DIRECTOR F&B - VERDELAGO RESORT

We are looking for a leader who can turn ambition into operational excellence, a distinctive culinary identity and memorable guest experiences.

Verdelago Resort is looking for a Director of Food & Beverage to lead, both strategically and operationally, one of the most important areas of the resort experience. In a project of this scale, the culinary offer and quality of service must become a true brand experience, with a distinctive identity, consistency and constant attention to detail.

This opportunity is suited to a professional who combines strategic vision, a strong operational presence, leadership capability and management discipline, while ensuring differentiation, team development, guest satisfaction and financial sustainability.

The mission

Define and lead Verdelago’s overall Food & Beverage strategy, delivering a distinctive culinary proposition, a consistent guest experience, and high standards of operational and financial performance. The Director of F&B will play an active role in developing concepts, service standards and culture, preparing the operation to support the resort’s growth and ambition.

Key responsibilitiesF&B strategy and positioning

·   Define and implement the overall Food & Beverage strategy, aligned with Verdelago’s positioning and identity;

·   Develop and consolidate the restaurant and bar concepts, ensuring coherence, differentiation and relevance;

·   Identify opportunities to innovate and enhance the culinary experience;

·   Position F&B as a distinctive component of the overall resort experience.

Operational excellence

·   Lead restaurant and beverage operations, ensuring high standards of quality, consistency and attention to detail;

·   Establish and monitor service standards, operating procedures and performance indicators;

·   Ensure effective coordination across front of house, kitchens, bars, events and other resort departments;

·   Ensure compliance with quality, food safety, hygiene and HACCP requirements.

Guest experience

·   Ensure each concept delivers a consistent, personalised and memorable experience;

·   Monitor guest satisfaction indicators and implement improvement plans;

·   Promote a hospitality culture built on anticipating guest needs and delivering service excellence.

Leadership and team development

·   Lead, inspire and develop multidisciplinary F&B teams;

·   Build a strong leadership structure that ensures consistency and operational continuity;

·   Attract, onboard and retain talent, supporting technical, behavioural and leadership development;

·   Foster a culture of accountability, proximity, high standards and continuous improvement.

Management and performance

·   Prepare and monitor budgets, forecasts, action plans and management indicators;

·   Monitor revenue, margins, food cost, beverage cost, labour cost, productivity, inventory and waste;

·   Ensure operational profitability without compromising the guest experience;

·   Work closely with General Management and the Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Commercial and Operations teams.

The profile we are looking for

We are looking for a Food & Beverage leader who combines a genuine hospitality mindset with strong management and execution capabilities.

Experience and knowledge

·   Proven experience in senior Food & Beverage leadership roles;

·   Relevant experience in upscale or luxury hospitality, resorts, or high-standard restaurant operations;

·   Experience managing complex, multi-outlet operations, preferably including different concepts, bars, events and/or banqueting;

·   Proven experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams;

·   Strong command of P&L, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, productivity, inventory and menu engineering;

·   Sound knowledge of operating standards, quality, food safety and HACCP.

Leadership capabilities

·   Strategic vision combined with close involvement in the operation;

·   Ability to engage teams and turn concepts into consistent operations;

·   A genuine passion for hospitality, gastronomy and the guest experience;

·   High standards of quality and attention to detail;

·   Creativity supported by operational and financial discipline;

·   Strong decision-making, problem-solving and results orientation.

Education and languages

·   A degree in Hotel Management, Hospitality Management, Business Management or a relevant field is preferred;

·   Specialised Food & Beverage training will be valued;

·   Fluency in Portuguese and English; additional languages will be valued.

What we offer

·   The opportunity to take on a central role in a landmark project that is continuing to evolve;

·   Autonomy to contribute to the culinary identity and development of the F&B concepts;

·   A demanding, dynamic environment focused on high standards of hospitality;

·   The opportunity to join a group with experience and ambition in hospitality and tourism.

If you are looking for a challenge where you can make a tangible impact on the guest experience and the development of a project on Verdelago’s scale, we would like to hear from you.