Front of House Supervisor in Sidmouth

The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare organisation, offering care and protection to donkeys worldwide. Our vision is a world where every donkey has a good quality of life, and our mission is to improve the lives of donkeys every day.

We have an excellent opportunity for a proactive and professional individual with outstanding leadership and organisational skills and a strong customer service ethic to join the team at our award-winning restaurant, The Kitchen. Working closely with the Front of House Manager, as Front of House Supervisor, you will make our visitors’ restaurant experiences memorable and enjoyable, inspiring the Front of House team to ensure that food quality and service exceeds customer’s expectations and is delivered to a consistently high standard.

About you:

• Experience of working front of house in a high-volume catering operation.
• Strong leadership experience, including direct management of a team of staff.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interact with individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
• Previous cash handling and till experience.
• Barista trained.
• Level 2 Food Safety Certificate.

About the role:

• Promoting exceptional food quality that embraces higher welfare standards, fully reflecting our core values of compassion, collaboration and creativity.
• Assisting the restaurant management team with all aspects of future growth in The Kitchen, including recruiting, developing, coaching and mentoring individual team members.
• Planning and assisting with The Donkey Sanctuary events and functions, in conjunction with the restaurant management team.
• Accountability for Health & Safety and hygiene matters within the Front of House element of the restaurant, ensuring standards of cleaning are consistently excellent.
• Ensuring that opening and closing procedures are followed, ensuring all cash handling procedures are monitored and followed.
• Ensuring that there is 7 day a week operational cover with either yourself or the Front of House Manager on duty at all times.
• Ensuring that customer feedback is dealt with appropriately.

What we offer in return:

Based in Sidmouth, Devon – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – this is a full-time, permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days over 7, as part of the team rota. Please note: This role does not include split-shift working.

Benefits:

• Competitive pension.
• Life assurance.
• 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 with each full year of service.
• Wellbeing team.
• Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
• Long Service Awards.
• Healthshield plan – Reimbursement of some medical expenses up to the specified limits per membership.
• Offers, discounts and cashback on shopping, travel and entertainment from participating outlets.
• Access to a 24/7 GP and counselling service.
• Free parking.
• Subsidised restaurant and shop.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a Disability Confident Employer. The Donkey Sanctuary is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults), and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.

The Donkey Sanctuary also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme and, for relevant posts, may request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

Please note: The Guaranteed interview scheme is only applicable to candidates who consider themselves to have a disability applying for roles based within the United Kingdom.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: We look forward to receiving your application, but we do ask you to complete this in your own words, and not to employ an Artificial Intelligence (AI) writing tool or assistant. Applications that are considered not to be an applicant’s own work may not be shortlisted for interview.