Manager, F&B Design & Plan Review

The F&B Design Review Manager supports IHG’s efforts in guest, owner and service-driven F&B design and innovation. This role focuses on prototype and custom F&B design direction for IHG’s brands in an assigned region. This role reports into the Regional Director, Design Review.

• Work as a collaborative member of a multi-disciplinary, high-volume, schedule-oriented design review project management team with a focus on leading Premium, Lifestyle and Luxury F&B Design.
• Manage Americas (AMER) regional F&B design projects from concept through completion. Work closely with regional Brand Management and Architecture & Design teams for Premium, Lifestyle and Luxury brands to create and deliver prototype & custom F&B designs for all brands within your region in accordance with project budgets, deadlines, and/or direction established by Senior Management.
• Actively participate in pre-deal activities, evaluating critical F&B projects through design, operational guidance and general requirements for project success before licensing.
• Must demonstrate comprehensive F&B Design and operational experience including, but not limited to, regional F&B context, brand-based performance optimization, F&B design direction, food service equipment evaluation, assessment and supplementation. Communicate F&B design direction to internal and external stakeholders through operational and design feedback.
• Develop F&B design resources through cost efficient strategies aligned with brand standards and design principles with best practice and guest experience requirements in mind.
• Work directly with hotel owners and design teams deliver F&B experiences for new and current brand initiatives and programs. Responsible for working with Brand Marketing & Design Strategies teams supplying relevant F&B data, enabling design standards to be written and implemented.
• Act as an F&B subject matter expert and advisor to internal IHG stakeholders and owner-engaged Food Service Equipment consultants by providing F&B design direction, technical and operational solutions.
• Participate in Strategic and project specific meetings involving owners, external design consultants, and contractors to provide direction for new build, conversion and renovation project types guiding project quality and brand F&B experience delivery. This role will also assist in delivering custom F&B design solutions that deviate from prototypical design for Premium brands with prototype requirements or detailed guest experience guidelines.
• Contribute to ongoing development of useful F&B design tools and resources shared with internal partners and our franchisee community via internal IHG and owner-facing websites.
• Evaluate and maintain a clear line of communication between various F&B equipment suppliers, monitor and report non-compliant vendors and help develop product cost models.

• 8+ years extensive progressive work-related experience in F&B design with demonstrated proficiency in multiple disciplines related to Food and Beverage. Must have a minimum of 3 years hospitality or restaurant F&B design experience.
• Must be self-motivated and able to prioritize escalation items as they arise.
• Excellent communication skills and a hospitable disposition.
• Must be able to focus in a very fast-paced environment.
• Enthusiastic and capable of being a team player interested in contributing, learning, and growing.
• Enthusiasm with all aspects of F&B Design and experience focused solutions.
• Strong organizational, prioritizing and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of F&B trade resources, vendors, competitive differentiation and operational objectives and realities.
• Innovation and new ideas focused on details and follow-through to completion.
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Products (Excel, Word, Outlook) and preferred AutoCAD experience.
• F&B operations design and technical, food service equipment expertise with prior-experience and understanding of Hospitality focused interior design, and architecture.
• Ability to learn and input project management data via in-house Data Management Software.
• Ability to create and manage spreadsheets and custom database solutions.