Food & Beverage Relationship Coordinator

We are looking for people to join our fantastic team at Somerset House Trust. As the home of cultural innovators, the Trust connects creativity and the arts with the broader society. Somerset House pursues a ‘Step Inside, Think Outside’ spirit and is born from the creative community we nurture - the experience and perspectives we host across background, age, race, and stage, and the intersections and crossovers we encourage.

Somerset House is seeking a Food and Beverage Relationship Coordinator to join the Commercial Department, during an exciting transition of its onsite food and beverage outlets. Working closely with the Head of Food and Beverage, this new position will play a crucial role in coordinating all aspects of Somerset House’s food and beverage offer. Note that this role is not responsible for the management of each F&B outlet (this is managed by each operator and their respective teams). This role is focused on building relationships with each operator to support the integration of food and beverage with Somerset House’s cultural and public programme - ensuring a consistent visitor experience in line with our brand ethos as the home of cultural innovators. This position also has administrative responsibilities for the team.

We are looking for someone who is a quick learner, with a solution-focused approach, who thrives working in a fast-paced environment - with an interest or background in food and beverage or the arts. You should be highly motivated, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to work independently as well as in a team environment. The role involves close collaboration with a range of Somerset House teams, including Live Events which delivers SKATE and the Summer Series. The delivery of this role will contribute to the growth and sustainability of Somerset House’s Commercial services.

What you’ll be doing:

• OPERATIONS

• Support Head of F&B with tasks across: All permanent on-site operations (including the CPU kitchen hire), SKATE pop up F&B (The Chalet and SKATE Lounge) plus others, Ad hoc pop-up F&B operations, Exhibition related F&B led activations, Impactful F&B offers across the cultural programme, including partner projects, Development of a distinctive F&B offer as part of any future membership plans, Resident event and meeting room catering.
• Assist with operators’ quarterly Health & Safety audit.
• Develop a close and effective working relationship with internal facilities management, security and all departments across the Trust.
• Build strong working relationships with onsite operators to ensure excellent customer experience across all sites.
• Work with the Head of Food & Beverage to contract, plan, deliver and debrief all pop-up food and beverage activations.
• Facilitate site visits for operators and their contractors.
• Main point of contact for all internal F&B feedback - actioning feedback where appropriate.
• Occasionally organise, plan and deliver a portfolio of internal events - working with departments across the Trust, principally the Director’s Office and the Development team. This will range from small cultivation events to exhibition openings and events for a range of Somerset House’s partners and stakeholders.

• Responsible for the Food & Beverage team’s administration tasks, including the raising of purchase orders, invoice requests and tracking operators’ sales reports – and ensuring an efficient digital filing system for easy retrieval of documentation.
• Proactively liaise with all operators to ensure paperwork and documents are up to date (i.e. licenses, certificates etc.).
• Maintain and implement tracker documents and spreadsheets, as required.
• Organise meetings, book meeting rooms, prepare agendas, and write minutes.
• Use DIESE (or equivalent event/site management software) effectively to allow detailed and accurate diary management and reporting.
• Work with the Finance department to generate reports.
• Assist with regularly reviewing the venue’s policies (i.e. H&S, Sustainability) and procedures, ensuring regulations are accurately adhered to.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Food & Beverage experience preferably within a unique cultural/heritage venue with public spaces.
• Experienced in delivering excellent customer service in a public or client-facing role.
• General administration experience and/or diary management.
• Experienced information management, including producing, distributing and presenting information to a wide variety of audiences.
• Financial tracking experience.
• Health & Safety management experience, including an understanding of risk assessments.
• Demonstrate a personal commitment to Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion.

Skills

• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills, with ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to build and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues at all levels.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt communication styles accordingly.
• Strong numeracy and IT skills, including working knowledge of MS Office applications and spreadsheets, and ability to learn new systems and software quickly.
• Strong attention to detail with an ability to multitask and adapt to change.
• Continuous improvement mindset, willing to question processes and make suggestions.
• A commitment and passion for Somerset House’s vision, goals, and cultural programme.

Benefits to working at Somerset House

• Mental Health & Wellbeing Access to our external Employee Assistance Programme (CiC) for free 24/7 confidential advice and support, including up to 6 free counselling sessions per year where needed.
• Mental health support and guidance from our in-house trained Mental Health First Aiders.
• Hybrid working based on having 3 days in the office per week (pro rata if part-time).
• Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
• Trust life insurance scheme.
• Enhanced annual leave – 25 days plus bank holidays (pro rata).
• Birthday leave - additional day leave.
• Celebration day - to celebrate anything of your choice.
• Sick leave – 20 days full pay, followed by 20 days half pay (pro rata & following 3 months service).
• Emergency dependent care – option to use 25% of paid sick leave for emergency care of a dependent (pro rata & following 3 months service).
• Enhanced maternity pay.
• 8% employer pension contributions, no employee contribution required*.
• Option for salary sacrifice.
• Interest-free loans.
• Season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Discounts, offers and free stuff including tickets to Somerset House events and entrance to other London Heritage sites, discounts in Somerset House cafes and restaurants, and discounts with various high street retailers and restaurants.