Boka Restaurant Group and James Beard Award winning/Michelin-starred chef, Daniel Rose, are excited to announce their newest restaurant opening, Le Select! Le Select is now open and bustling in Chicago’s famed River North! They are currently seeking a Maitre d'hotel/Front Door Manager to join their amazing opening team!
BENEFITS & PERKS: Health, Dental, and Voluntary Benefits Package (available after 90 days), employer-sponsored mental health and resource program, free membership to Chicago Athletic Clubs, 401(k) program, life insurance, wellness benefits, paid parental leave, paid vacation, career mentorship and growth potential, and dining incentives across our 20+ establishments!
ABOUT BOKA RESTAURANT GROUP: Boka Restaurant Group is a James Beard Award-winning group, anchored by partnerships with some of American’s greatest chefs. With a firm belief that genuine hospitality makes the world a more human place, we strive beyond convention to believe in and support each other, care for our communities, and work together to build the world we want to live in. View our restaurants here: https://www.bokagrp.com/
ABOUT LE SELECT: Inspired by Chicago's commerce, architecture, and sophisticated no-nonsense sensibility, Le Select is a brasserie helmed by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Rose, known for articulating classic French cuisine as an homage to locality, heritage, and season.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: As a Maître d’Hôtel and Front Door Manager for Le Select, you will report directly to the General Manager. You will be responsible for demonstrating total ownership of the front door and front door operations, helping to manage on the floor, close the restaurant, and to supervise employees. As covers drive revenue, one of the primary functions of the Maître d’Hôtel is to maximize the number of covers through reservations and walk-ins on a daily basis, while setting a tone of calm and control coupled with warmth and hospitality.
SCHEDULE:
- 5 days a week. Schedule will vary including weekends and holidays.
MAITRE D's RESPONSIBILITIES:
Front Door Duties:
- Recruit, train, schedule and manage all hosts and reservationists
- Have thorough understanding on the OpenTable reservations system and
- Develop and execute comprehensive ‘hôte d’acceuil’ training program, both initial and perpetual
- Manage host and reservations team labor on a daily and weekly basis according to budget and forecasted goals
- Oversee sending of daily reservations report
- Driving covers to Le Select through aggressive management of OpenTable book, including but not limited to: pacing, turn-times, attrition, ‘ghost’ tables, table-size capacity and the development of shoulder periods
- Regular re-assessment and report of the OpenTable book to identify areas of opportunity for maximizing covers
- Recommendations to the General Manager and Operations team on changes that would assist in increasing cover count without compromising the guest experience
- Liaise with the kitchen and floor teams to ensure streamlined communication across all departments
- Lead guest relations in-house by developing meaningful relationships with both regular and first-time guests
- Assess opportunities to enhance the guest experience through specialized offerings and guest-specific initiatives, thinking and working outside the box to deliver unique memories to guests
- Communicate PPX reservations and reservations needs/special requests to restaurant leadership and ownership as required
- Assist with daily team management, including directing team members during the shift and troubleshooting minor employee issues
- Maintain restroom cleanliness throughout service through regular bathroom checks and dispatching of hosts to replenish supplies
- Complete closing/end of shift tasks, as assigned by position and manager shift
- Timely escalation of all issues to senior management, including both guest & team member (HR) matters
Service Duties:
- Complete opening tasks, as assigned by position and manager shift schedule
- Complete a dining room walk-through to check that the restaurant is set-up for service before the first guests are seated
- Assist management team with pre-shift meeting, leading the PX guest list segment
- During service, assist with floor management as needed and follow restaurant-specific service procedures – this includes but is not limited to touching tables, running food & communicating with the kitchen, overseeing team & keeping team members on task, ensuring restaurant & restroom cleanliness, answering phones & assisting reservationist, seating guests, monitoring the door, and troubleshooting basic guest service issues
- Deliver superior guest experience and strive to have every guest leave happy
- Assist with daily team management, including directing team members during the shift and troubleshooting minor employee issues
- Complete closing/end of shift tasks, as assigned by position and manager shift
- Timely escalation of all issues to senior management, including both guest & team member (HR) matters
Management Responsibilities:
- Assist with staff education programming, including preparing training materials and communicating trainings with team members, as assigned by senior management, and assisting day-of training sessions
- Assist with hourly employee hiring process, including reviewing applications, screening candidates, and referring strong candidates to senior management for final interview & hiring decision
- Assist with personnel file management by following HR procedures for onboarding
- Participate in employee development processes, including providing feedback to senior management for performance reviews, supporting employees, responding to employee questions, and escalating all employee issues or concerns for further action as determined appropriate by senior management
- Participate in weekly management meetings
- Write staffing schedule for review and approval by senior management, according to guidance and assignment by GM
- Be a leader in developing and cultivating a professional and growth-focused positive work environment
- Support team with special projects, tasks, and duties, as required for restaurant operations and assigned by senior management
Financial Performance & Acumen:
- Assist with maintaining restaurant supplies for items/categories assigned by GM, including tracking inventory, managing budget, and placing orders
- Assist management team with monthly beverage inventory, including keeping storage and back bars organized, and counting inventory accurately
- Follow day-to-day systems set by senior management that may impact financial performance goals for Sales, COGS, Labor, and Comps
- Participate in management trainings as scheduled and assigned by senior management
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 3-5 years in a similar role; in a large, fast-paced, high-volume environment
- experience managing a team
- experience scheduling a team
- strong understanding of OpenTable
- efficient, while remaining warm and hospitable
This is an ideal position for someone who is dedicated to providing great service and is seeking to become a member of a hard-working and fun team!
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Lift and move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
- Safely and effectively use all necessary tools, equipment, & cleaning chemicals
- Stand and walk for an entire shift, including moving safely through all areas of the restaurant, which may include stairs, uneven and slick surfaces
- Ability to bear exposure to hot and cold environments
If you feel you meet the requirements, are a team player, experienced, passionate, and dedicated to your craft, we want to hear from you! Please reply with a copy of your resume AND a cover letter detailing why you'd be a great addition to our team!
