Rock City Gardens Food

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Where Food Meets Experience

At Rock City Gardens, food isn't just about sustenance-it's part of the memory-making experience. Whether it's a guest savoring a meal with a mountaintop view at Café 7, enjoying the comfort of a hot cocoa at the Cliff Terrace, or grabbing a snack at a seasonal stand, our food operations play a central role in delivering joy.

The Food & Beverage Manager is the leader behind the scenes (and sometimes front and center) making sure every bite adds to that joy. You'll oversee food operations across the entire Rock City Gardens property-from our everyday outlets to large group meals and seasonal events. You'll coach teams, manage vendors, collaborate with marketing, and ensure our menus reflect both quality and guest satisfaction.

In this role, you'll balance the art of hospitality with the science of operations. It's fast-paced, detail-oriented, and people-first. You'll be empowered to make decisions that improve processes, grow people, and deliver delicious results.

The ideal candidate:

We're looking for someone who is passionate about providing exceptional guest experiences through creative, fun and delicious food & beverage offerings. The ideal candidate will have a creative vision and the ability to connect themes and branding with food & beverage offerings throughout every season and special event at Rock City. We want a strong, engaging, and empathetic leader with the ability to foster a culture of appreciation, accountability, and guest service while also focusing on the growth and development of the partners within their team.

Your Day-to-Day: What You'll Do

• Lead with Heart: You'll guide a team of food service professionals across multiple outlets. You'll inspire, train, and hold high standards-with empathy and accountability.
• Champion our Culture: Lead by example by demonstrating our commitment to excellence through upholding our values of Innovation, Communication, Learning, Appreciation, Accountability, and Proactivity.
• Own the Operation: You'll be the central point of leadership for all food and beverage services on property-Café 7, Cliff Terrace, Seasonal stands, group catering, vending, special events, and more.
• Budget & Labor: Create schedules, manage labor based on business projections, review payroll, and control expenses to keep us on budget and running smoothly.
• Training & Onboarding: Collaborate with Talent Development to ensure every new partner is properly trained in guest service, food safety, opening/closing procedures, point-of-sale transactions, and more. Create an environment where learning never stops.
• Set the Stage: Keep our food locations looking sharp-clean, orderly, and guest-ready. From back-of-house prep to front-of-house presentation, you'll make sure we're ready to serve.
• Plan the Menu: Analyze sales data and market trends, adjust pricing, and work with our team to create menus that delight. Manage inventory and reduce waste through portion control and smart ordering.
• Vendor Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for all F&B vendors, approve invoices, and collaborate with the inventory coordinator to ensure supplies are always where they need to be-on time and within budget.
• Promote your offerings: Work closely with our Marketing team to help shape the visual and storytelling aspects of our food offerings. Coordinate on menus, signs, event branding, and more.
• Lead Meetings & Collaboration: Run weekly team check-ins and attend leadership meetings. Align on goals, address challenges, and keep communication open and clear.
• Make it Happen: Handle whatever the day throws your way-whether it's a vendor issue, a team challenge, or an unexpected opportunity to surprise and delight a guest.

• Experience: 3+ years in high-volume, full-service food operations, with leadership in a multi-outlet or multi-unit setting. Experience in the attractions industry preferred.
• Education: Bachelor's in Hospitality, Business, Culinary or related field preferred-but equivalent experience is valued.
• Attitude: Maintain and promote a positive attitude, providing motivation and energy to the team
• People Skills: You're approachable, friendly, and firm when needed. You coach, motivate, and genuinely care about people's success.
• Operational Know-How: You understand food safety, staffing, inventory, food cost, and vendor management. You're confident with scheduling, labor targets, and administrative systems.
• Financial Acumen: You can read a P&L, understand cost of goods, and make decisions that positively impact the bottom line.
• Tools & Tech: Proficiency in Microsoft Office. Experience with Point-of-Sale systems is a plus.
• Physical Readiness: Able to lift 50 lbs, spend hours on your feet, and navigate kitchens and outdoor food stands with ease.
• Flexibility: Able to work nights, weekends, holidays, and special events. Hospitality doesn't clock out when the sun goes down.