Also called: FOH manager, dining room manager
What a front of house manager does
Front of house managers are responsible for everything guests see and feel in a restaurant. They schedule and coach servers, hosts, and support staff, manage reservations and floor flow, handle guest recovery, and make sure service standards are met every shift. They partner with the kitchen manager or chef to time courses and fix bottlenecks. A strong FOH manager spends most of service on the floor, knows regulars by name, and trains the team to treat every table with care. The role bridges hospitality and day-to-day operations.
Pay snapshot: the BLS reports a national median of $33.36/hr for food service managers, and $44.55/hr in the Boston metro. See the full salary breakdown.
Responsibilities
- Lead and schedule hosts, servers, bussers, and bartenders
- Set and enforce service standards and dining room appearance
- Run pre-shift meetings covering specials, 86'd items, and goals
- Manage reservations, seating strategy, and floor flow
- Handle guest complaints and service recovery on the floor
- Hire, train, and coach front-of-house team members
- Coordinate with the kitchen to control pacing and ticket times
- Manage cash handling, tip reporting, and POS procedures
- Oversee alcohol service compliance and responsible serving
- Track service metrics, reviews, and guest feedback to improve
Requirements
- Previous front-of-house or restaurant management experience required
- Strong knowledge of service sequences and floor management
- Alcohol-server training such as TIPS is often required where alcohol is served
- Comfort with reservation systems, POS, and scheduling tools
- Leadership, coaching, and conflict resolution skills
- Availability for nights, weekends, and holidays
Skills
- Service standards and training
- Floor management
- Guest recovery
- Team scheduling
- Communication with the kitchen
- Reservation and seating strategy
- Coaching and feedback
Schedule
Front of house managers usually work salaried or hourly shifts of eight to ten hours, concentrated on dinner service and weekends.
Front of House Manager job posting template
Copy this, replace the bracketed parts, and post it.
Front of House Manager at [Restaurant Name], [City] About us [Restaurant Name] is a [concept] in [City] known for [service style or signature offerings]. We are searching for a Front of House Manager who loves hospitality and developing teams. What you will do - Lead hosts, servers, bussers, and bartenders - Set the standard for service on every shift - Manage reservations, floor flow, and guest recovery - Train, schedule, and coach the front-of-house team - Partner with the kitchen to keep service smooth What we are looking for - Restaurant management or senior front-of-house experience - Strong people skills and a calm presence - Alcohol-server training (such as TIPS) if required in [State] - Comfortable with reservation systems and POS - Availability for nights, weekends, and holidays Pay and perks [$XX-$XX/yr or hourly] plus bonus potential, health benefits, paid time off, and dining discounts. Shifts [Shift], including weekends. How to apply Send your resume to [Email/Link], or contact [Manager Name] at [Phone].
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