Food and Beverage Manager

**WE ARE HIRING**

**Job Title: Food & Beverage Manager**

Location: Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo - Brazzaville

Reports To: Managing Director of Hospitality

**Job Summary**

Kamba African Rainforest Experiences is a unique tourist destination in the remote Odzala-Kokoua National Park within the Congo Basin. Kamba offers an all-inclusive rainforest safari experience, highlighted by the tracking of Western Lowland Gorillas.

The Food & Beverage Manager is responsible for complete oversight of the food and beverage experience for guests from the point of their arrival to the point of their departure, ensuring an unforgettable experience in this remote part of the world. This key role entails the active management, coordination and creative optimisation of all food and beverage related matters between the three luxury camps at Kamba. This role demands exceptional service in a high-end ecotourism context, requiring leadership to inspire and guide the chefs, kitchen, and front-of-house staff. It also requires a passionate dedication to delivering a personalised and memorable dining experience for guests.

This is a full-time position, based at Kamba.

Proficiency in both English and French is highly preferred.

**Key Responsibilities**
- Manage kitchen and front-of-house staff, including chefs:
Oversee logistics and team coordination, ensure menu cohesion between camps, implement training programs, and drive operational optimisation.
- Management of Menus:
The menus should offer high-end sophistication in alignment with local cuisine, while being suitably adapted to the constraints of the environment. Evolve offerings based on customer feedback, update seasonally, and continuously innovate to optimise the dining experience.
- Management of Ingredients and Food Sourcing:
Logistics: Oversee all aspects of sourcing perishable and non-perishable ingredients from Brazzaville, ensuring timely procurement of fresh produce and effective management of storage requirements.

Food Availability: Identify opportunities to incorporate locally grown foods, support independent producers whenever possible, and manage a fresh-produce garden at the camp.
- Management of Beverages:
Ensure a meticulous and generous approach to beverage service, tailoring the beverage experience to suit the preferences of each guest group.
- Implement and ensure compliance to Kamba’s standards, particularly with regard to food safety & hygiene.
- Continuously identify opportunities for optimising and improving processes related to food and beverage tasks.
- Conduct of regular stock takes.
- Budget management, cost control, and financial reporting.
- Ensure that both staff and guests are aware of your presence, and address guest complaints promptly and effectively. Ensure continuous feedback on guest reviews via effective communication channels.

**Qualification Requirements**
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary, Business Administration or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications can be advantageous.
- Experience: A minimum of 4 years of food and beverage management or a related role, preferably in a high-end or luxury setting in a remote African location.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Proficiency in both English and French is strongly preferred.
- Excellent computer literacy skills.

**Attributes**
- Must be professional, resourceful, honest and responsible.
- Hard-worker, on-the-ground operator, effective delegator.
- A high level of attention to detail and high regard for aesthetics.
- Willingness to problem-solve independently, coupled with outstanding communication and listening skills.
- Well-motivated and enthusiastic, with the ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment and serve as a strong motivator to staff.
- A deep respect for the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Republic of Congo. This includes a compassion for conservation that speaks to the Kamba ethos of ecotourism.
- Sober habits.
- Overall, a natural talent for being a gracious and sociable host.

We offer a competitive dollar-based salary.

Pay: From R50 000,00 per month

Application Question(s):

- This is a full-time role that requires relocation. Are you able to live at the Kamba lodge in the Republic of Congo?

**Language**:

- French (preferred)
- English (required)