Closing date:12noon. Friday 28th February 2025
Contract:Full time, permanent
Location:London
Salary:£60,000 £70,000 depending on experience
Reports to:Operations Director
Responsible for:Venue Bar Managers, Seasonal Bar Operations Managers, Seasonal Bar Managers
Reporting to the Operations Director, the Head of Food & Beverage takes the lead on food and beverage offerings and operations across Underbellys portfolio of festivals, events, venues and productions.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Food & Beverage Design & Operations
* Developing and implementing the food and beverage strategy for Underbellys festivals, events, venues and productions.
* Creating and developing food and beverage menus for festivals, events, venues and productions.
* Controlling staffing and product costs to achieve financial targets.
* Leading on recruitment of all temporary bar teams working on festivals and events, in conjunction with the HR Advisor.
* Ensuring robust training is in place and that staff hold appropriate qualifications and licences, where required.
* Identifying ways to enhance profitability, continuing to build income streams and working collaboratively with other departments in the development of the wider customer offering.
* Supporting permanent venue bar managers with all operational aspects of their locations, including staffing, stock, equipment, reconciliation and reporting.
* Ensuring Underbelly meets all requirements of alcohol sponsorships including prominence of brands and bar activations, in conjunction with the Head of Partnerships.
* Designing layouts and overseeing installation of temporary bars, equipment and till systems for maximum efficiency.
* Monitoring and developing all bar income and expenditure accounting and stock control reporting.
* Line managing venue and festival bar management teams.
Other Duties
* Keeping up to date with developments in the food and beverage sector.
* Attending regular company meetings.
* Contributing to the development of company policies, procedures and systems.
* Any other duties as reasonably required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
* Extensive experience of working in the hospitality industry, preferably in the festival and events sector.
* Excellent management and organisational skills.
* Data analytical skills, business acumen and an infectiously entrepreneurial spirit.
* Experience managing projects to tight deadlines and turnarounds.
* Ability to cope with pressures and work priorities, managing multiple projects at a time.
* Solid industry networks and contacts.
* Considerable knowledge of food and beverage trends.
* Demonstrable enthusiasm, understanding and experience of high quality customer service and sales techniques.
* Good computer literacy including the Microsoft Office package, namely Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
* Commitment to equal opportunities, staff development and awareness of sustainability and accessibility issues.
* Passion for live entertainment.
STAFF BENEFITS
* Free entry to shows at Underbelly venues (subject to availability).
* Discount at Underbelly bars and restaurants.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Underbelly is committed to reducing its environmental impacts in its everyday operations. We are also committed to maintaining the open-access policy of Underbelly. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
It is the policy of Underbelly to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements that cannot be shown to be justifiable.
We expect employees to support these commitments and to assist in their realisation.
ABOUT UNDERBELLY
Underbelly is a live entertainment company founded in 2000 by Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood that specialises in producing and programming ground-breaking theatrical productions and the creation of city-centre cultural events and festivals across the UK, USA, Asia & beyond. Underbelly, alongside ATG Productions, is the lead and originating producer of the Olivier Award winning Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, now in its third year in the West End.
Recent productions also include Macbeth starring Ralph Fiennes and Indira Varma, The McOnie Companys Nutcracker at the Tuff Nutt Jazz Club at Southbank Centre, La Clique in Manchester & London, Cabaret Royale at the Gaillard Center in Charleston and the inaugural headline show at Underbelly Boulevard, Club Kabarett.
Underbelly Boulevard, our first permanent venue, opened in 2023 in the heart of Soho presenting and producing an outstanding variety of cabaret, comedy, circus, music and theatre.
Current live Events are Christmas in Leicester Square, Skate West End and Underbelly Festival, previously on Londons Southbank, at Earls Court and in Cavendish Square.
In 2024, Underbelly will produce The McOnie Companys The Artist, Tweedys Massive Circus beginning a UK-wide tour at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon and the 20th anniversary of La Clique in Edinburgh and London.
One of the largest producers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Underbelly is proud to have previously presented Fleabag in 2013, Six in 2018 and Kathy & Stella Solve a Murder in 2023.
Applications close at 12noon on Friday 28th February. Interviews will be held the following week.
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