Opening Director of Beverage & Food

Summary:

HDG Legacy is a culture-driven hospitality company committed to creating meaningful guest experiences, investing in people, and building long-term value for our partners and communities.

Our mission is to deliver exceptional hospitality through integrity, operational excellence, and intentional leadership.

At the core of our service culture is “Brilliance in the Basics” — the disciplined belief that extraordinary hospitality is achieved through consistent execution of the fundamentals, attention to detail, and genuine care for people.

We are seeking a Director of Beverage & Food who embodies this philosophy while elevating the culinary and social experience of a landmark property.

The Opportunity

The AC Hotel by Marriott Downtown Ocala will be a transformative addition to the city’s skyline and hospitality scene. This 178-room, design-forward lifestyle hotel will feature:

• A rooftop restaurant and ballroom
• AC Kitchen & Lounge
• An exclusive speakeasy concept
• In room dining
• Banquet and event operations

Food & Beverage will be a defining element of the property’s identity — serving both hotel guests and the local community as a destination dining and social hub.

This is an opening leadership role responsible for concept activation, team development, operational excellence, and long-term profitability across all F&B outlets.

Position Overview

The Opening Director of Beverage & Food is responsible for the strategic leadership, financial performance, and operational execution of all food and beverage operations.

This role reports directly to the Corporate Vice President of Operations and partners closely with the General Manager to ensure a cohesive guest experience.

The Director will oversee all restaurants, bars, banquet operations, culinary leadership, and service teams.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Culture

• Build and develop a high-performing culinary and service leadership team
• Establish a culture of accountability, creativity, and collaboration
• Model “Brilliance in the Basics” through service precision and operational discipline
• Drive associate engagement and retention within F&B

Concept & Guest Experience

• Execute and refine rooftop, speakeasy, and AC brand-aligned concepts
• Ensure each outlet delivers a distinct, elevated, and memorable experience
• Champion service training and guest interaction standards
• Build programming and activations that drive local engagement

Financial & Strategic Performance

• Deliver strong outlet profitability and banquet performance
• Develop and manage F&B budgets, forecasting, and cost controls
• Optimize labor, inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships
• Identify revenue growth opportunities across outlets and events

Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations across all F&B venues
• Ensure health, safety, and compliance standards
• Maintain brand standards with AC Hotels aesthetic and service expectations
• Lead pre-opening timelines including hiring, menu development, sourcing, and systems implementation

Community & Market Positioning

• Establish the rooftop and speakeasy as premier destinations in Downtown Ocala
• Develop local partnerships and event programming
• Support group and banquet sales initiatives

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

Education     

• Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive food & beverage leadership experience
• Prior Director of F&B, Multi-Outlet Manager, or High-volume Restaurant GM experience required
• Strong background in lifestyle or upscale dining environments (progressive cocktail, wine, and food service)
• Proven P&L ownership and financial acumen
• Advanced certificates in Wine or Spirits education a plus
• Experience leading large teams across multiple venues
• Pre-opening experience strongly preferred

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is:

• Entrepreneurial and concept-driven
• Financially disciplined and data-informed
• Passionate about food, beverage, and service culture
• Detail-oriented with elevated standards
• Calm and decisive in high-volume environments
• Committed to developing people and building long-term teams

This role represents the opportunity to define the culinary identity of a market-defining property and establish a food & beverage legacy within a growing hospitality organization.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.