Food and Beverage Staff

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This Application Pack contains 2 sections.

SECTION 1Job description, terms and conditions, person specification and application guidelines (To be retained)

SECTION 2Application form and equal opportunities form (To be submitted)

Closing date for applications is Friday 26th February 2016 at 17.00.

SECTION 1

Background

The Lyric Theatre is Northern Ireland’s only full-time producing theatre.

Established in 1951, the Theatre was born when Mary and Pearse O’Malley transformed the back rooms of their house in Derryvolgie Avenue into a drama space. In the 1960s the scale of work expanded considerably and the Lyric Players became a non-profit making organisation with the aim of building a new theatre. In 1968, a new Lyric Theatre opened on Ridgeway Street on the banks of the River Lagan.

Over the next 50 years the Lyric established itself as Northern Ireland’s leading producing theatre, premiering the works of playwrights such as Stewart Parker, Martin Lynch, Marie Jones and Christina Reid. Their works were often performed by some of Northern Ireland’s finest performers, including Adrian Dunbar, Dan Gordon, Conleth Hill, Ciaran Hinds, Stella McCusker, Frances Tomelty and the Theatre’s patron, Liam Neeson.

In 1998 the Board of the Theatre took the decision to redevelop the then dilapidated building which struggled to provide adequate facilities for the more modern productions. After many years of lobbying, substantial grants were approved by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council and a major fundraising campaign was launched.

The new £18.1m state-of-the-art theatre opened its door on 1st May 2011 to critical acclaim, both for the architecture of the theatre itself and for the quality of the productions on the stage. The new theatre includes the 390 seat Northern Bank Stage, the 124 seat flexible Naughton Studio and a modern rehearsal room; all enhanced with attractive hospitality spaces. Behind the scenes there are state-of-the-art dressing rooms, stage technical facilities and spacious office accommodation.

Most recently the theatre has worked with names such as Kenneth Branagh, Rob Brydon and Nick Lloyd Webber and has won the 2011 Theatre UK Award for Cultural Diversity, the Aishling Award 2011 for Best Belfast Brand and the 2012 NITB award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism as well as numerous construction and architectural awards for the building itself. The theatre recently became the first arts venue in Northern Ireland to be awarded 5 star visitor attraction status by the NITB. The theatre is recognised for the high standard of customer service and the warmth of is welcome.

In February 2016 we launched a new weekend evening dining service.

For more information on the Lyric Theatre visit

Purpose of the post

Food and Beverage Staff are essential for the delivery of excellent customer service at the theatre. Successful applicants will be expected to demonstrate the highest possible standards of service to audiences and customers throughout the day and are expected to uphold and strengthen the reputation of the theatre.

A theatre bar is extremely busy both immediately before each performance and during the interval. We are looking for applicants who have experience of and can demonstrate an aptitude for working in a very busy bar or café whilst maintaining a high standard of service. No formal qualifications are necessary but applicants will be expected to have good aptitude for working with money. Preference will be given to those candidates who have worked in a theatre environment before or who have a genuine interest in theatre and the arts. Full training will be given on starting the post.

This is an exciting role that offers a unique opportunity for enthusiastic, hard-working and customer focussed individuals to gain valuable experience with Northern Ireland’s award-winning producing theatre.

The post holder will be responsible for working with the Food and Beverage Supervisor.

1. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.1JOB TITLE

This title of this post is Food and Beverage Staff.

1.2LOCATION

The post is based at the Lyric Theatre, Ridgeway Street, Belfast.

1.3PAY SCALE

This role attracts an hourly rate of £6.70 per hour (increasing to £7.20 from 1st April 2016) paid weekly in arrears

1.4CONTRACT

We are seeking to employ people on part-time contracts ranging from 8 to 24 hours per week and to top up our pool of casual staff.

The hours of work offered for casual staff will be subject to the performance schedule and the availability of the persons appointed.

1.5PROBATIONARY PERIOD

The appointment will commence with a probation period of three months during which time the performance of employees will be monitored closely. During this time the Lyric Theatre reserves the right to dismiss the employee without notice for unsatisfactory performance without recourse to the disciplinary procedure.

1.6ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual leave is 5.6 weeks. Casual employees accrue holidays at a rate of 0.12068 hours for every hour worked.

1.7WORKING HOURS

The working hours will vary with the needs of the business and the shows in performance and may involve split shifts on days when matinees and evening shows are scheduled. Preference will be shown to candidates who can work daytime hours to cover school matinees during Christmas. The theatre is open 7 days a week.

1.8CLOSING DATE

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5pm on Friday 26th February 2016.

The completed Application Form and Recruitment Monitoring form should be returned in an envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL and must be addressed to:

The Monitoring Officer

Lyric Theatre

55 Ridgeway Street

BELFAST

BT9 5FB

Failure to complete and return the Application Form in accordance with the Guidance Notes contained on the reverse of the first page of the Application Form will result in your application being disqualified. Canvassing will disqualify. Late applications will not be considered.

Copies of this job application pack are available to download from

and also on request from the Administration Assistant, Lyric Theatre, 55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast BT9 5FB and by email from

1.9SHORTLISTING

All applicants who can best demonstrate their ability to meet the experience requirement shall be invited for assessment.

1.10ASSESSMENTS

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and may be subject to performance during a working shift at the theatre during which applicants will be expected to demonstrate their competency for the job.

2. GUIDANCE NOTES

Please read carefully

Completing the Form

  1. You must complete all sections of the Application Form. Only pages 3 onwards of the Application Form will be made available to the selection panel.
  2. Please complete the form clearly and legibly, preferably in CAPITAL LETTERS or typescript.
  3. The personnel requirements for this post are set out in this Form. You must address all the requirements listed and demonstrate clearly how you meet each one.
  4. Do not exceed the space provided. We will not consider any attachments, CVs or other supplementary material.

Returning the Form

  1. The Application Form must be signed and dated
  2. The Application Form must be returned addressed to ‘The Monitoring Officer’
  3. Your completed Application Form must arrive by the stated closing date. Late applications will not be accepted.
  4. Information in support of your application will not be accepted after the closing date for receipt of applications.
  5. If you wish to submit your application via email, please return to

General

  1. Canvassing will disqualify.
  2. A candidate found to have given false information or wilfully to have suppressed any material fact will be liable to either disqualification or, if appointed, dismissal.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring

  1. To demonstrate the Lyric Theatre’s commitment to equality of opportunity in employment we must monitor the community background of our employees and job applicants as required by the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989. Please complete and return the Monitoring Form attached. The Form will be detached on receipt and will not be seen by the short-listing panel.

3. JOB DESCRIPTION

3.1REPORTING TO

Food and Beverage Supervisor / Duty Managers

3.2.1 MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, hot beverages and/or food to customers of the Lyric Theatre;
  • Pro-actively promoting and selling food and beverages to customers as appropriate;
  • Being an enthusiastic and courteous member of the team, demonstrating respect for your work colleagues and customers
  • Maintaining excellent communication with staff & customers and developing strong relationships with them.
  • Being vigilant in order to prevent accidents or incidents that might cause injury or harm to customers, visitors or staff;
  • Complying with the theatre’s methodologies for upselling, promoting interval drinks and other products.

  • implementing the emergency and evacuation procedures, including participating in training and drills;

  • maintaining the cleanliness of the café bar, kitchen and foyers;

  • reporting any repairs and maintenance issues to your supervisor;

  • on occasion, helping the front of house team to deal with customers and maintain clean, attractive and hygienic front of house areas;

  • welcoming customers and visitors to the theatre in accordance with the Lyric’s Customers Service Policy;

  • being knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the theatre, its facilities, policies, procedures and programme; providing accurate information as required;

  • being honest and accurate in the handling of cash and stock; reporting cash and stock discrepancies to the Supervisor on duty;

  • keeping accurate and timely records as appropriate;

  • helping to keep the storerooms in an orderly, clean and well-organised state and participating in stocktakes;

  • being flexible, reliable and a good timekeeper;

  • resolving customer complaints where possible, referring complaints that are unresolved to the Duty Manager;

  • meeting the needs of customers with disabilities and those with limited mobility, in accordance with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act;

  • having a commitment to carry out duties in the best interests of the Lyric Theatre, its customers, sponsors, artistes, and others, adopting and ensuring the highest standards of customer service at all times.

  • setting up, preparing and clearing of function rooms;

  • attending, participating and applying the skills learnt at training courses; and

  • any other relevant duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be reasonably required by Food and Beverage Supervisors or Duty Managers.

The duties and responsibilities above are not exhaustive and are only an indication of the duties of the role.

3. PERSON SPECIFICATION

3.1ESSENTIAL

  • Minimum of one year’s experience in food and beverage service;
  • the ability to deliver customer service of the highest standards including proactively engaging with members of the public for the purpose of imparting information and selling;
  • a demonstrably warm, outgoing, friendly and courteous manner when dealing with the public i.e. an engaging personality;

  • literacy and numeracy to an appropriate level, including dealing with cash or till balancing;

  • Barrista trained
  • the ability to work as part of a team, demonstrating respect for and supporting your colleagues ;

  • fitness and strength appropriate to the needs of the job;

  • a flexible approach to work and the duties required of the role including the ability to work flexible hours, including Sundays, bank holidays and split shifts.

3.2DESIRABLE

  • experience of EPOS/till system

  • experience of working in a theatre café or bar environment
  • experience of working at corporate events/high quality hospitality environments

IN CONFIDENCE – Food & Beverage Staff For Office Use Only

SECTION 2

Personal Details

Surname Forename(s)

Title

Home Address:

Post Code

Home Tel No Mobile No.

Bus. Tel. No. Email

(If it may be used)

Please give your current or most recent salary: (Checked at reference stage)

Amount of Notice Required:

Reason for leaving your current employment:

Assistance

Please provide us with information about any assistance or additional provision you require us to make to facilitate your attendance at interview.

Declaration

I hereby certify that all the information given by me in connection with this application is correct to the best of my knowledge, that all the questions relating to me have been accurately and fully answered and that I possess all the qualifications which I claim to hold.

Signed

Date

Details of secondary/grammar schools or technical college attended

Name of School/College / Address of School/College / Dates Attended
to
to
to

References

Please give the names and addresses of two people who are able to provide references relating to your work experience and suitability for this post. One referee should be a previous employer and, if possible, your present or most recent employer.

No member or officer of the Lyric Theatre or person nominated to sit on or attend the selection panel for this post can be accepted as a referee from external applicants. In order to provide an employment reference for internal applicants however one such reference can be accepted provided that the person has not been nominated to serve on or attend the selection panel.

It is the Lyric Theatre’s policy to take up references prior to interview.

Reference 1

Name

Address

Post Code

Tel. No. E-mail

Position

Reference 2

Name

Address

Post Code

Tel. No. E-mail

Position

Educational Qualifications

Documentary evidence of Essential Qualifications asked for will be required if you are called for interview.

Third Level Qualification including any Post Graduate Qualification. Please state class or level.

Name and Address of University/College or Awarding Body / Dates Attended / Qualification Gained

Professional Qualifications or Membership

Name of Professional or Technical Association / Date / Status

Employment History

Detail all your employment/self-employment (and periods of unemployment) starting with the most recent. You must be able to demonstrate how you meet the 12 months’ experience criteria on this page.

If you cannot give actual dates, please at least indicate relevant month. If necessary, continue on a separate page.

From/To / Employer’s Name and Address / Job Title and Main Duties

The requirements for the post are listed at the top of this and the following pages. You should demonstrate clearly how and to what extent you meet each requirement. Please do not write over the page or include any supplementary material.

Essential

  • Minimum of one year’s experience in food and beverage service;

  • the ability to deliver customer service of the highest standards including proactively engaging with members of the public for the purpose of imparting information and selling;

  • a demonstrably warm, outgoing, friendly and courteous manner when dealing with the public i.e. an engaging personality;

Essential

  • literacy and numeracy to an appropriate level, including dealing with cash or till balancing;

  • Barrista trained

Essential

  • the ability to work as part of a team, demonstrating respect for and supporting your colleagues ;

  • fitness and strength appropriate to the needs of the job;

  • a flexible approach to work and the duties required of the role including the ability to work flexible hours, including Sundays, bank holidays and split shifts.

Desirable

  • experience of EPOS/till system

  • experience of working in a theatre café or bar environment

  • experience of working at corporate events/high quality hospitality environments

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM FULLY

The Lyric Theatre strives to ensure equality of employment opportunity. We aim to ensure the fair and equitable treatment of all job applicants and to meet the requirements of equal opportunities legislation and we do not discriminate on grounds of religious belief, political opinion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, ethnic origin or disability. We practise equality of opportunity in employment and select the best person for the job. The information on this form is used for monitoring purposes only and it will not be used in the selection process.

Please tick the appropriate box

SEX

MaleFemale

MARITAL STATUS

SingleMarriedOther

DATE OF BIRTH

NATIONALITY

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION/

COMMUNITY BACKGROUND

The Lyric Theatre is required by the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 (as amended) to monitor the perceived religious affiliation or community background of both its employees and applicants for employment. Whether or not you are from Northern Ireland, you should answer the question below by indicating which community or religious background you might be perceived to come from. Even if you no longer practise any religion, the Fair Employment Act 1989 still obliges the Lyric to classify your perceived religious affiliation/community background, in order to monitor the effectiveness of our policy of equality of opportunity, not simply in recruitment terms, but as part of an ongoing exercise for all employees. Therefore, although your response below may not reflect any current personal religious belief which you hold, please bear the above points in mind when you complete the form.

Please indicate your perceived religious affiliation/community background by ticking one of the boxes below:

PROTESTANT

ROMAN CATHOLIC

OTHER (inc none)

6.If you are currently residing in Northern Ireland, please state your full postcode:

7. The Lyric wishes to encourage suitably qualified people with disabilities to apply for jobs – all information will be treated in confidence.

The Disability Discrimination Act defines a disabled person as someone with a disability or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

Do you consider yourself to have a disability?

YesNo

If Yes, please give details and let us know if there is anything we need to know about your disability in order to offer you a fair selection interview if you are shortlisted for the post or to facilitate you in the performance of the duties of the post if you are appointed.