Director of Food And Beverage

The Standard, Brussels brings our signature experience-driven hospitality to the heart of the city’s Northern Quarter. With a dynamic collection of venues including Lila29, Double Standard, the Lobby Bar, Events, and In-Room Dining (IRD), Food & Beverage sits at the centre of the guest experience and is a key driver of the hotel’s reputation, culture, and commercial success.

As Director of Food & Beverage, you will lead the vision, performance, and evolution of all F&B operations, ensuring each venue delivers exceptional experiences, strong financial results, and a distinct identity within the Brussels market. Working closely with the Executive Chef, General Manager, and Director of Marketing & Culture, you will shape innovative food and beverage concepts, drive programming and partnerships, and position The Standard as a destination for both guests and locals.

This is a hands-on leadership role requiring equal strengths in operations, creativity, and commercial strategy. From menu development and beverage programming to service culture, nightlife, events, and guest engagement, you will champion every aspect of the F&B experience across Lila29, Double Standard, the Lobby Bar, Events, and IRD while developing a high-performing team that embodies The Standard's playful yet sophisticated approach to hospitality.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership to the Food & Beverage division, fostering a culture that embodies our “Anything but Standard” ethos.
• Lead the performance and positioning of Lila29, Double Standard, Lobby Bar, Events, and IRD, ensuring each outlet delivers exceptional guest experiences and commercial results.
• Establish clear departmental goals and KPIs and hold teams accountable for performance.
• Partner with the Executive Chef to develop innovative food and beverage concepts that reflect The Standard’s brand and local market.
• Work closely with the Director of Marketing & Culture to drive programming, partnerships, activations, and events that strengthen the hotel’s position within Brussels.
• Promote collaboration across departments to ensure operational excellence and a seamless guest experience.
• Lead short and long-term planning for the F&B division.
• Develop, inspire, and support a high-performing leadership team.
• Familiarise yourself with the Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) to ensure company obligations are fulfilled and ownership expectations are achieved.
• Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting, and business planning processes for the Food & Beverage division.
• Drive revenue growth, profitability, labour productivity, and cost control across all outlets.
• Monitor and analyse key performance metrics including revenue, covers, average spend, payroll, food cost, beverage cost, and profitability.
• Lead menu engineering and pricing strategies to maximise profitability and guest satisfaction.
• Conduct monthly business reviews, identifying opportunities, risks, and corrective actions.
• Ensure staffing levels remain aligned with business demands while maintaining service standards.
• Manage supplier relationships and purchasing strategies to ensure quality, consistency, and value.
• Oversee F&B-related capital expenditure and FF&E projects.

Operational Management & Guest Experience

• Maintain a strong presence throughout all Food & Beverage operations and lead by example.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across Lila29, Double Standard, Lobby Bar, Events, and IRD.
• Ensure all outlets consistently deliver The Standard’s service standards and brand experience.
• Partner with culinary and beverage teams on menu development, beverage programmes, wine lists, cocktail strategies, and seasonal activations.
• Lead quality assurance through regular tastings, operational reviews, and service evaluations.
• Oversee banquet and event operations, ensuring successful execution of all Banquet Event Orders (BEOs).
• Monitor guest feedback and lead service recovery initiatives to maintain high satisfaction levels.
• Drive outlet activation through events, music, cultural programming, and local partnerships.
• Maintain awareness of market trends and competitor activity to ensure continued innovation and relevance.
• Develop relationships within the local community to drive awareness, guest engagement, and revenue opportunities.

People

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing Food & Beverage team.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning.
• Ensure effective onboarding, training, and development programmes are in place across the division.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and career development discussions.
• Foster a culture of accountability,