Director of Food & Beverage

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Venice, part of Marriott International, is currently looking for a Director Food & Beverage, reporting to the General Manager.

This is a great opportunity to work in a place of exceptional art and elegance, where history and culture are met with renewed Venetian style. The Gritti is known for impassioned service, a delectable culinary experience and an intimate wellness haven. The reference point for the world's elite at international city events such as the Biennale, Carnival and the Venice Film Festival.

The Director Food & Beverage functions as the strategic business leader of the property’s food and beverage/culinary operation, including Restaurants/Bars, In Room Dining and Banquets/Events. The position, part of the Executive Committee, oversees the development and implementation of departmental strategies and ensures implementation of the brand service strategy and brand initiatives. The position ensures the food and beverage/culinary operation meets the brand’s target customer needs, ensures employee satisfaction, and focuses on growing revenues and maximizing the financial performance of the department. Develops and implements property-wide strategies that deliver products and services to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of the brand’s target customer and property employees and provides a return on investment.

What we offer

• Professional career progression at international level in Marriott International hotels.
• Learning and development opportunities online, on the job and in class.
• Experienced management & motivated and engaging colleagues.
• The role includes access to a competitive benefits package, including a structured corporate welfare program aimed at enhancing employee well-being and quality of life.
• Discounts on hotel rooms, gift shop items, food and beverage across the company.
• Charity events, Wellbeing activities through the TakeCare program.

What you'll need

• Regular work permit 
• Fluent Italian and English, French is a plus
• Experience in 5* luxury hotels, ideally knowledge of Marriott standards and policies
• Previous managerial experience with demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams
• Strong financial acumen and ability to manage budgets and performance metrics
• Strategic thinking with a proactive and solution-oriented approach
• Ability to foster a culture of quality, accountability, and attention to detail within the team
• Track record of driving continuous improvement and service excellence initiatives 
• Strong analytical skills to interpret guest feedback, KPIs, and quality metrics 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Economics, Humanities, or a related discipline
• 6 years experience in the food and beverage, culinary, event management, or related professional area.

Skills and Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

• Management of Financial Resources - Determining how money will be spent to get the work done, and accounting for these expenditures.

• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

• Applied Business Knowledge - Understanding market dynamics, enterprise level objectives and important aspects of the company’s business to accurately diagnose strengths and weaknesses, anticipate opportunities and risks, identify issues, and develop strategies and plans. Aligning individual and team actions with strategies and plans to drive business results.

• Management of Material Resources - Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.

CORE WORK ACTIVITIES

Developing and Maintaining Food and Beverage/Culinary Goals

• Sets expectations and holds food and beverage leadership team accountable for demonstrating desired service behaviors.

• Reviews financial reports and statements to determine how Food and Beverage is performing against budget.

• Makes recommendations for CAPEX funding of food and beverage equipment and renovations in accordance with brand business strategy.

• Identifies areas of concern and develops strategies to improve the department’s financial performance.

• Establishes challenging, realistic and obtainable goals to guide operation and performance.

• Strives to improve service performance.

Developing and Maintaining Budgets

• Develops and manages Food and Beverage budget.

• Monitors the department’s actual and projected sales to ensure revenue goals are met or exceeded and opportunities are identified and addressed.

• Ensures cash control and liquor control policies are in place in food & beverage areas and followed by all related employees.

• Focuses on maintaining profit margins without compromising guest or employee satisfaction.

Leading Food and Beverage/Culinary Team

• Utilizes interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.

• Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

• Achieves and exceeds goals including performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc.

• Serves as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.

• Develops means to improve profit, including estimating cost and benefit, exploring new business opportunities, etc.

• Identifies opportunities to increase profits and create value by challenging existing processes, encouraging innovation and driving necessary change.

• Ensures that regular, on-going communication occurs in all areas of food and beverage (e.g., pre-meal briefings, staff meetings, culinary team).

• Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with direct reports and entire food & beverage team. Ensures direct reports do the same for their team.

• Develops a food and beverage operating strategy that is aligned with the brand’s business strategy and leads its execution.

• Identifies the developmental needs of others and coaches, mentors, or otherwise helps others to improve their knowledge or skills.

• Stays aware of market trends and introduces new food and beverage products to meet or exceed customer expectations, generate increased revenue and ensure a competitive position in the market.

Ensuring Exceptional Customer Service

• Provides services that are above and beyond for customer satisfaction and retention.

• Improves service by communicating and assisting individuals to understand guest needs, providing guidance, feedback, and individual coaching when needed.

• Reviews findings from comment cards and guest satisfaction results with F& B team and ensures appropriate corrective action is taken.

• Reviews comment cards, guest satisfaction results and other data to identify areas of improvement.

• Empowers employees to provide excellent guest service.

• Estimates cost and benefit ratio, maintaining balance between profit and service satisfaction.

• Shares plans to take corrective action based on comment cards and guest satisfaction results with property leadership.

Managing and Conducting Human Resource Activities

• Provides guidance and direction to team members, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

• Coaches and supports food & beverage leadership team to effectively manage wages, food & beverage cost and controllable expenses (e.g., restaurant supplies, uniforms, etc.).

• Hires food & beverage leadership team members who demonstrate strong functional expertise, creativity and entrepreneurial leadership to meet the business needs of the operation.

• Sets goals and expectations for direct reports using the performance review process and holds staff accountable for successful performance.

• Ensures that expectations and objectives are clearly communicated to the Team; team members are also open to raise questions and/or concerns.

• Brings issues to the attention of Human Resources as necessary.

• Ensures employees are treated fairly and equitably.

• Coaches team by providing specific feedback to improve performance.

Additional Responsibilities

• Informs and/or update the executives, the peers and the team members on relevant information in a timely manner.

• Estimate food, liquor, wine, and other beverage consumption in order to anticipate amounts to be purchased or requisitioned.

• Order and purchase equipment and supplies.

Explore our very big world

As a world-class leader in the travel industry, there’s no better place than Marriott International to make your mark. Joining us, you’ll get to entertain and meet people from all over the world as you build your experience. You’ll find a place where your personality and ideas are appreciated just as much as the work you do. And you’ll grow through opportunities to explore the business, opening yourself to various career options. If you have the natural ability to communicate and enjoy working with others, we welcome you to join our global family.

You’re welcomed here

Our highest priority is making you feel as welcome as our guests. We want you to know you’re important to us and that you’ll make an impact in your role, and for that, you’ll be appreciated and valued.

At Marriott International, we are dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer, welcoming all and providing access to opportunity. We actively foster an environment where the unique backgrounds of our associates are valued and celebrated. Our greatest strength lies in the rich blend of culture, talent, and experiences of our associates. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, including disability, veteran status, or other basis protected by applicable law.

The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, with over 120 properties in more than 35 countries, offers the promise of authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. Our more than 100 years of experience, beginning in 1906 under the Italian CIGA brand – a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties – serves as a solid foundation as we continuously evolve to exceed the desires of the luxury traveler.

From legendary palaces and remote retreats to timeless modern classics, each luxury hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its locale – a portal to the destination’s cultural charms and treasures. If you are someone with an appreciation for evocative storytelling, a keen interest and passion for this destination's heritage, and a desire to deliver genuine, personalized, and anticipatory hospitality, then we invite you on our journey. In joining The Luxury Collection, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose,  belong to an amazing global team, and  become the best version of you.