Vice President of Food

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is a 365-entertainment destination for world-class events located in Austin, TX. The sports and entertainment portfolio at COTA is unmatched in the country with Formula 1 US Grand Prix, NASCAR, and MotoGP attracting global fans during championship races on the famed Circuit and LiveNation producing over 30 headline concerts every year at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Opening Summer of 2025, COTA’s amusement park is a 20 acre theme park featuring two first of their kind Roller Coasters and over two dozen rides.

COTA’s food service provider, Proof of the Pudding, is seeking an experienced hospitality executive to join our growing Sports & Entertainment team. The VP of Food & Beverage will implement and then lead the food and beverage program within COTA’s amusement park as well as COTA’s current Food and Beverage Program. The VP of Food & Beverage will be the main contact to the COTA client and team members. The ideal candidate has proven experience in large scale concessions management and is a strong leader with a mindset for team development.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement business operations to ensure maximum efficiency and profitability of the food and beverage operation
• Responsible for concessions and beverage management of year-round scheduled events including POS installation, operational planning, ordering/receiving, equipment and goods inventory, onsite set-up, event execution, and end of event break-down.
• Supervise the preparation and service of food and refreshments.
• Coordinate logisitics and facilitate operational needs for 3rd party vendor success.
• Lead all POS maintenance, management, and distribution.
• Maintain bar policies and procedures, ensure bartenders understand and are familiar with venue policies
• Looks for methods to improve quality, efficiency and productivity, reduce costs, increase profits, or improve control measures.
• Set comprehensive goals for department performance and growth
• Oversee daily operations of the department and the work of 5 managers and up to 50 hourly employees
• Lead employees to encourage maximum performance. Evaluate performance based on set expectations, data, and metrics.
• Organizing frequent meetings and open lines of communication with sales, operations, and culinary teams
• Monitoring the team and schedule including reporting status, progress updates, and identifying areas that require corrective actions.
• Responsible for managing and participating in interviewing new employees, developing strategies for developing talent at all levels, and coaching organizational leaders.
• Foster a growth oriented, positive and encouraging environment while keeping employees and management accountable to company policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Practice an open door policy for employee grievances or dissatisfaction, documenting and addressing and escalating, as needed, appropriately and timely
• Hold staff accountable for fulfilling job description, conduct performance reviews of direct reports and ensure timely hourly reviews, coach and follow company guidelines for documentation of any lack of performance
• Provides timely, accurate, and complete reports on the operations and finances of the venue
• Forge strategic partnerships and relationships with clients, vendors, agencies, venue partners and all other professional business relationships.

Perform other related duties as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field, MBA is preferred AND/OR 15+ years of experience in large-scale Concessions Management, Senior Management in Food & Beverage, or similar
• Experience - at Amusements Parks, Zoos or Large-Scale resorts is preferable but not required
• Advanced computer knowledge, including Windows and Microsoft Office
• ServSafe certified or willing to obtain certification upon employment.
• Must live near or be willing to relocate to the Austin, TX area

Specialized Qualifications:

• Proven experience building and maintaining positive relationships with clients
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Must maintain a professional and calm demeanor
• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Proven time management and delegation abilities
• Servant leader mindset with the ability to jump in and help solve challenges

COMPANY CORE VALUE AND COMPETENCY REQUIREMENTS

• Business Acumen - Demonstrate comprehension of the job, including policies, practices, and relationships. Possess the expertise and skill levels required of the job and perform with quality.
• Dedication - Dependable, reliable and follows through on projects from inception to completion. Willing to put in as much time as necessary to complete tasks. Demonstrate a win-win attitude: “see it, own it, solve it.”
• Ethics and Integrity - Acts with integrity, honesty and knowledge that promote the company’s culture, values and beliefs while maintaining the highest standards of professional conduct.
• Safety & Security - Observe safety and security standards. Use equipment and materials properly. Comply with safety standards and personal protective equipment requirements. Report potential unsafe conditions or practices to appropriate person immediately. Promote restaurant safety, cleanliness and security compliance at all times.
• Teamwork - Cooperate and be willing to work as a team player to achieve goals and tasks accurately, efficiently and timely.
• Communication - Communicate clearly and effectively with mutual respect, understanding and trust to fellow associates, managers, supervisors and guests. Listen carefully to opinions and views of others; state understanding of what has been heard.
• Initiative - Contribute new ideas and suggestions to enhance productivity and efficiency. Be proactive in troubleshooting problems or issues and take action to mitigate potential problems.
• Adaptability & Planning - Possess the ability to learn new tasks and adjusts well to new situations. Perform well under tight time schedules and pressures to change direction quickly.
• Service Orientation - Demonstrates a sense of urgency. Is welcoming, friendly and smiles when visible to guests.

Work Environment

This role consists of in-office work and traveling throughout the venue via vehicle, golf cart, or similar. Office work consists of long periods of sitting at a desk, interdepartmental meetings, screen and phone usage, and communicating orally and through writing often. This position can work indoors, outdoors, and in temporary structured tents/buildings.

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of moving throughout the venue, bending, lifting, and reaching as needed.
• Ability to perform physical tasks; such as but not limited to, lifting approx. 30 lbs.

Position Salary & Benefits:

• This is considered a full-time salary role. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
• Full-time eligible employees may choose to enroll in optional benefits, including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Voluntary Life and AD&D, Short Term Disability, Voluntary Accident, Voluntary Critical Illness, and Voluntary Hospitality Indemnity
• Proof is pleased to provide all full-time eligible employees with Basic Life and AD&D as well as long term disability at no cost to employees
• Additional benefits include cell phone reimbursement and commuter benefits

Proof of the Pudding and its affiliates are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion and employing a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics.

This is posted on behalf of our partner Proof of the Pudding