Director of Food & Beverage

Director Of Food & Beverage

Luxury Independent Lifestyle Hotel  |  Southwest Florida

This is not a traditional Food & Beverage Director position.

A luxury independent lifestyle hotel in beautiful Southwest Florida is seeking an experienced, energetic, and visionary Director of Food & Beverage to lead a dynamic and growing operation. This is an exceptional opportunity for a hospitality leader who is passionate about delivering memorable guest experiences while driving financial performance, developing high-performing teams, and elevating food and beverage operations.

Our vision is to transform our restaurants, bars, events, and culinary programming into a year-round destination known for exceptional guest experiences, innovative food and beverage offerings, luxury service standards, community engagement, and creative programming.

The Director of Food & Beverage will oversee all aspects of food, beverage, service, events, and operational performance while helping shape the future direction of the property's dining and entertainment experiences.

This leader will be responsible for driving financial performance, building high-performing teams, elevating service standards, and creating memorable guest experiences across multiple outlets and event venues.

The Director of Food & Beverage will provide strategic and hands-on leadership for all food and beverage outlets, ensuring operational excellence, exceptional service standards, and a culture centered on teamwork, accountability, and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Culture

• Lead all food and beverage operations across restaurants, bars, banquet functions, pool operations, and special events.
• Develop a culture of accountability, hospitality, and continuous improvement.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop future leaders.
• Establish clear service standards and operating expectations.
• Foster collaboration among culinary, service, sales, and hotel operations teams.

Guest Experience

• Elevate service standards to meet luxury lifestyle hotel expectations.
• Drive guest satisfaction and online review performance.
• Ensure consistent execution of food, beverage, and service programs.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence throughout the property.

Financial Performance

• Manage departmental budgets and financial forecasts.
• Improve profitability and operational efficiency.
• Control labor, food, beverage, and operating costs.
• Implement inventory controls and loss-prevention programs.
• Drive revenue growth through creative programming and operational excellence.

Programming & Innovation

• Partner with culinary leadership to create compelling food and beverage offerings.
• Develop signature events and seasonal programming.
• Support wine dinners, chef experiences, entertainment events, and holiday activations.
• Collaborate with marketing teams on guest acquisition and promotional initiatives.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure all outlets operate efficiently and profitably.
• Improve systems, processes, and accountability.
• Maintain compliance with health, safety, and company standards.
• Continuously evaluate opportunities to improve guest flow, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of progressive food and beverage leadership experience, including at least two years as a Director of Food & Beverage or Assistant Director of Food & Beverage in a luxury hotel, resort, or upscale independent property.
• Strong background overseeing multiple restaurants and bars.
• Demonstrated success managing budgets, forecasting, labor controls, and P&L performance.
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for hospitality, creativity, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field preferred.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and visible leader who enjoys being on the floor, engaging with guests, supporting team members, and continuously improving operations. We are seeking someone who thrives in a fast-paced luxury environment and possesses both strategic vision and operational excellence.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Performance bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid time off
• Professional development opportunities
• Relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate

Join Us

This is an opportunity to help build one of the most exciting food and beverage programs in Southwest Florida. We are looking for a leader who wants to make an impact, challenge the status quo, and create something special.

If you are ready to lead, innovate, and help shape the future of hospitality, we would like to hear from you.

Confidentiality

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis. Company information will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the utmost discretion.