Assistant Food Beverage Manager

The Assistant Food & Beverage Manager supports the Food & Beverage Manager in the day-to-day operation of all food and beverage services at the Cohere Centre, with primary responsibility for retail concessions, cafés, bars, and grab-and-go outlets.

This is a hands-on operational role focused on delivering consistent guest experiences on the show floor, supervising retail staff, managing point-of-sale operations, and stepping in to support catering execution during major events. The successful candidate is comfortable running a busy service line, coaching part-time and casual staff, and acting as the on-duty F&B lead when the Manager is not on site.

• Oversee the daily operation of all concession stands, retail cafés, mobile carts, and bars during events.
• Open and close retail outlets, including POS setup, stocking, and end-of-day reconciliation.
• Deploy staff across outlets based on event size, attendance patterns, and service demands.
• Monitor service speed, product presentation, and guest experience throughout each event.
• Track sales performance by outlet and shift, and flag opportunities to adjust product mix, pricing, or staffing.
• Maintain retail menus and pricing in the POS system and ensure signage is accurate and current.
• Ensure Smart Serve compliance at all bar and alcohol service points.

• Supervise part-time, casual, and event-based retail staff during service.
• Deliver on-the-job training in service standards, POS operation, food safety, and Smart Serve.
• Support the F&B Manager with recruitment, onboarding, and performance feedback.
• Build and manage retail staff schedules, adjusting to event volume and last-minute changes.
• Foster a positive, guest-focused culture on the floor and address performance or conduct issues in the moment.

• Provide operational support to the catering team during large-scale events, galas, and conferences.
• Assist with room sets, buffet lines, bar stations, and passed service when volume requires additional leadership on the floor.
• Act as the on-duty F&B lead in the absence of the Food & Beverage Manager.
• Coordinate with the Events and Operations teams on timing, access, service points, and event day changes.

• Conduct event-based inventory counts for retail outlets and bars.
• Place orders for retail product, alcohol, disposables, and small wares within budget and approval limits.
• Ensure proper receiving, rotation, and storage of all retail stock.
• Monitor waste and shrinkage, and recommend corrective action to the F&B Manager.
• Support preventative maintenance of retail equipment and coordinate service calls when required.

• Support the F&B Manager with monthly reporting and budget tracking for retail operations.
• Identify practical opportunities to improve margin through product mix, service speed, or staffing efficiency.

• Enforce food safety and sanitation standards across all retail and bar operations.
• Ensure staff hold current Smart Serve and Food Handler certifications where required.
• Support venue emergency procedures and JHSC safety expectations.
• Maintain compliance with AGCO regulations and Ottawa Public Health requirements.

• 3 or more years of progressive food and beverage experience, with at least 1 year in a supervisory or lead role.
• Experience in high-volume retail food operations (concessions, quick service, stadium, arena, or convention centre service is a strong asset).
• Smart Serve Certification required.
• Working knowledge of POS systems and end-of-day reconciliation.
• Comfortable supervising, training, and scheduling part-time and casual staff in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple outlets and events simultaneously.
• Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the event calendar.

• Hospitality, culinary, or business diploma.
• Experience building and managing staff schedules across multiple outlets or shifts.
• Experience in a convention centre, arena, stadium, hotel, or large-format event environment.