Full Job Description
Assistant Director of Food & Beverage | Luxury Hospitality | Alila Napa Valley - St. Helena, California
As a luxury resort in the heart of Napa Valley, we are seeking an experienced and passionate Assistant Director of Food & Beverage to help lead the resort's complete Food & Beverage operation. Reporting directly to the Director of Food & Beverage, the Assistant Director plays a key leadership role in the oversight and direction of all Food & Beverage operations. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position responsible for supporting the overall performance of the Food & Beverage department, including service excellence, operations, colleague development, financial performance, staffing, training, and guest satisfaction.
While the assistant Director supports and helps oversee the entire Food & Beverage operation, this position will primarily work PM shifts, with Violetto, our fine dining restaurant, serving as the primary operational focus. The Assistant Director is expected to maintain a strong presence on the restaurant floor and provide consistent leadership throughout evening operations across the resort. A central responsibility of this position is developing and maintaining a culture of excellence. The Assistant Director will partner with the Director of Food & Beverage and Culinary leadership to uphold and execute Forbes Five-Star Service standards across Food & Beverage while supporting Michelin-level dining experiences at Violetto.
The salary range Alila Napa Valley reasonably expects to pay for this position is $85,000 to $100,000 annually based on luxury resort and experience level in Food & Beverage. Decisions regarding individual salaries will be based on a number of factors including experience, and education.
Responsibilities include but not limited to:
Food & Beverage Leadership & Operations
Support the Director of Food & Beverage in the overall leadership, planning, directionn, and management of all Food & Beverage operations throughout Alila Napa Valley.
Help oversee and lead Violetto, Salvia Terrace & Bar, in-room dining, banquets and events, private diningm and other Food & Beverage operations.
Maintain a highly visible, hands-on presence throughout daily operations, primarily during PM shifts.
Partner closely with Culinary leadership to ensure alignment between food & beverage service, timing, presentation, and overall guest experience.
Coordinate Food & Beverage operations with Culinary, Events, Sales, Rooms, Engineering, Finance, and other resort departments to maintain effective communication and ensure seamless execution.
Luxury Service & Guest Experience
Uphold and execute Forbes Five-Star service standards across all Food & Beverage experiences and support Michelin-level dining experiences in Violetto.
Establish a strong culture of personalized, attentive, knowledgeable, and anticipatory service.
Translate luxury service expectations into clear, consistent, and actionable standards for managers, supervisors, and service colleagues.
Maintain a strong floor presence, actively observing service execution, guest engagement, pacing, presentation, and attention to detail.
Lead by example, consistently modeling professionalism, urgency, composure, attention to detail, and genuine care for guests and colleagues.
Conduct regular table touches and build meaningful connections with guests while remaining attentive to individual preferences and opportunities to personalize the experience.
Recognize guest concerns and service-recovery opportunities to ensure they are addressed promptly, thoughtfully, and professionally.
Review guest feedback and operational observations to identify opportunities to continuously improve the Food & Beverage spaces.
Fine Dining Leadership
Support continued refinement of the Violetto experience with an emphasis on precision, personalization, storytelling, food and wine knowledge, and attention to detail.
Lead pre-shift meetings and service briefings that prepare the team for menus, wine pairings, VIP guests, dietary considerations, special occasions, and anticipated service needs.
Maintain strong knowledge of Violetto's menus, ingredients, preparation techniques, wine program, pairings, spirits, and other beverage offerings.
Identify opportunities to further elevate Violetto's service experience and overall positioning within Napa Valley's luxury dining landscape.
Team Leadership, Training & Development
Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Food & Beverage managers, supervisors, and colleagues by fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, collaboration, continuous improvement, and genuine hospitality.
Establish clear expectations and provide consistent in-the-moment coaching regarding service standards and operational procedures.
Participate in recruitment, interviewing, selection, onboarding, training, and development of Food & Beverage colleagues and leaders.
Support performance management, colleague development plans, coaching, counseling, and performance reviews.
Develop and support ongoing training focused on service standards, food knowledge, wine and beverage education, guest recognition, service recovery, and luxury hospitality.
Financial & Administrative Leadership
Partner with the Director of Food & Beverage on departmental budgeting, monitoring revenue, forecasting, labor management, payroll, cost control, inventory, and overall financial performance.
Identify opportunities to imrove revenue, productivity, profitability, and cost management without compromising the guest experience.
Support the development and implementation of Food & Beverage sales, marketing, programming, and revenue-driving initiatives.
Complete and review operational reports, forecasts, inventories, payroll information, and other departmental administrative responsibilities.