Cluster Food & Beverage Director

Cluster Food & Beverage Director

Recruiter

Phoenix Recruitment

Job Ref

JHB001385/DB

Date posted

Monday, June 1, 2026

Location

V&A Waterfront, South Africa

Salary

Monthly

SUMMARY

Hotel Group with properties based in the V&A Waterfront is looking for a Cluster Food & Beverage Director.

This is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and executing the full food and beverage strategy across all outlets (restaurants, bars, functions, and in-room dining) within the V&A Waterfront portfolio.

This role combines strong commercial leadership with guest experience curation, ensuring F&B is positioned as a key profit driver while elevating the overall brand and guest journey. The Director is accountable for financial performance, operational excellence, concept development, and the leadership of high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams.

POSITION INFO

Core Overview

Owns and drives the end-to-end F&B strategy across all properties and outlets

Accountable for revenue growth, profitability, and cost control (including GP, labour, pricing, and waste management)

Shapes F&B concepts, positioning, and guest experience in alignment with brand and market expectations

Leads, develops, and retains high-performing teams across multiple departments

Ensures consistency, quality, and service excellence across all guest touchpoints

Oversees procurement, supplier partnerships, and stock management governance

Works collaboratively with Executive Chef, Sales, and Rooms Division to optimise total property performance

Drives innovative programming, including menus, events, and activations, to maintain relevance and competitiveness

A commercial operator and experience curator responsible for turning F&B into a key profit driver while elevating the overall guest journey.

Duties

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

Define and execute a cohesive F&B strategy aligned with overall business objectives and brand positioning

Drive total F&B revenue, profitability, and market share across the portfolio

Develop and implement pricing models, revenue optimisation strategies, and cost control frameworks

Identify and execute new business opportunities, concepts, and partnerships

Lead F&B capital planning and investment decisions with a strong return-on-investment focus

Multi-Property Operational Excellence

Provide executive oversight of all F&B operations, ensuring alignment in standards, systems, and service delivery

Implement and maintain standard operating procedures, controls, and performance benchmarks

Conduct regular operational audits and implement continuous improvement initiatives

Ensure full compliance with health, safety, hygiene, and statutory requirements

Optimise labour structures and productivity in line with business demands

Leadership & People Development

Lead and inspire F&B leadership teams, including outlet managers and senior culinary leaders

Build a culture of accountability, service excellence, and high performance

Drive talent development, succession planning, and retention strategies

Partner with HR on workforce planning, training, and performance management

Brand, Guest Experience & Programming:

Position F&B as a core differentiator within the V&A portfolio

Align the F&B experience with brand identity across all guest touchpoints

Collaborate with Sales & Marketing on campaigns, partnerships, and activations

Oversee the development and execution of signature events and experiences

Monitor guest feedback and market trends to continuously enhance the offering

Culinary Direction & Innovation

Provide strategic direction on menu engineering, concept development, and innovation

Ensure offerings are commercially viable, trend-relevant, and brand-aligned

Drive sustainability initiatives, local sourcing, and efficient procurement practices

Oversee beverage strategy, including wine programmes and bar concepts

Financial Management & Governance

Full accountability for F&B financial performance across all properties

Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and performance reporting

Monitor key financial metrics and implement corrective strategies where required

Ensure strong controls in procurement, stock management, and cost of sales

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field

At least 8–10+ years’ experience in senior F&B leadership roles within a luxury or multi-property environment

Proven ability to drive revenue growth, profitability, and operational excellence at a portfolio level

Strong commercial and financial acumen with advanced analytical capability

Experience in concept development, brand positioning, and large-scale F&B operations

Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills

In-depth understanding of industry trends, compliance, and best practices