees.
• Supervise all F&B personnel.
• Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
• Prepare the F&B budget and monitor department performance with respect to the same. Perform any necessary follow-up, including forecasting.
• Monitor industry trends, take appropriate action to maintain competitive and profitable operations.
• Work with other Executive Committee members and keep them informed of F&B issues as they arise.
• Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
• Coordinate and monitor all phases of Loss Prevention in the F&B department.
• Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
• Organize and conduct department meetings on a regular basis.
• Monitor quality of service and product.
• Cooperate in menu planning and preparation.
• Ensure timely purchase of F&B items, within budget allocation.
• Oversee operations of the employee cafeteria.
• Ensure compliance with all local liquor laws, and health and sanitation regulations.
• Ensure departmental compliance with SOP's.
• Ensure the training of department heads on SOP's, report preparation, technical job tasks.
• Attend and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (CARE, One to One), etc.
• Interview candidates for front-of-house F&B positions and follow standards for hiring approvals.
• Conduct and/or attend all required meetings, including pre-convention and post-convention meetings.
• Ensure overall guest satisfaction.
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
• Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
• Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
• Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service-oriented manner.
• Attend all hotel required meetings and trainings.
• Participate in M.O.D. coverage as required.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Highgate Hotel Standards, as required by scheduling, which will vary according to the needs of the hotel.
• Maintain high standards of personal appearance and grooming, including wearing nametags.
• Comply with Highgate Hotel Standards and regulations to encourage safe and efficient hotel operations.
• Maximize efforts towards productivity, identify problem areas and assist in implementing solutions.
• Must be effective in handling problems, including anticipating, preventing, identifying and solving problems as necessary.
• Must be able to understand and evaluate complex information, data, etc. from various sources to meet appropriate objectives.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality of information.
• Perform other duties as requested by management

Education & Experience:

• 3 years of F&B Director/Operations Director/Assistant Director experience in a luxury hotel or similar multi-unit venues required
• 5 years of Banquet Management experience in a luxury hotel or similar multi-unit venues required
• 10 years of F&B Management experience required
• 4-year college degree required
• Must be proficient in Windows, company-approved spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Must know F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.

Physical requirements:

• Long hours are sometimes required.
• Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects