Food and Beverage Manager in Paignton

Paignton Zoo in Devon and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall are among the South West’s most loved and leading wildlife attractions. With rich, fascinating histories, strong foundations in conservation, education and research, and a diverse collection of over 2,800 animals across both sites, these zoos offer an exciting and dynamic environment to lead.

Both zoos have recently become part of Libéma, one of the Netherlands’ leading leisure organisations, bringing new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and growth. This is a permanent role working 37.5 hours per week.

You’ll take charge of the daily operation of all our catering outlets—including seasonal kiosks—bringing a strong, visible presence to the restaurant floor. You’ll be right there with the team, engaging with guests and making sure every visit feels warm, smooth and genuinely memorable.

As the driving force behind our Food & Beverage team, you’ll provide day‑to‑day direction, support and supervision to keep service running efficiently, professionally and with a smile. From managing rotas and performance to developing your team’s skills, you’ll help create a culture built on excellence, teamwork and continuous improvement. You’ll also make sure everyone is fully trained in Food Hygiene, Health & Safety and COSHH requirements.

You’ll own the commercial performance of the department—monitoring KPIs, managing budgets and reviewing financial reports such as P&L to spot opportunities and share insights with the Head of Operations. You’ll oversee stock accuracy through smart ordering, rotation and honest, timely stock audits, while ensuring all financial procedures and till operations run smoothly and securely.

Compliance will be a key part of your role. You’ll uphold all food safety, hygiene, licensing and Health & Safety standards, acting as a personal licence holder and keeping all documentation inspection‑ready. You’ll also act as a key holder, ensuring operational and security procedures are always followed and that catering equipment is well‑maintained with the right contracts in place.

Above all, you’ll champion an exceptional guest experience. Whether resolving queries, handling complaints with professionalism, or finding new ways to improve food quality, service and profitability—you’ll help shape a catering operation that visitors love and want to return to.

We’re looking for someone who either already holds Food Hygiene Level 3 and a Personal Licence, or is happy to complete these when they join as well as IOSH Managing Safely. You’ll bring solid experience running a high‑volume food and beverage operation and feel completely at home leading from the front, especially during busy service periods.

You’ll have a background in supervising, developing and motivating teams, along with confidence in managing budgets, KPIs, stock control and day‑to‑day cost management. A big part of this role is delivering brilliant guest service, so you’ll be someone who can handle queries and complaints calmly and professionally. Experience behind the scenes, in the kitchen, is a must as you will be expected to deliver on menu changes, training and quality control to ensure high standards are delivered.

You’ll also understand how to keep everything compliant with food safety, hygiene and Health & Safety regulations. You should feel comfortable working with till systems, EPOS and cash‑handling processes, and be able to interpret financial data, stock reports and P&L information without hesitation.

We’re looking for a natural leader with a supportive, coaching style and strong communication skills, someone who can engage confidently with guests and staff. You’ll need to be highly organised, good at planning and able to stay calm under pressure while managing multiple priorities. Strong problem‑solving skills, good IT confidence, a team‑focused attitude and excellent attention to detail will all help you thrive in this role. Experience in both budget management and staff management is also essential.

At Paignton Zoo, we believe taking care of our team is just as important as caring for our animals. That’s why we offer a benefits package that’s packed with perks: enjoy 33 days of paid holiday pro-rata, branded uniform, and access to training. Your family can join the adventure too, with free zoo entry for loved ones, plus discounts on food and retail while you’re on site. We’ll make parking a breeze with free staff spaces and support your wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme.

We proudly champion equality of opportunity for all our team members. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, including but not limited to age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnerships. Inclusion isn’t just a policy—it’s part of our culture. Everyone deserves the chance to thrive here.