EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGESaint John's Resort - Plymouth, Michigan POSITION SUMMARY The Executive Director of Food & Beverage provides strategic leadership and executive oversight of all F&B operations at Saint John's Resort. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, cultivating a service-first culture, and delivering exceptional guest experiences across all outlets, banquet operations, and event services. The Executive Director partners closely with the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, who manages daily operations, while focusing on strategic planning, performance optimization, financial stewardship, and the development of a high-performing leadership team.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic F&B Planning - Develop and execute the annual F&B strategic plan aligned with resort objectives, market positioning, and ownership expectations
- Lead menu engineering initiatives, pricing strategies, and concept development to maximize revenue and guest satisfaction
- Identify and implement innovative programming, seasonal offerings, and experiential dining concepts that differentiate the resort
- Conduct competitive analysis and market research to inform strategic decisions and maintain competitive positioning
- Partner with Sales and Events to optimize banquet and catering strategies, ensuring seamless execution of weddings and large-scale events
Operational Excellence - Establish and enforce operational standards, systems, and SOPs that ensure consistency, efficiency, and quality across all F&B outlets
- Oversee outlet performance through structured audits, inspections, and compliance reviews
- Drive accountability for food quality, presentation standards, timing, and service execution
- Monitor and optimize inventory controls, vendor relationships, and procurement practices
- Ensure full compliance with health, safety, and sanitation regulations; maintain inspection-ready status at all times
Service Excellence & Guest Experience - Champion a service culture rooted in anticipation, personalization, and exceeding guest expectations
- Ensure F&B outlets consistently achieve guest satisfaction benchmarks and service excellence goals
- Maintain visible leadership presence across outlets; engage with guests proactively to build relationships and gather feedback
- Monitor guest survey feedback and ensure timely review, response, and corrective action by outlet leaders
- Implement and sustain service training programs that reinforce luxury hospitality standards
Financial Stewardship - Oversee divisional P&L performance including revenue optimization, labor productivity, cost of goods, and controllable expenses
- Develop accurate forecasts, annual budgets, and capital plans; deliver sustained profitability improvements
- Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly financial reports to identify trends, variances, and opportunities
- Partner with Finance to close budget gaps, reduce chargebacks, and optimize profitability across all revenue centers
- Ensure accurate billing, revenue capture, and inventory controls for all F&B operations
Culture Building & Leadership Development - Build and sustain a positive, high-performance culture founded on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Lead consistent one-on-one meetings with direct reports and facilitate weekly leadership huddles to align priorities and outcomes
- Recruit, develop, and retain top talent; strengthen the leadership pipeline through coaching, mentorship, and succession planning
- Reduce turnover, enhance engagement, and foster an environment where team members thrive and grow
- Model the values and behaviors expected of the team; lead by example in professionalism, service, and work ethic
- Oversee completion and sustainment of all F&B training programs, certifications, and SOP compliance requirements
Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration - Serve as the executive liaison between ownership, senior resort leadership, and the F&B division
- Provide executive-level direction while empowering the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage to oversee daily operations
- Partner cross-functionally with Rooms, Sales, Events, Engineering, and other divisions to ensure alignment and seamless guest experiences
- Represent F&B in executive committee meetings, ownership reviews, and strategic planning sessions
QUALIFICATIONS Required - 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in food & beverage operations across outlets and high-volume events
- Prior food & beverage leadership experience in a high-volume, luxury resort with at least 40,000 square feet of event space and 500+ events annually.
- Minimum 5 years in an executive or senior leadership role (Director level or above)
- Proven track record of driving measurable improvement in guest satisfaction, financial results, and team culture
- Strong financial acumen with demonstrated success in budgeting, forecasting, P&L management, and cost controls
- Exceptional leadership, coaching, and communication skills with the ability to inspire high-performing teams
- Experience managing multi-outlet operations including restaurants, bars, in-room dining and high-volume banquet and event operations (weddings, corporate events, golf outings)
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands require
- Strong acumen in ProfitSword and Actabl Suite.
Preferred - Experience in a Forbes 5 star/5 diamond luxury hospitality, resort, and large-scale conference center environments
- Culinary background or deep understanding of kitchen operations
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field
- Certification in food safety management (ServSafe Manager or equivalent)
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Success in this role will be measured by:
- Guest satisfaction scores meeting or exceeding established benchmarks
- Achievement of financial targets including forecast accuracy, budget adherence, and profitability goals
- Sustained reduction in turnover and measurable improvement in team engagement scores
- Outlet service standards compliance, training completion rates, mystery guest shopper scores exceeding 90%, and timely guest survey responses
- Successful execution of strategic initiatives and programming objectives
- Health and safety inspection results and compliance audit performance
