At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Food & Beverage development strategy and create exciting guest experiences.
- Company: Join Haven, part of the award-winning Bourne Leisure family.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, annual bonuses, and exclusive discounts on holidays.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for career growth and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic role that shapes the future of food and drink.
- Qualifications: Experience in F&B development and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hemel Hempstead (Hybrid – 2 days office, 2 days park, 1 day at home per week)
Annual salary + bonus and benefits
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 + Bank Holidays + Holiday Buy Scheme
- Annual bonus
- Generous discounts on Haven and Warner Hotels holidays for you, your family and friends
- Comprehensive wellbeing support
- Access to the Bourne Leisure corporate box at the O2 Arena, London
- Exclusive discounts with corporate partners
- Exciting career pathways, including Learning and Development opportunities such as Apprenticeships and Degrees
- Enhanced family friendly policies and pay (eligibility criteria applied)
Who are we?
We’re part of an award-winning Bourne Leisure family, which includes Haven & Warner Hotels. We have 9,000 fantastic team members and 39 beautiful seaside locations and our HQ based in Hemel Hempstead.
What’s it like to work with us?
Working with us is ultimately defined by our exceptional people and teams. At Haven, we take pride in our Breath of Fresh Air culture, which focuses on valuing and supporting every team member. We prioritise openness and transparency in our interactions allowing our team members to be their authentic selves.
We operate a hybrid working model, meaning 50% of your working week will be spent at the office, occasionally on Park, or at external events.
What can you expect during the recruitment process?
The interview process will be up to 3 stages and may contain a presentation or skills test, depending on the role. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to help you perform at your best during this process, please let us know.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments or flexibility that you may require, including whether a role can be part-time or a job-share.
We genuinely care about every candidate's experience during the recruitment process and are here to provide support where we can. If you require any assistance or reasonable adjustments while applying, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at resourcingteam@bourne-leisure.co.uk.
How to Apply
We’re committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, and we encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply. To get started, click apply now and answer a few quick questions, which should take 5 minutes. Once submitted, a member of our team will be in touch.
National Food & Drinks Development Manager in Hemel Hempstead employer: Leisure Employment Services
At Haven, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that values openness and authenticity. With a hybrid working model, generous benefits including 25 days holiday, annual bonuses, and extensive career development opportunities, we empower our team members to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in shaping memorable food and drink experiences while enjoying the unique perks of working at our Hemel Hempstead headquarters and beautiful seaside locations.
Contact Details:
Leisure Employment Services Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Food & Drinks Development Manager in Hemel Hempstead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food and beverage industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Haven’s F&B strategies and recent developments. Show us you’re not just another candidate; demonstrate your passion for creating amazing food experiences and how you can contribute to our growth ambitions.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your presentation skills! You might need to showcase your ideas during interviews, so get comfortable presenting your thoughts clearly and confidently. Remember, we love innovative propositions that drive growth!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in being part of our Haven family.
We think you need these skills to ace National Food & Drinks Development Manager in Hemel Hempstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for F&B:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for food and beverage shine through! Share specific examples of how you've driven growth or innovation in previous roles. We want to see that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about shaping the future of F&B.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to align with our job description. Highlight your experience in leading F&B development and your understanding of park structures. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are serious about joining our team!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements and skills stand out without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to fill out the quick questions—easy peasy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leisure Employment Services
✨Know Your F&B Trends
Before the interview, dive deep into current food and beverage trends. Understand what’s hot in the industry and how it aligns with the company's vision. This will not only show your passion but also your strategic thinking skills.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Questions
Since the role involves collaborating with various departments, be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully partnered with teams like Operations, Finance, and Marketing in the past. Have specific examples that highlight your ability to drive insight-led performance.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Be prepared to talk about your leadership experience. Share stories that demonstrate your coaching abilities and how you've nurtured talent within your teams. This is crucial as they value operational excellence and team development.
✨Practice Your Presentation Skills
Given that the interview may involve a presentation, practice delivering your ideas clearly and confidently. Use visuals if possible, and ensure you can articulate your thoughts on F&B development strategies effectively.
