Start-Up Specialist, EMEA

Journey on!

Are you ready to be part of our Travel Experience Revolution? This experience starts with you, the traveler.

Become part of Avolta team -previously HMSHost International (part of Autogrill and Dufry Group). We are now looking for a Start Up Specialist to join the EMEA team here in Amsterdam.

Who are we?

Avolta is more than a hospitality and retail company our mission is to create travel experiences. Our secret ingredient is giving personal attention to our guests and providing excellent service, making travelers happy. We employ people who can make the difference with a genuine smile and initiative. We have a passion for making our guests feel appreciated because we care about each other and embrace our diversity.

Although food & beverage is our specialty, our guests come first. That's why we welcome them with our secret ingredient: attention. Giving attention to the people around us generates goodwill and indulgence. It turns hasty travelers into grateful guests, it differentiates us from our competitors, and it ensures an inspiring working environment for our associates. And you could be one of them!

About the role:

The Start-Up Specialist organizes and manages the development (start-ups), refurbishments and ancillary F&B projects (e.g. innovations) within the countries in the EMEA region. They will provide operating expertise to the Development and Operations team and provide all necessary information to develop operating assumptions for proposals and execution in various projects in accordance to company standards. Act as link between the General Manager, local team and the Development Team during the development phase into Operations. Helps deliver to operations the facilities committed to in the proposal and requested operating needs according to company standards and procedures and any other required support (in the development, design and detailing of operationally viable units).

Key responsibilities:

• Coordinate the timely execution of the pre-opening checklist tasks for the assigned start-up projects to achieve a successful and timely delivery and opening of projects by working closely together with the Facility Development Team(s) and the regional/local team(s)
• Responsible for Start-Up projects within EMEA e.g. new store openings, refurbishments, and support the Start-Up Manager with high complexity projects
• Coordination with brand managers internal and external for the development/refurbishment of new stores
• Coordinate and delegate the delivery of the menu matrix to the country local team (in collaboration with F&B), functional layout (if needed for non-branded concepts) and tracking of pre-opening costs for every project
• Support Start-Up Manager with building fact-based operating assumptions utilizing concept's operating standards and applying site-specific operational expertise
• Participate in the development of the location review and concept plan if needed and in conjunction with the operating and development team
• Help revision of layout, elevation drawings and 3D from an operational point of view
• Update and consult with General Manager and Design & Construction team on Facility Development Project status
• Act as an on-site facilitator for communications between Design & Construction Team Member, IT team, local team, Digital team, Centre of Excellence, General Manager, and Client/Brand, if requested
• Provide support on unit level information to the Facility Development Team, General Manager and Client/Brand
• Support the start up manager in providing fact-based operating assumptions needed for the opening of the store, utilizing concept's operating standards and applying site-specific operational expertise
• Support the digital manager on execution and timelines of each projects (YOP, kiosks etc)
• Coordinate Branded partner support relating to any/all pre-opening activities (e.g., training, pre-opening support, distribution)
• Address questions and concerns of project team to management and operations in professional and confident manner
• Provide project progress status, delays and issues to the project and support team members in timely manner
• Work closely with operations team, food development team, purchasing, development, design & construction, concepts and other support departments to ensure successful and timely delivery and opening of projects according to budget/business case
• Actively participate during the delivery of the site after the handover from construction team to operations for a successful opening at support of country local operations and to assure that the company standards are met
• Responsible for and participate in post-delivery projects on snagging lists and feeding project learnings to support staff and operations
• Conduct regular project meetings with project team, development team, country local team and supporting departments
• Carry out reasonable management requests which the associate is capable of performing
• Coordinate and provide support to operations team with implementation of new initiatives to ensure the same standards and processes are maintained throughout all sites

What you bring to the table:

• Experience in operations, menus, roasters, F&B layouts, product development - critical (must have done it)
• Technical experience in concept operations
• Good and fast learner embraces new ideas and works well with team and external partners
• Critical thinking and problem solving attitude
• Structured way of working
• Attention to detail (and being able to see the bigger picture)
• Team player; works well together with others
• The ability to work under pressure and to manage several projects at the same time
• Full-time participation when project team is engaged
• Frequent travel to EMEA countries
• Experience preferred in restaurant business, preferable with brands
• Minimum 2-3 years' experience in the hospitality industry with focus in restaurant operations of different type of format (full service, QSR, counter service etc)

Join AVOLTA Group:

Avolta aims to make it priority to hire people of all backgrounds, genders, race, age, income, education, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, disability, sexual orientation or personality - we also make it our priority that our associates feel that they belong to our organization. Therefore, we promote an inclusive environment in which everyone feels accepted, respected and valued as an individual and in which opportunities and resources are equally accessible.

This is a great opportunity for talented Start Up Specialist who is ready for the next step. If you are looking for a dynamic role within a worldwide organization where people are put at the heart of what we do, then we look forward to hearing from you.