Restaurants Development Manager

Role Responsibility

The Restaurants Development Manager is a leadership role within Selfridges that leads innovation and concept development across our food and hospitality offer. We plan to make significant changes and additions to our current dining and hospitality offer and this General Manager will lead the strategy and delivery of these.

With a blend of Restaurants, Coffee shops & Bars across 4 stores, the Restaurant Development Manager will be creatively and commercially balanced in  their approach and will have a high level of external awareness and curiosity for the emergence of new dining trends and concepts.

You will underpin this skill with deep industry knowledge and will be charged with delivering market-leading execution.

As Restaurant Development Manager you will: 

• Create an exciting strategy for the reinvention of the restaurant and hospitality offer across the Selfridges estate. With creativity underpinned by robust business rationale, you will refresh and redevelop the dining offer in our stores, and also introduce new dining concepts to inspire and delight our customers
• Consider the place of dining and hospitality as a critical component in the overall customer journey and our ambition to encourage our customers to view Selfridges as a destination. Utilise customer insights as a core part of concept development and then focus on new and existing quantitative and qualitative metrics to determine the success of our offer.
• Work in partnership with Finance, Property, Retail Operations, People and Legal teams to develop concepts from ideation through to delivery and to actively manage the performance and service delivery of incumbent brand partners. Lead on negotiation with brand partners, ensuring a collaborative and commercially robust approach to our shared success. Manage the P&L for all current and new in-store restaurants and services.
• Analyse and interpret product, market and customer dynamics and behaviours. Share insights regarding local and international market activity and dynamics in food, beverage and hospitality
• Provide inspirational leadership for the team, setting clear direction and providing feedback and support to enable great performance. Leading and executing the Restaurant People Plan
• Promote and develop a collaborative working relationship with the Food team & Retail Operations.
• Develop individuals through effective feedback and coaching, both ad hoc and through formal processes such as P&D reviews
• Coach our teams to think differently about our ways of working and make operational excellence the hallmark of the Selfridges hospitality experience.

The Ideal Candidate

• Innovative, knowledgeable and passionate about the food and restaurants industry, you bring both significant external market insights and competitor knowledge, utilising both to drive new and unique menus and experiences for our customers
• A commercial business leader. You will have specific experience in the development of robust business plans and will confidently manage your business area to success and sustainable profitability
• Experienced in operating a business of complexity and scale, driving change and innovation and creating environments of service and hospitality excellence.
• Focused and self-motivated. You continually strive for excellence with the ability to develop and implement strategic plans while considering the bigger picture
• An exceptional communicator. You are both collaborative and influential, with an ability to deliver a message at all levels, from presenting strategy at board level, to coaching our teams within the restaurants, you adapt your approach and lead with confidence
• Highly organised and proactive, with the ability to manage pressing and competing deadlines. As well as adept at managing the challenges of multiple restaurants across numerous sites
• An example of our values, a trusted and respected colleague

About the Company

Rewards and benefits 

Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary. 

• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working

• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service 

• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations 

• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies 

• Defined pension contribution scheme  

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme  

• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days 

• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment 

• Subsidised gym memberships  

• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility criteria)

• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members 

• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail… 

Everyone is welcome 

Selfridges is a place where we want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. We embrace every self and are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive working culture. We are leading with purpose to not only increase the visibility and recognition of under-represented talent within our organisation, but the wider industry too. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome – irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all.   

To ensure every feels welcome, we offer support at every stage of the application and interview process.  Should you need it, please let your recruitment contact know and they will be more than happy to help.

Our awards cabinet  

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times. 

Selfridges