Fine Dining and Hospitality Manager

Job Introduction

Sodexo is the 18th largest employer in the world, with some 420,000 employees working across 80 countries globally. In the UK and Ireland, we have 34,000 employees providing integrated services across some 2,300 client sites, including sports stadia and visitor attractions. We are now looking to recruit a Head of Fine Dining at Royal Ascot Racecourse. We are very proud of our relationship with Ascot; we work closely to ensure we support their promise of “Raising the Standard” and their values of elegant, uplifting and original. We partner with them to deliver an uplifting guest experience; an experience which always anticipates their guest’s needs.

This is an exceptional opportunity to develop your career within a global flagship contract for our Sports and Leisure business. As Head of Fine Dining, you will deliver world-class hospitality throughout the fine dining department both at Royal Ascot and Ascot race days.

Role Responsibility

You will be leading, developing and managing a high performance team, ensuring the client receives services of the highest quality whilst working with the senior leadership team in the development of business strategy. Working with the culinary team to ensure world class food is served consistently you will bring innovation to the fine dining department.

• Ensuring service standards across sites are in line with or above client expectations.
• Costs are controlled and cross department efficiencies are developed in terms of labour and variables.
• Positive team culture and high levels of productivity and employee engagement are demonstrated.
• A positive working relationship with the client is evident.
• The fixed term and casual labour pool is managed
• A proactive attitude to continuous improvement is visible with regular meetings to review service delivery including service styles and menu offers as well as positive customer feedback, ensuring that the whole team is engaged in this process.
• Information regarding accounts is readily available, with on-going actions plans in place that are constantly under review.
• Innovative ideas are being implemented to improve service delivery, retain clients and win new services on site and win additional new business in the area.
• Maintain high standards of appearance and personal effectiveness
• Input into the development and innovation of the fine dining products working with Ascot Commercial, Marketing and Operational teams.

The Ideal Candidate

• Strong background in world-class Fine Dining operations
• Proven track record in operational management in a similar environment
• Achieve set, standards and operate to performance criteria; for example health and safety, hygiene
• Experience in training casual floor staff to a 5* service standard
• Excellent communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work on own initiative within a team environment
• Ability to interpret and utilise financial and commercial information
• Experience of working with budgets and pricing
• Ability to gather customer feedback and interpret into briefs for Chefs
• Have a passion for delivering and drawing from best in class examples of other fine dining events.

Package Description

£Competitive + Benefits

About the Company

We deliver a diverse range of onsite services to our clients ranging from construction, food services and reception through to security and ground maintenance in offices, schools, hospitals, prisons, military basis, oil rigs and hospitality events. We have an unrivalled reputation for building long lasting partnerships with our clients, enabling them to focus on their core business whilst improving the quality of life for their customers.

Our employees are at the heart of everything we do and we understand that the best people can only be recruited and retained through encouragement, investment and support therefore we value the contribution our employees make to the business and continuously celebrate their achievements.