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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our food and beverage team to create unforgettable guest experiences.
- Company: Join Cockfields Farm Park, a beloved family-run attraction with over 70 years of history.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a chance to innovate in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming our catering experience and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in food service, leadership skills, and a passion for culinary creativity.
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for growth and innovation in a supportive team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join us on our journey to become the UK’s best Farm Attraction.
For over 70 years, Cockfields has been a family-run staple of the community, now welcoming over 100,000 annual guests as a premier visitor attraction. Our mission is to ensure every visitor loves, shares, and returns to the farm, supported by a robust five-year investment plan focused on upgrading our infrastructure, landscape, and our people, to become the best Family Visitor Attraction in the Northwest.
We are now seeking a dedicated Head of Food & Beverage to join us during this exciting period of growth, helping us deliver an unrivalled guest experience through exceptional service and a high-quality catering offering. As Head of Food & Beverage, you will play a key role in the growth of our company and join a young dynamic & supportive management team who will back you every step of the way.
The Role
As Head of Food & Beverage, you are the heartbeat of our visitor experience, ensuring our food offering is a highlight of every "great day out" at Cockfields. We are seeking an ambitious, growth-minded leader to drive our catering department forward during a period of significant expansion. This is not a role for someone looking to maintain the status quo; it is for a creative professional determined to set the standard for food and beverage in the UK attraction industry.
Over the next two years, you will spearhead the redevelopment of our kitchen, the launch of new food outlets, and the redesign of our menus. You will have the freedom to innovate with exciting offerings for both daily service and high-profile seasonal events. If you combine operational excellence with culinary creativity, we want you to lead our team into this next chapter.
Key Responsibilities
- Recruit & Retain: Lead recruitment, onboarding, and continuous training for the catering team.
- Performance: Conduct 1-1 appraisals, set targeted outcomes, and manage staff welfare and motivation.
- Administration: Manage rotas, timesheets, and leave requests via our online systems.
- Culture: Lead daily morning briefings to align the team on visitor numbers and daily goals.
- Health & Safety: Maintain strict adherence to COSHH, health and safety policies, and "Safer Food Better Business" guidance.
- Food Safety: Act as the lead on allergen information (specifically Natasha’s Law) and host local authority inspections.
- Compliance: Oversee pest control procedures and equipment maintenance/servicing.
- Duty Management: Take on site-wide "Duty Manager" responsibilities, including locking up the farm when required.
- Financial Reporting: Prepare sales reports for the General Manager, calculate costings, and manage profit margins.
- Procurement: Liaise with suppliers to ensure the best balance of quality and price.
- Stock Control: Oversee regular stock takes, rotation, and forecasting for seasonal events.
- Menu Innovation: Creatively direct menu updates and encourage the team to contribute new ideas to meet the requirements of our customers.
- Service Standards: Lead by example on the floor, handling customer queries and ensuring a positive atmosphere.
About You
To be successful in this role, you should be:
- Ambitious: Eager to help us win "Large Farm Attraction of the Year."
- Knowledgeable: Deeply familiar with food prep guidelines and modern POS/till systems.
- Flexible: Ready to work weekends and special events to suit the needs of the business.
- Proactive: Able to identify a problem (from a broken fridge to a dip in morale) and fix it before it impacts the guest.
- Entrepreneurial: We want you to take hold of catering on site as if it were your own business, always looking for improvements and innovation.
Hours: 40 hours per week. This role requires a flexible approach to meet business needs, particularly during weekends, bank holidays, and school holidays. You will typically work 5 days out of 7, including at least one weekend day. While standard hours are 10:00 to 16:30, start and finish times will vary to accommodate events and operational requirements.
Investment: We are committed to your growth; as we invest in the farm, we invest in your professional development.
Head of Food & Beverage in Ashton-under-Lyne employer: Cockfields Farm Park
Contact Detail:
Cockfields Farm Park Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Food & Beverage in Ashton-under-Lyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food and beverage industry, especially those who have worked at attractions. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your creativity! When you get the chance to meet with potential employers, bring along some innovative menu ideas or concepts that could elevate their food offerings. This will demonstrate your passion and vision for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive during interviews! Ask insightful questions about their current food operations and how you can contribute to their growth. This shows you're not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in their success.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re keen on being part of our exciting journey at Cockfields Farm Park!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Food & Beverage in Ashton-under-Lyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for food and beverage shine through! We want to see how excited you are about creating memorable experiences for our guests.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in the food and beverage industry. We love seeing how your past roles have prepared you for this exciting opportunity at Cockfields!
Be Creative: Don’t be afraid to showcase your culinary creativity in your application. Share any innovative ideas you have for menu items or guest experiences that could elevate our offerings!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic role at Cockfields Farm Park!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cockfields Farm Park
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in food and beverage trends, especially in the attraction industry. Research Cockfields Farm Park’s current offerings and think about how you can elevate them. Bring ideas to the table that show your creativity and ambition!
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a potential Head of Food & Beverage, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and motivate a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully recruited, trained, and retained staff in the past. Highlight your experience with performance management and creating a positive work culture.
✨Be Ready to Innovate
This role is all about pushing boundaries, so come prepared with innovative menu ideas or concepts for seasonal events. Think about how you can enhance the guest experience through unique food offerings and be ready to discuss these during the interview.
✨Understand the Business Side
Familiarise yourself with financial reporting, stock control, and supplier management. Be prepared to discuss how you would manage costs while maintaining quality. Showing that you can treat the catering department like your own business will impress the interviewers!
