Assistant Operations Manager (Food & Beverage)
SPACE St Andrews | The Social
Location: St Andrews, Fife
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
About SPACE
SPACE St Andrews is redefining student accommodation, offering an exceptional living experience with outstanding facilities, a vibrant community and a genuine focus on hospitality.
At the heart of our development is The Social, our food, beverage and retail destination, bringing together a café, bar, casual dining and convenience store. Designed to be much more than somewhere to grab a coffee or a bite to eat, The Social is a place for students, residents and the wider St Andrews community to come together.
We are now looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Assistant Operations Manager (Food & Beverage) to take ownership of The Social and help us realise its full potential.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced hospitality professional who enjoys being hands-on, leading from the front and making a genuine difference to a business.
You will take responsibility for the day-to-day operation and commercial performance of The Social, overseeing our food and beverage offering, retail operation, team performance and overall customer experience.
We are looking for someone who thinks like a business owner, understands the importance of delivering an exceptional customer experience and is equally comfortable reviewing a P&L, developing a new promotion or jumping behind the bar during a busy service.
You will have the autonomy to bring forward ideas, challenge how we do things and play a key role in shaping the future of The Social.
Key Responsibilities
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Take ownership of the daily operation of The Social, ensuring consistently high standards across the café, bar, kitchen and retail store.
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Drive revenue, increase footfall and identify new commercial opportunities across all areas of the business.
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Manage labour costs, stock control, purchasing, gross profit margins and operational expenditure to deliver agreed financial targets.
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Lead, motivate and develop the team, creating a positive, accountable and customer-focused culture.
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Ensure exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, merchandising and service throughout the operation.
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Work closely with our sales, marketing and resident experience teams to develop promotions, events and initiatives that encourage engagement and repeat visits.
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Oversee food safety, licensing, health and safety and all relevant operational compliance.
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Review sales performance, understand customer trends and proactively adapt the offering to improve profitability.
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Build relationships with residents and the wider St Andrews community, establishing The Social as a destination in its own right.
About You
We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for hospitality, strong commercial instincts and the confidence to take ownership of a diverse operation.
You will ideally have:
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Experience in a management role within hospitality, ideally across food, beverage or a multi-outlet environment.
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A strong understanding of hospitality financial performance, including P&L management, labour productivity, stock control and gross profit.
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A proven ability to lead teams, maintain standards and deliver results.
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A proactive, entrepreneurial approach, with the confidence to introduce new ideas and challenge existing ways of working.
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Excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail.
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A willingness to be hands-on and support the team wherever needed.
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A genuine enthusiasm for creating memorable customer experiences.
