Assistant Operations Manager (Food & Beverage)

Salary/Benefits: Competitive Salary

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Assistant Operations Manager (Food & Beverage)

SPACE St Andrews | The Social

Location: St Andrews, Fife
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

About SPACE

SPACE St Andrews is redefining student accommodation, offering an exceptional living experience with outstanding facilities, a vibrant community and a genuine focus on hospitality.

At the heart of our development is The Social, our food, beverage and retail destination, bringing together a café, bar, casual dining and convenience store. Designed to be much more than somewhere to grab a coffee or a bite to eat, The Social is a place for students, residents and the wider St Andrews community to come together.

We are now looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Assistant Operations Manager (Food & Beverage) to take ownership of The Social and help us realise its full potential.

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced hospitality professional who enjoys being hands-on, leading from the front and making a genuine difference to a business.

You will take responsibility for the day-to-day operation and commercial performance of The Social, overseeing our food and beverage offering, retail operation, team performance and overall customer experience.

We are looking for someone who thinks like a business owner, understands the importance of delivering an exceptional customer experience and is equally comfortable reviewing a P&L, developing a new promotion or jumping behind the bar during a busy service.

You will have the autonomy to bring forward ideas, challenge how we do things and play a key role in shaping the future of The Social.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the daily operation of The Social, ensuring consistently high standards across the café, bar, kitchen and retail store.

• Drive revenue, increase footfall and identify new commercial opportunities across all areas of the business.

• Manage labour costs, stock control, purchasing, gross profit margins and operational expenditure to deliver agreed financial targets.

• Lead, motivate and develop the team, creating a positive, accountable and customer-focused culture.

• Ensure exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, merchandising and service throughout the operation.

• Work closely with our sales, marketing and resident experience teams to develop promotions, events and initiatives that encourage engagement and repeat visits.

• Oversee food safety, licensing, health and safety and all relevant operational compliance.

• Review sales performance, understand customer trends and proactively adapt the offering to improve profitability.

• Build relationships with residents and the wider St Andrews community, establishing The Social as a destination in its own right.

About You

We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for hospitality, strong commercial instincts and the confidence to take ownership of a diverse operation.

You will ideally have:

• Experience in a management role within hospitality, ideally across food, beverage or a multi-outlet environment.

• A strong understanding of hospitality financial performance, including P&L management, labour productivity, stock control and gross profit.

• A proven ability to lead teams, maintain standards and deliver results.

• A proactive, entrepreneurial approach, with the confidence to introduce new ideas and challenge existing ways of working.

• Excellent organisational skills and an eye for detail.

• A willingness to be hands-on and support the team wherever needed.

• A genuine enthusiasm for creating memorable customer experiences.