Summary

The National Trust has bold plans for its unique food and beverage business. With ambitious capital investment plans, a unique supply chain that includes ingredients sourced from National Trust places, and exciting new food concepts in development, our Food & Beverage operation continues to be a vital enabler of the Trust’s work to look after the places in its care, for everyone, for ever. From charming tea rooms and bustling cafes to coffee tuk-tuks and wood-fired pizza, we operate more than 300 food outlets across hundreds of amazing places. It’s a fast-paced, dynamic business with genuine purpose.

To deliver such ambition, we’re looking for an Operations Support Manager, covering Northern Ireland to join our national Food & Beverage team. You’ll support our Area Manager for Northern Ireland and provide business continuity support on-property when needed, acting as interim F&B Manager to support properties in need of stabilisation, significantly reducing risk of non-compliance and financial loss. You\'ll monitor performance across your territory and use your expertise to provide insight and pragmatic solutions to emerging issues. You\'ll support with monitoring and reporting requirements and contribute to a highly performing, busy Area Manager team.

responsible for leading a team of up to ten Area Managers and Operations Support Managers, each responsible for driving the food businesses forward in their area, so you’ll spend a large proportion of your time within the regions and countries allocated to you. You’ll also have access to a team of kitchen and barista trainers, which you’ll assign to particular properties based on the needs of the business.

What it\'s like to work here

There’s never been a more exciting time to be a part of our multi-award-winning food business and of a much-loved charity that puts people and places at the heart of its work. We have a clear strategic direction and a huge amount of opportunity and ambition. This crucial and exciting role provides a chance to play a key part in driving profitable, sustainable growth that helps the charity to deliver its core purpose, whilst enhancing our visitor’s experiences at our places.

Your contractual location will be at Rowallane House, but your role will involve significant travel across Northern Ireland, working at the different properties in which we have cafes. Your role may also include travel to England and Wales from time to time.

What you\'ll be doing

You\'ll respond to short-term continuity requirements at properties, using your experience to stabilise the operation whilst a long-term solution is secured. You\'ll manage the operation to minimise risk and maximise financial performance. Using on the ground insight you\'ll identify and escalate issues to the Area Managers and Heads of Operational Delivery.

While on-property, you\'ll inspire and motivate your delivery teams through great people management. You\'ll coach and manage team leaders to enhance performance and develop their skills, leading to an increased efficiency of service. You may need to lead recruitment of new team members and conduct effective inductions. You’ll be accountable for team members\' performance, personal development and wellbeing.

You\'ll quickly adapt to the requirements of the business, being flexible in your decisions and approach. You\'ll develop close, collaborative relationships with your Area Manager and their leadership team so that you\'re able to respond to their needs in a timely manner.

Using a pragmatic approach, you\'ll quickly solve problems and respond to escalations. Communicating with key stakeholders (Area Managers, General Managers, F&B Teams) you will challenge requirements, manage expectations and make decisions to ensure best use of resource. 

Who we\'re looking for

• Strong commercial acumen and demonstrable technical knowledge in a food and beverage led business.
• Strong IT skills, including intermediate-level knowledge of MS Office.
• Track record of creating and maintaining an exceptional customer service culture.
• Experience of managing a large, busy multi-unit F&B business.
• Demonstrable experience as a catalyst / champion for change and continuous improvement.
• Strong decision maker, ability and experience of resolving conflict and problems using a pragmatic approach.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to build long term relationships with key stakeholders.
• Excellent people management skills enabling strong relationships.
• Good financial acumen to control costs. With experience of maintaining financial performance.
• Strong team worker sharing learning and ideas.
• Coaching skills / delivery to individuals and to teams.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary