Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

Job Description

We invite you to join the world of luxury hospitality at Raffles Dubai as our new Assistant Director of Food & Beverage tosupport the Director of Food & Beverage in the overall leadership, management, and strategic direction of the Food & Beverage Division. The role is responsible for ensuring operational excellence, financial performance, exceptional guest experiences, compliance with brand standards, and the development of high-performing teams across all F&B outlets and Banquets. In the absence of the Director of Food & Beverage, the Assistant Director assumes full responsibility for the department.

Strategic Leadership & Business Management

• Support and uphold the Raffles Brand Promise, Hotel Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
• Assist in the development and execution of departmental business plans, budgets, forecasts, and performance reports.
• Analyze business performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.
• Assume full responsibility for the Food & Beverage Division during the absence of the Director of Food & Beverage.

Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of all Food & Beverage outlets.
• Ensure compliance with hotel policies, procedures, and brand standards.
• Maintain a visible presence within outlets to ensure service quality and operational excellence.
• Review operational reports and address performance gaps and irregularities.
• Conduct regular meetings to review business results, operational challenges, and improvement opportunities.

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

• Maintain the highest standards of service and hospitality across all outlets.
• Handle escalated guest concerns and implement effective service recovery solutions.
• Drive initiatives to improve guest satisfaction, loyalty, and retention.
• Ensure guest preferences are captured and utilized to personalize the guest experience.
• Conduct Manager-on-Duty shifts and evaluate the hotel's service delivery from the guest perspective.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge and consistent compliance with LQA and Outlet service standards, while maximizing operational efficiency and delivering Service Excellence, as reflected in positive Trust You survey results.

Financial Management & Cost Control

• Manage departmental budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Monitor and control food, beverage, labor, utility, and operating supply costs.
• Ensure compliance with accounting procedures and internal controls.
• Review labor productivity, payroll administration, and workforce utilization.
• Oversee purchasing practices, supplier performance, inventory controls, and stock management.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the Food & Beverage management and operational teams.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support succession planning initiatives.
• Identify training needs and support the delivery of learning and development programs.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Recognize and develop talent to support departmental and hotel objectives.

Workforce Administration

• Oversee attendance, scheduling, leave planning, absenteeism, and manpower utilization.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of employee and payroll-related records.
• Monitor staffing levels to support operational requirements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and employment regulations.

Food Safety, Hygiene & Quality Assurance

• Ensure full compliance with HACCP standards, food safety regulations, and hygiene procedures.
• Conduct regular quality, hygiene, and operational audits.
• Work closely with Hygiene, Housekeeping, Engineering, and Culinary teams to maintain standards.
• Ensure all Food & Beverage outlets meet brand and regulatory requirements.

Procurement, Inventory & Asset Management

• Oversee purchasing, receiving, storage, and inventory management processes.
• Evaluate suppliers based on quality, service standards, and cost effectiveness.
• Monitor inventory controls to minimize wastage and losses.
• Ensure proper maintenance and utilization of departmental equipment and assets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain effective working relationships with all hotel departments.
• Collaborate with Finance, Human Resources, Engineering, Housekeeping, Culinary, Sales, and Marketing teams to achieve business objectives.
• Promote teamwork, communication, and operational alignment across the hotel.

Health, Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and emergency procedures.
• Promote a safe environment for guests, employees, and visitors.
• Support emergency response and crisis management protocols.
• Ensure awareness and adherence to fire, first aid, and evacuation procedures.

Qualifications

What will you bring to this role? 

Qualifications

• Degree or Diploma in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, or a related field preferred.
• Embrace the Raffles brand promise and luxury in your role and in all your interactions. 
• Foster an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and respected 
• Create an environment where colleagues are empowered, supported and recognized 
• Drive top performance to achieve exceptional results 

Experience

• Minimum 10-12 years of Food & Beverage management experience within the luxury hotel industry.
• Minimum 3-5 years' experience as an Assistant Director of Food & Beverage or in an equivalent senior leadership role within a luxury hotel environment in the UAE.
• Proven experience managing multiple outlets, large multicultural teams, and high-volume operations within a five-star luxury hospitality environment.
• Experience with internationally recognized luxury hotel brands is highly preferred.

Core Competencies

• Leadership & Team Development
• Financial & Commercial Acumen
• Operational Excellence
• Guest Service Excellence
• Strategic Thinking & Decision Making
• Communication & Relationship Management
• Food Safety & Compliance
• Organization & Attention to Detail
• Problem Solving & Results Orientation
• Professional Integrity & Accountability

Additional Information

Employee Benefits:
Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive colleague perks, including complimentary upgrades, extended stays, discounted stays across Fairmont & Raffles properties, special dining and wellness discounts, and added luxuries to enhance your experience. We believe in taking care of our team, ensuring that your hard work is rewarded with exceptional benefits. 

Our Values

Respect:
We value the needs, ideas and individuality of others. We treat everyone with fairness and dignity. 

Excellence:
We make genuine connections, and we cherish every opportunity to make the people around us feel special.​

Belonging:
We celebrate our differences. We support each other and we always stand together.​

Empowerment:
We have authority to take initiative and anticipate moments that create unforgettable experiences. ​

Integrity:
We build trust through mutual respect and being authentic.​

Diversity & Inclusion

Raffles is committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talent thrives. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.