administrative assistant London, England
Job description
Belmond is seeking a Food & Beverage Administrator to work for the luxurious British Pullman train. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic team with a passion for excellence and storytelling in travel, a strong cultural awareness and an unswerving approach to maintaining standards. The ideal candidate will provide administrative and operational support to the operational and service teams, as well as provide assistance to Management with the daily operation and coordination of the kitchen, goods receiving and stock holding areas at the depot and onboard the train. An exceptionally high standard should be applied to providing efficient administration for the kitchen function as well as the fundamental coordination between external suppliers and internal departments to ensure smooth operations. Reporting to the Head Chef, you will strive towards Belmond’s brand strategy of being the number one luxury travel experience in the world.
About the Train
Whisking guests away on decadent escapes around the UK, the British Pullman combines sumptuous interiors with fine dining and fabulous fun. Sister train of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Art Deco icon revives the glamorous Golden Age while satisfying today’s desire for slow travel. From London Victoria station, scenic day excursions take in vibrant cities, historic houses and world-class sporting events, while elegant evening experiences include celebrity chef dinners. In the onboard kitchen, culinary masterpieces are produced by our talented team and complemented by sommelier-selected wines.
About Belmond
Belmond is part of the world’s leading luxury group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Belmond has been a pioneer of exceptional luxury travel since 1976. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with 46 remarkable properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, and gateways to natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas beside Brazil’s Iguassu Falls. From trains to river barges, safari lodges to hotels, each unique property has a distinctive story, personality and identity, with a personalised team to match.
The essence of the Belmond brand is built upon its heritage, craftsmanship and genuine, authentic service. We treasure history while looking to the future. We embrace community spirit and believe in responsible, sustainable tourism. As part of our Think Global, Act Local approach, we prioritise purchasing food from sustainable sources, run and support educational programmes and follow sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Kitchen office and its administration.
- Assist with menu costing, engineering, tastings, spec sheets, allergens & menu formatting.
- Assisting the kitchen team with stock control and ordering.
- Assist & maintain an efficient administration system within the department which includes ordering, organising, filing, data entry, administration of attendance records for the depot kitchen and on-board teams.
- Answer phones and provide guest information and customer service as required.
- Ensure food, beverage and other materials are scheduled, ordered, received, checked, and stored appropriately and as per departmental standards.
- Liaise with train staff to ensure effective loading and delivery of all food and non-food items at the correct times.
- Maintain a good working relationship between departments to support the team to ensure that the operation runs smoothly.
- Inform other departments and follow up with regards to special instructions/requests.
- To work between the train, station and depot as required (which includes early mornings, weekends, and evenings).
- Support as required with beverage and boutique ordering, delivery and storage.
- To be the first point of contact for visitors, staff, and guests at the depot and to handle all interactions in a polite, effective, and efficient manner.
- Maintain the highest standards of professionalism when working through guest issues/complaints.
- Update all booking information and communicate as necessary to teams.
- Manage the ordering system, ensuring purchase orders are raised and reconciled according to the policy.
- Responsible for cleanliness of all areas in the depot and on-board.
- Assist Kitchen management with statutory duties, monitoring of kitchen health & safety and compiling and storage of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual data.
- Coordinate, collate and file all health and safety related documentation, hygiene audits, results, and correspondence.
- To ensure all agency and temporary Employees are inducted before commencing their duties.
- Assist other departments with administrative duties as and when required.
- Assist with functions, special operational events and adhoc operational duties when required.
- Applicants must have eligibility to work in the U.K.
- 2 – 4 years relevant experience within a similar role.
- Previous experience in a similar role, preferably in a luxury environment.
- Hospitality experience & hospitality qualification are advantageous.
- A diploma or relevant certificate from a recognised tertiary educational institution.
- Food and beverage knowledge.
- Working knowledge of MS Office & computer literacy skills.
- Good oral and written communication skills. Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is essential.
- Attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
- Ability to follow instructions & work independently when required.
- Time management skills and an ability to work under pressure.
- Strong organisational and administrative skills.
- Customer service skills, guest-oriented and service-minded.
- Demonstrable aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving.
- Strong and effective communication and problem-solving abilities essential.
- Ability to use initiative and be proactive.
- Attend training, preparation, depot, cleaning and medical days as required.
- Ability to work flexible working hours.
- Be able to work early morning, evenings, weekends & public holidays.
- Competitive salary plus company benefits.
- Great work / life balance including guaranteed days off and vacation.
- Group Income Protection - Group Life Insurance - Employer contribution pension
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
- Belmond Discovery Program (Belmond Hotel and Trains).
