Berry Bros. & Rudd: Head of Events & Education

The team organises and hosts around 1,000 events a year in our private cellars and dining rooms at No.3 St James’s Street, for both corporate and private customers. This includes a combination of private-hire dining, themed wine tastings and dinners, and more structured Wine School courses.

The role of this department is extremely significant: the hosted experiences bring to life, for nearly 30,000 guests, the BB&R brand and the company’s philosophy around the enjoyment and appreciation of wine.

The primary focus is naturally on the exceptional wines (whether £10 or £10,000), however this is complemented by the world-class knowledge of our hosting teams and the Michelin-quality food of Head Chef Stewart Turner, formerly of the Waterside Inn.

Whether delivering a relaxed tasting or a formal wine-paired dinner, the whole team is committed to creating the finest possible customer experience.

We have an exciting opportunity to join Berry Bros. & Rudd to lead this department, as Head of Events & Education, and are seeking an experienced individual committed to delivering the highest standards of hospitality and a passion for food and wine.

The role involves:

• Setting and owning the department’s annual P&L: driving sales, optimising margins and controlling overhead costs
• Attaining department KPIs
• Overseeing the development and delivery of the annual product propositions
• Identifying and assessing opportunities for growth
• Leading, motivating and mentoring a team of 22 permanent and up to 30 additional temporary staff, across Sales, Hosting, Education and Operations
• Hosting lunches and dinners, on occasion
• Developing relationships with key clients
• Working on brand, partnership and sales opportunities with other departments

The right candidate should:

• Have experience of owning a P&L and managing different revenue streams
• Be able to analyse performance data and act to enhance/mitigate
• Have a proven track record within the top-end fine dining and hospitality sector
• Be dedicated to delivering high-quality product and service to guarantee customer satisfaction, whilst maximising commercial return
• Ability to use own initiative and perform under pressure, delivering seamless customer experiences on a daily basis
• Have good wine knowledge, with the ability to discuss and present if required (WSET Diploma preferred but not essential)
• Have a good understanding of the UK wine trade
• Experience of successfully managing and motivating a large multi-faceted department with highly experienced and knowledgeable members
• Ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships at all levels, from agency waiting staff to senior management

For a full job description or to apply for this role, please submit your CV and a covering letter to Kat White at careers@bbr.com by close of play on Tuesday 31^st July 2018.