Food and Beverage (F&B) Manager

HIGH DemandLOW AI RiskGROWING in SL· Rs.135k+ /mo

The commercial engine behind great dining — F&B managers combine hospitality passion, business acumen, and team leadership to make every meal an experience.”

About This Role

Manages the daily operations of restaurants and bars, focusing on menu planning, quality control, and cost management.

A Day in the Life

Oversee the food and beverage division of a standalone restaurant, hotel, or resort — managing operations, teams, quality, and financial performance of all dining and beverage outlets.

Manage daily operations of restaurant, bar, and room service
Review food and beverage cost reports against monthly targets
Conduct guest satisfaction monitoring and service standard audits
Recruit, train, and schedule F&B service team
Plan seasonal menus, promotions, and F&B events with the chef team
Manage beverage purchasing, storage, and inventory controls
Handle VIP dining reservations and special dietary requirements
Review and respond to online reviews (TripAdvisor, Google) for F&B outlets

Work Environment

FIELDTeam: LARGEFORMALRemote: LOW

Slightly different from the hotel-embedded F&B Manager (1123) — this role may be at a standalone restaurant group, resort, or integrated food business. Sri Lanka's growing dining scene in Colombo, Galle, and tourist hotspots creates varied contexts for this role.

Typical hours: 55h/week · WLB score 4/10 · COMMON overtime

Long hours across meal service periods. Weekend and public holiday coverage is unavoidable in F&B management.

Skills Required

Technical Skills

Restaurant operations managementFood and beverage cost controlMenu planning and food pairingWine and spirits knowledgeLabor cost schedulingPOS systems (Micros, Lightspeed)Hygiene and safety compliance

Soft Skills

Guest-facing service excellenceTeam leadership and developmentSupplier relationship managementSales and promotional creativityFinancial reporting to ownership

Tools & Software

Oracle Micros POSOPERA (hotel context)Lightspeed or similar restaurant POSReservation platforms (OpenTable, Dineout)Excel (costing and scheduling)

Salary in Sri Lanka (LKR / month)

Entry LevelRs.75k – Rs.120k/mo

Mid-LevelRs.130k – Rs.220k/mo

SeniorRs.240k – Rs.420k/mo

Entry: Restaurant Supervisor / F&B SupervisorMid: F&B ManagerSenior: Director of F&B / F&B Director

Typical progression: 5yr to mid · 12yr to senior

Global Salary (USD / year)

Entry Level$42k – $62k/yr

Mid-Level$62k – $95k/yr

Senior$95k – $150k/yr

Top Markets

MaldivesUAEQatarSingapore

Market Outlook

GROWING

SL's restaurant industry expanding rapidly — from local cuisine restaurants to international concepts. Professional F&B management is increasingly demanded.

Hiring: MEDIUM

Hilton ColomboCinnamon HotelsJetwing HotelsAitken Spence HotelsIndependent restaurant groups in Colombo and GalleResort properties across the island

GROWING

F&B managers from SL with hotel experience find strong opportunities in Maldives and UAE.

Entry Requirements

Sri Lanka

Min. EducationDiploma or Degree in Hospitality Management

Experience4–6 years in F&B service including supervisory experience

Preferred

Degree in Hospitality ManagementWSET certificationMicros POS trainingHACCP Level 2

Global

Min. EducationDegree in Hospitality or equivalent

Experience7+ years with F&B management experience in hotel or restaurant

Preferred

International hotel chain F&B experienceWSET Level 3Sommelier trainingCHFM certification

Helpful Certifications

Degree in Hospitality ManagementWSET Level 2–3HACCP Level 2Certified Hospitality F&B Manager (CHFM)Wine and spirits certifications

Entrepreneurship & Freelancing

Freelance: LOWRemote: LOWCapital: MEDIUM

Freelance earnings: $200–$1500/mo (USD)

Platforms (SL)

F&B consulting for new restaurant concepts

Business Ideas

Restaurant or bar concept
F&B consulting practice
Food event management company

Side Income Ideas

F&B concept consultingWine tasting event hostingFood media and blogging

Colombo's dining scene offers strong entrepreneurship opportunity for experienced F&B managers with their own concept.

Risks & Challenges

AI / Automation Risk

LOW

LONG TERM

Burnout Risk

HIGH

Job Security (SL)

MEDIUM

Leadership, quality, and guest experience management require human judgment.

Burnout Causes

Shift-based schedule through weekends and peak seasonSimultaneous management of multiple service areasRevenue pressure and cost accountability

Physical Health Risks

Long hours on feet in service environmentShift work health impacts

Mental Health Risks

Managing diverse F&B team dynamicsRevenue underperformance during slow tourism periods

How to Mitigate

Pursue WSET wine certification — significantly enhances credibility for senior F&B management roles
Build food cost management expertise to demonstrate commercial value beyond service leadership
Develop strong social media and review platform management skills — increasingly critical for F&B success

Is This Career For You?

Hospitality students with food passion, strong people skills, and a commercial mindset who want to run F&B operations at a professional level.

Personality Types

ESTJESFJENTJ

Core Motivations

Creating exceptional dining experiencesRunning profitable and smooth F&B operationsTeam building in hospitality

What You'll Love

Significant creative scope in dining concepts and events
Direct impact on both revenue and guest experience
Partnership with culinary team on menus and innovation

What's Challenging

Long and irregular hours are unavoidable
Industry volatility during tourism downturns
Managing high turnover of service staff