SUMMARY:
A prestigious luxury hotel portfolio at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, Western Cape, is seeking a highly experienced and commercially driven CLUSTER FOOD & BEVERAGE DIRECTOR to join their senior leadership team.
POSITION INFO:
This is a rare and senior opportunity for an exceptional F&B leader to take full ownership of the food and beverage strategy across a portfolio of iconic luxury properties at one of South Africa's most celebrated destinations. This role demands a commercial operator and experience curator in equal measure; someone who can turn F&B into a key profit driver while elevating the overall guest journey across multiple outlets and properties.
Core Criteria:
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
- 8–10+ years' experience in senior F&B leadership roles within a luxury or multi-property environment
- Proven ability to drive revenue growth, profitability, and operational excellence at a portfolio level
- Strong commercial and financial acumen with advanced analytical capability
- Experience in concept development, brand positioning, and large-scale F&B operations
- Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams
- In-depth understanding of industry trends, compliance, and best practices
- Experience overseeing procurement, supplier partnerships, and stock management governance
- Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Executive Chef, Sales, and Rooms Division teams
Core Responsibilities:
Strategic & Commercial Leadership
- Define and execute a cohesive F&B strategy aligned with overall business objectives and brand positioning across all properties and outlets
- Drive total F&B revenue, profitability, and market share across the portfolio
- Develop and implement pricing models, revenue optimisation strategies, and cost control frameworks
- Identify and execute new business opportunities, concepts, and partnerships
- Lead F&B capital planning and investment decisions with a strong return-on-investment focus
Multi-Property Operational Excellence
- Provide executive oversight of all F&B operations across restaurants, bars, functions, and in-room dining, ensuring alignment in standards, systems, and service delivery
- Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, controls, and performance benchmarks
- Conduct regular operational audits and drive continuous improvement initiatives
- Ensure full compliance with health, safety, hygiene, and statutory requirements
- Optimise labour structures and productivity in line with business demands
Leadership & People Development
- Lead and inspire F&B leadership teams, including outlet managers and senior culinary leaders
- Build a culture of accountability, service excellence, and high performance
- Drive talent development, succession planning, and retention strategies
- Partner with HR on workforce planning, training, and performance management
Brand, Guest Experience & Programming
- Position F&B as a core differentiator within the property portfolio
- Align the F&B experience with brand identity across all guest touchpoints
- Collaborate with Sales & Marketing on campaigns, partnerships, and activations
- Oversee the development and execution of signature events and experiences
- Monitor guest feedback and market trends to continuously enhance the offering
Culinary Direction & Innovation
- Provide strategic direction on menu engineering, concept development, and innovation
- Ensure all offerings are commercially viable, trend-relevant, and brand-aligned
- Drive sustainability initiatives, local sourcing, and efficient procurement practices
- Oversee beverage strategy, including wine programmes and bar concepts
Financial Management & Governance
- Full accountability for F&B financial performance across all properties
- Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and performance reporting
- Monitor key financial metrics and implement corrective strategies where required
- Ensure strong controls in procurement, stock management, and cost of sales
Remuneration & Benefits:
- Salary: R80,000 per month
- This is a live-out position
