Food & Beverage Manager (Pre-Opening)

Food & Beverage Manager (Pre-Opening) – Hotel Indigo Melbourne Little Collins and Holiday Inn Melbourne Bourke Street

Nestled in the heart of Melbourne's vibrant CBD, an exciting new holiday destination is coming to life – enter the boutique charm of Hotel Indigo and the modern comfort of Holiday Inn, offering a unique blend of hospitality experiences across 452 rooms. One of Melbourne’s most iconic CBD arcades is fast transforming, with the redevelopment of "Melbourne Walk" Arcade set to see IHGs first Australian dual-branded hotel project, opening in 2025.

Open the door into Hotel Indigo and guests can expect local character, modern design and warm, professional service with a vibrant and individual flavour, bringing the edgy laneway neighbourhood of Little Collins Street to life. Making the most of the retail haven, Holiday Inn will offer a modern, fresh and friendly stay for a wide variety of guests coming to enjoy the convenience and value they know and love from Holiday Inn, and all that Bourke Street Mall has to offer.

The moment a guest steps into one of our hotels, they walk into a genuinely memorable experience. Featuring a Neighbourhood Café renowned across the Hotel Indigo brand, and the essential All Day Dining, a staple for Holiday Inn, delivering truly memorable dining experience, whenever and wherever our guests choose to dine. The F&B Manager role is crucial in ensuring that the hotel’s restaurants, bars, room service, and banquet services are ready to meet guest expectations and run smoothly when the hotel opens.

A little taste of your day-to-day

Every day is different, but as part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in: 

• Creating and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the food & beverage department, including service standards, food handling protocols, sanitation procedures, and customer service guidelines.
• Hiring and training of food & beverage team including supervisors, waitstaff and bar attendants. 
• Overseeing the setup of facilities including, kitchen, dining and bar areas, coordinating with contractors, designers, and other relevant parties to ensure functionality and aesthetics.
• Identifying and establishing relationships with suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that deliveries are in line with quality standards and budgetary constraints.
• Procuring all necessary equipment, utensils, glassware, and other supplies required for food and beverage service, ensuring equipment is properly installed and in working order before opening.
• Collaborating with the Executive Chef and culinary team to create menus that align with the hotel's concept, target market, and budget.
• Work with the management team to establish pricing strategies for food and beverage items that are competitive yet profitable.
• Collaborate closely with other departments, such as kitchen, events, and front office, to ensure seamless operations, communicating F&B needs and requirements effectively to other teams.
• Ability to work autonomously and manage workload and key deliverables within a project opening timeline.
• Capacity to build and lead a high-performing and engaged team and commitment to developing and coaching colleagues. 
• Manage day-to-day staffing needs, plan and assign work and establish performance and development goals for team members. Provide mentoring, coaching and regular feedback.
• Help prepare annual departmental operating budget and financial plans.
• Foster positive stakeholder relationships if applicable and assist in providing ongoing information and status reports. 
• Ensuring that all food and beverage operations comply with relevant health, safety, and sanitation regulations, obtaining necessary permits and licenses and conducting regular inspections to maintain compliance.

What we need from you

• At least 3 years of related experience, including management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree / higher education qualification in Hotel Management, culinary arts, or related field preferred. 
• Alcohol awareness certification and/or food service permit or valid health/food handler card, as required by local law.
• A demonstrated capability of collaborating with multiple stakeholders and managing competing priorities.
• Strategic thinking, the ability to explore new ways of working and have an open mind around how we can drive the Hotel forward.
• Full working rights in Australia without restrictions.

What you can expect from us

Not only will you benefit from a truly unique and career-defining opportunity as part of this exciting hotel opening, working with a talented and experienced General Manager and New Hotel Openings team, but you’ll receive a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work and a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life – including, impressive room discounts and some of the best training in the business.

Most importantly, your career journey will be supported through our lifelong development programs, IHG career milestone celebrations, and transfer of leave entitlements as you move and grow with IHG.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate differences and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 

So, join us and you’ll become part of our ever-growing global family.