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- Tasks: Lead the Food & Beverage development strategy and create exciting guest experiences.
- Company: Join Haven, a leader in the hospitality industry with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, competitive salary, bonuses, and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on food and drink experiences that delight guests.
- Qualifications: Proven F&B development experience and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Step into a pivotal role shaping the future of Food & Beverage at Haven. As our Food & Beverage Development lead, you’ll define and deliver a bold, commercially driven development strategy that brings our F&B growth ambitions to life and complements our wider business plans. Blending strategic vision with deep technical expertise, you’ll unlock performance through innovative propositions, smart pricing strategies and best-in-class development processes. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring every part of our offer is safe, compliant and future-ready—while working collaboratively across Operations, Digital, Finance, Product, People, H&S and L&D to turn strategy into impact. If you’re excited by creating compelling food and drink experiences that drive growth and delight guests, this is your opportunity to make a real difference.
What you will be doing:
- Owning and leading the F&B Development strategy, aligning it to the wider F&B growth plan and translating it into clear annual plans, test-and-trial programmes and critical paths that enable effective park handover and delivery.
- Acting as the F&B Development subject matter expert, leading technical menu builds, allergen compliance, safety standards and pricing strategy, while ensuring all development activity delivers strong commercial returns.
- Partnering cross-functionally and with parks to implement F&B development plans, working closely with Operations, Finance, Procurement, Digital, Marketing, Proposition and Licensing to optimise volume, profit and guest experience.
- Driving insight-led performance and innovation, using data, market trends and guest insight to shape NPD, recommend growth opportunities and deliver simpler, better, lower-cost solutions across the F&B estate.
- Leading, developing and supporting teams and capability, championing operational excellence, supporting training and SOP development, nurturing talent and ensuring consistent, safe and high-quality execution of all F&B development activity.
What we’d like you to bring:
- Proven experience leading F&B development with a strong understanding of park structures, Central Operations, and current industry trends and horizon scanning.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of leading senior-level discussions and balancing guest, team, and stakeholder needs with strategic thinking and effective decision-making.
- Strong coaching, organizational, time management, and critical thinking skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines efficiently.
- Comprehensive knowledge of technical food management systems, Level 3 Food Safety, advanced food hygiene, and proficient in Word, Excel, and Adobe software.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including team management, situational leadership, change management, and the ability to build collaborative relationships while embodying Haven’s Leadership behaviours.
What’s In It For You? - 25 Days Holiday +
National Food & Drinks Development Manager - Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL in Hemel Hempstead employer: Haven
Contact Detail:
Haven Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Food & Drinks Development Manager - Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL in Hemel Hempstead
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the food and drinks industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues or mentors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your experience in F&B development. Share specific examples of how you've driven growth or improved processes. We want to see your passion and knowledge shine through!
✨Tailor Your Approach
Every company is different, so do your homework! Understand Haven's values and goals, and tailor your conversations to show how your skills align with their vision. We’re all about making a real difference, so let them know how you can contribute!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace National Food & Drinks Development Manager - Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the National Food & Drinks Development Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in F&B development and how it aligns with our growth ambitions at Haven.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills—demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past roles that showcase your communication, leadership, and technical expertise in food management systems.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We want to see your passion for creating compelling food and drink experiences, so don’t be afraid to express what excites you about this role!
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply directly through our website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Haven
✨Know Your F&B Trends
Make sure you’re up to speed with the latest trends in food and beverage. Research current market insights and be ready to discuss how these can influence Haven's development strategy. This shows your passion and understanding of the industry.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing teams and driving change. Think about specific situations where you’ve successfully led a project or initiative, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead at Haven.
✨Master the Technical Details
Brush up on your knowledge of food safety standards and technical food management systems. Be prepared to discuss allergen compliance and pricing strategies, as these are crucial for the role. Showing your expertise here will set you apart.
✨Engage Cross-Functionally
Think about how you can collaborate across different departments. Prepare to discuss how you would work with Operations, Finance, and Marketing to implement F&B development plans. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in achieving business goals.
