Director, Food & Beverage

Delano Dubai

Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle and leisure hospitality company, is bringing the iconic Delano brand to the UAE for the first time. When Delano South Beach arrived on the Miami scene in 1995, it introduced an entirely fresh take on 5-star luxury and marked the inception of lifestyle hospitality. Delano was celebrated for its blend of timeless elegance, modern design, and vibrant energy; it became the social hub, bringing together the who’s who of the fashion and entertainment world. Guided by the same principles that propelled the original Delano to icon status, Delano Dubai will usher in a new era of sophisticated style and elevated service to the UAE.

Located on the pristine shores of Bluewaters Island, the Delano Dubai resort will boast an array of luxury rooms and suites, four exceptional culinary and mixology experiences, an ocean front swimming pool and a wellness studio. 
 

Summary
As the Director of Food & Beverage at Delano Dubai, you will lead the entire Food & Beverage team, which encompasses Restaurants/Bars, Room Service, and Banquets/Catering. You will be an integral part of the Food and Beverage senior leadership team, contributing to key strategic and operational decisions. Your responsibilities will extend to overseeing the development and implementation of departmental strategies, ensuring the execution of the brand service strategy, and driving brand initiatives forward.
In this role, you will be tasked with managing and organizing all Food & Beverage requirements to the highest standards, following standard operating procedures meticulously. Moreover, you will play a pivotal role in enforcing service standard procedures by directing, supervising, and motivating staff to consistently deliver exceptional service experiences.

Responsibilities 
•    Focus on performance metrics including but not limited to; Engagement, Guest Experience, Top Line Revenue, Margin Improvement, Competitive Positioning.
•    Serve as a senior member of the hotel’s Executive Committee as part of the strategic leadership team of the hotel.

Strategic Leadership:
•    Develop and implement departmental strategies aligned with the brand's business strategy.
•    Ensure execution of brand service strategy and initiatives.
•    Meet or exceed the needs of the brand's target customer while maximizing financial performance.
Developing and Executing Food and Beverage Strategy:
•    Collaborate with direct reports to develop promotions, food and wine pairings, menu items, and presentations.
•    Develop and execute a food and beverage operating strategy aligned with the brand’s objectives.
Leading Food and Beverage Teams:
•    Review business opportunities and troubleshoot potential challenges.
•    Facilitate regular communication among food and beverage staff.
•    Maintain appropriate staffing levels and provide necessary training to new hires.
•    Ensure consistent administration of property policies and disciplinary procedures.
•    Set expectations for service behaviours and hold leadership team accountable.
•    Address employee concerns promptly and effectively.
Maximizing Food and Beverage Revenue:
•    Analyze financial reports to assess performance against budget.
•    Implement cash and liquor control policies to ensure compliance.
•    Encourage innovative approaches to generate incremental revenue and enhance service.

This role demands strategic thinking, strong leadership, and a focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences while maximizing revenue and profitability.

Experience/Certificates/Education
•    Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or related field.
•    Minimum 5 years of international leadership experience in managing large-scale food & beverage operations in a luxury hotel environment, acquired from working in key cities/resort destinations globally.
•    Previous working experience in a truly global work environment is essential.
•    Solid business/financial acumen with a good understanding of luxury hotel operations.
•    Act as a role model in delivering elegant and understated service with sophistication.
•    Exemplary service delivery and leadership.
•    Demonstrate leadership qualities to build strong employee engagement.
•    Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
•    Good communicator with fluency in English.
•    Proven organizational skills, able to set and meet deadlines with quality results.
•    Good understanding of budgeting, forecasting, expenses, and payroll control.
•    Executive presence – self-assured exuding quiet confidence and humility.
•    Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
•    Excellent financial management abilities.
•    Ability to motivate and develop teams.
•    Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
•    Knowledge of luxury hospitality / food & beverage trends and industry best practices.
•    A passion for delivering exceptional customer service.
•    Ability to work effectively and contribute in a team.
•    High degree of professionalism with sound human resources management and business acumen capabilities.

These qualifications and attributes are crucial for excelling in the role of Director of Rooms, ensuring effective leadership, operational excellence, and outstanding guest experiences.
 

We are dedicated to fostering your growth and success every step of the way. We understand the importance of providing you with the support, training, and leadership necessary to excel in your role. That's why we offer comprehensive leadership training and development programs tailored to sharpen your skills and elevate your expertise in the luxury hospitality sector. Your journey with us is not just about achieving your goals but also about continuously refining your capabilities and making meaningful contributions to our shared success.