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.
