Food & Beverage Events Assistant Manager in Chester

We are looking for an experienced and driven Events Assistant Manager to join our Food and Beverage team in a truly unique environment at one of the UK's leading zoos. This is an exciting opportunity to take a key operational role in delivering exceptional weddings, conferences and bespoke events across our award-winning venues — including our stunning wedding and events space, The Square, and our renowned gastro-pub, The Oakfield. From corporate functions to unforgettable experiences such as Breakfast with Lions, no two days are the same.

The Role

Reporting into the senior management team, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of event operations across multiple venues within the zoo. You will lead from the front, ensuring world-class standards of service while maintaining strong commercial performance.

• Manage the daily operation of a busy events venue, delivering weddings, conferences and unique experiences across The Square, The Oakfield and wider zoo locations.
• Recruit, lead, motivate and develop a front-of-house team to consistently deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Work collaboratively with the Chef and Venue Sales teams to ensure seamless event execution.
• Drive sales and profitability, monitoring payroll, food and beverage spend, stock control and cash handling to meet financial targets.
• Use management information and trading data to inform decisions, react quickly to performance trends and set clear daily objectives for the team.
• Ensure all Food and Beverage systems are effectively managed, including EPOS, time and attendance, stock management and cash security.
• Maintain rigorous compliance with Health and Safety, food safety, licensing and all relevant legislation.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures and safe working practices.
• Support restaurant service and event delivery within The Oakfield as required.

This role requires a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and takes pride in delivering excellence at every touchpoint.

The Package

This is a full-time, permanent position working 40 hours per week, 5 days out of 7 on a rota basis, including weekends, evenings and bank holidays in line with event schedules. Salary: £30,000 per annum.

You will also receive:

• 33 days annual leave.
• Annual holiday buy/sell scheme.
• Zoo staff pass for complimentary visits, plus additional tickets for friends and family.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Healthcare cash plan and Employee Assistance Programme.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants and high street shops.
• Pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 9%.

Our Requirements

We are seeking a commercially aware hospitality professional with strong leadership capability and a passion for guest experience.

• Proven event operations experience within a high-volume hospitality environment at a supervisory or mid-management level.
• Demonstrable experience leading and inspiring multi-disciplinary teams.
• Strong commercial awareness, with experience managing budgets, forecasting and achieving financial targets.
• Excellent understanding of Food and Beverage operations and current industry trends.
• In-depth knowledge of Health and Safety and food hygiene legislation.
• A track record of balancing guest expectations with operational capability and profitability.
• Strong performance management skills and experience using reporting systems to drive results.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Confident IT skills, including working knowledge of Excel and Microsoft Office.

Desirable:

• Experience within a leisure, visitor attraction or destination venue environment.
• A relevant vocational qualification in Food and Beverage or Hospitality Management.

About Chester Zoo

At Chester Zoo, we are a team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal care specialists, marketers and visitor experience professionals united by a shared mission: to prevent extinction and create a future where nature can thrive. As the UK's largest zoo and a leading conservation charity, we have ambitious plans and an exciting future ahead. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse organisation, employing over 600 permanent and 500 temporary colleagues. We invest in our people, support career development and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can succeed.

Our workplace is anything but ordinary — where else could your day include delivering a wedding reception and then walking past giraffes or orangutans on your lunch break?

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. We encourage early applications, as shortlisting and interviews may take place while the advert remains live.