Food and Beverage Director

Food and Beverage Director

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is seeking candidates for the full-time position of Food and Beverage Director. The Food and Beverage Director is a key team player within Steppenwolf's Operations team. This full-time position, reporting directly to the Director of Business Operations & Strategic Growth, manages and leads Steppenwolf's food and beverage operations across the institution.

Currently, our Food and Beverage (F&B) program consists of three concession outposts within our building: Front Bar (café style food, crafted coffees, and a bar), the Tap bar (beer, wine, and cocktails), and the Balcony Bar (wine forward bar with beer and cocktails). The food program includes on site café style food service, as well as catering for select special events. The bar program focuses on seasonal cocktails, beer, and wine, with an emphasis on local and craft products. All three concession outposts are only operational concurrent with shows in our theatres for pre-show, intermission, and post-show concessions.

This is a position that will require on-the-floor management of the bar and café staff in addition to administrative responsibilities.

Areas of Responsibility:

• The Food and Beverage Director will lead the daily operations of the restaurant and concessions program and supervises a unionized cohort of 25-30 part time staff (IATSE 750).
• The ideal candidate will supervise and educate staff on best practices within the industry and will emphasize friendly, emotionally intelligent and efficient service.
• The Food & Beverage Director will be responsible for budget management, ROI strategy and analysis, creating staff schedules, managing purchases and inventory, ensuring adherence to food safety procedures, implementing excellent customer service, coordinating with other internal departments to streamline service, and serves as a knowledgeable source of information about trends and advances within the restaurant and bar industry.
• This position leads by example, setting a professional and friendly environment focused on customer service.

Qualifications

The desired candidate will:

• Have experience managing operations and a team larger than 15 people in a restaurant or bar setting.
• Be skilled at using and analyzing data to make informed profit-related decisions.
• Be comfortable with managing a union cohort and can manage the team within the parameters of the collective bargaining agreement.
• Have experience building a cocktail, beer, and wine-focused beverage menu.
• Have an exceptional problem-solving and customer service approach to all decisions and interactions and have demonstrated the consistent ability to effectively problem-solve in a variety of situations.
• Commit to an equitable work environment, including but not limited to use of gender inclusive language and support for individual gender expression, cultural sensitivity, racial equity and inter-generational collaboration and accessibility for audience members with disabilities.
• Enjoy proactively and positively interacting with a variety of personalities in a busy, fast-paced environment.
• Have in-depth experience with front and back-end operation of a restaurant or bar point of sale system.
• Have keen attention to detail.
• Communicate clearly and professionally and maintain professional composure during busy periods.
• Have knowledge of or interest in Steppenwolf and the performing arts.
• Possess excellent time-management skills.
• When needed, work late nights and weekends.
• Be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Have food service experience and be ServSafe Manager and Illinois BASSET certified

Desired Skills:

• Have demonstrated success in managing a team with various employment classifications and job functions.
• 4-7 years of work experience in managing food and beverage
• Candidates must be proactive, relationship-oriented, strategic, and creative.
• Steppenwolf gives preference to candidates who have demonstrable experience advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion.
• They must understand the big picture but also have strong attention to detail.
• They should feel comfortable juggling multiple projects and must have excellent writing, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in the arts or a non-profit organization is a plus.
• Proficient use of software systems, including: Microsoft Office Systems, Toast, and Netsuite or similar accounting program.

Compensation:

This is a Full Time Position with a salary range of $72,337 - $78,000 per year with excellent benefit package, including medical, dental, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, vacation pay, paid sick time, personal days, Ventra transit benefit program, employee assistance program and 401(k) matching retirement program.

How to apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and three references.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Steppenwolf complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.