Front Of House, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre – (Live-out position) Restaurant and Events Manager, Moray and Strathspey

THE POSITION & LOCH INSH OUTDOOR CENTRE

Loch Insh Outdoor Centre is an award-winning, family run, holiday and outdoor education destination in the Cairngorms National Park and the management team are seeking a personable and highly motivated leader for our Front of House team in this dynamic and seasonal business.

The Head of Restaurant & Events is the face, voice, and operational backbone of front-of-house dining and events at The Boathouse Restaurant. You are responsible for everything the customer sees, hears, and feels from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.

You will run the FOH operation across several service formats — from a busy summer café that transitions into evening à la carte service, this fitted around a school group canteen across seven months of the year, up to full wedding reception or large group bookings.

You will be the principal point of contact for key clients in pre-event planning and lead on the day of events, including wedding couples, school group coordinators, and corporate bookers.
JOB LEVEL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Every aspect of this role should contribute to Loch Insh's four organisational pillars:

Inspire
Create food experiences that exceed expectations — from a school child's first taste of Highland cuisine to a wedding couple's finest meal. Nurture
Develop your team's skills, support their growth, and build a kitchen culture based on standards, care, and professional pride. Master
Own your craft and your numbers. Pursue culinary excellence and operational precision in equal measure. Sustain
Manage resources responsibly. Reduce waste, source thoughtfully, and run a kitchen that is financially and environmentally sustainable.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential
• Proven experience as a Restaurant Manager, FOH Manager, or senior supervisor in a busy hospitality environment.
• Experience managing multiple service formats simultaneously (café, à la carte, and event/function).
• Demonstrable experience as a client-facing lead for weddings, private dining, or group bookings.
• Comfortable communicating at all levels: kitchen team, floor staff, senior management, and high-value clients.
• Hold a current Personal Licence (or ability and commitment to obtain one on appointment).
• Strong understanding of Licencing (Scotland) Act 2005 and Premises Licence obligations.
• Financial acumen: rota management, Pay-to-Sales monitoring, and FOH revenue management.
• Rigorous approach to allergen management on the floor and FOH compliance documentation.
• Proven ability to recruit, train, and performance-manage a FOH team.
• Confident with EPOS systems and end-of-day reporting.
• Either having own accommodation in the area or seeking to relocate to own accommodation in the area. Staff accommodation can be available for a limited transition period, but company staff accommodation cannot be a long-term solution.

Desirable
• Experience in a destination leisure, outdoor activity, or rural hospitality setting.
• WSET or equivalent bar and beverage qualification.
• Familiarity with reservation and property management systems.
• Experience working within a HOD structure, contributing to budget planning and departmental reviews.

Please send an up to date CV with references to Duncan Freshwater

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