Front of House Manager

Vendador
Chicago, Illinois
Full Time

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Required Years of Experience

3 years

Job Details

FOH Manager - Vendador Private Dining

Who We Are:

Vendador is a luxury private dining company located in Chicago, Illinois. We offer an exclusive culinary experience that transcends the traditional restaurant setting, with tailor-made tasting menus that redefine special events catering. We're a moveable feast, an intimate gourmet journey that can materialize anywhere. Founded in 2021 by Chef Francis Pascal, our mission is to curate joyous core memories by importing an entire fine dining ecosystem to clients.

Dinner parties range vastly in size, but average guest count is 8-25 with 6-10 courses. We curate events up to 200 guests with 2 to 7 events per week, in homes, venues, and gardens around Chicagoland. Our team consists of highly experienced and passionate hospitality professionals who have worked in premier Chicago establishments including Alinea, Roister, Boka, Smyth, Oriole, Valhalla, The Loyalist, Momotaro, and more.

The Role :

We are seeking a full-time FOH Manager to join our service leadership team. This is a salaried position requiring attendance at all events, operational and remote administrative support on non event days, with a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. Sundays and Mondays off.

Schedule Flexibility during non-event days.

As the FOH Manager, you will be responsible for elevating the service experience while bringing a passion for people and service knowledge enhance our culinary offerings.

Responsibilities:

Service

- Lead as service captain/manager at all private dinners (average 2-3 per week, or up to 5)

- Lead and train service team, elevating their performance

- Create genuine connections with guests, making them feel comfortable, valued, and excited

- Coordinate seamless minute to minute service timing with kitchen team to maintain proper flow of multi-course tasting menus and events

- Deliver a culture of passionate hospitality to guests and team members. Live our values of going above and beyond, devotion to the craft and team, and adaptability

Beverage Support

- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of wine/cocktail offerings and communicate them with guests

- Manage small in-house beverage inventory and ordering
- Preferred: wine certifications and bartending skills
- Ability to memorize tech sheets, learn about wines, and share wine knowledge with guests

Operations Support

- Oversee liquor, wine, and beverage inventory and ordering

- Create and implement effective packlists for weekly events

- Attend weekly event planning meetings with management team

- Oversee Homebase system for staff time sheets

- Staff all events with appropriate service team members

- Send detailed event information emails to team members weekly

Who You Are:

The ideal candidate will have:

- 3+ years experience in fine dining environments

- Wine knowledge and passion for food and wine pairings

- Strong leadership skills and positivity to motivate service team

- Impeccable attention to detail and commitment to service excellence

- Charismatic personality with confidence speaking to guests in intimate environments

- Strong organizational and inventory management skills

- Reliable personal transportation with valid driver's license (required for transporting items as needed)

- Ability to lift and carry heavy objects during event setup and breakdown

- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and some holidays.

Schedule : due to the nature of private events, your schedule will vary on a weekly basis. When we only have 2 events, you will work more administratively (WFH and inventory on site), and collaborate with our management team for operational support. On weeks with more events, you will work less admin. Guaranteed two days off per week, Sunday and Monday.

Must-Have Requirements:

- Personal vehicle for transportation to events and occasional inventory pickups

- Availability for all scheduled events, Tuesday-Saturday, mostly evenings

- FOH leadership experience

What We Offer:

- An unparalleled opportunity to use your skills in an intimate dining environment. Instead of 500-800 covers a night in a restaurant, our passionate and small team curate small dinner parties with heart and expertise. We hustle hard, but its different. We see it as running a 10 top with hospitality-obsessed artists in luxurious private homes and venues, with clients who become life long friends. Sometimes its a 2 person anniversary dinner, sometimes a 16 person elopement party, a 30 person YPO meeting or a 60 person garden party with passed apps.

- Salary: $65,000 with tiered performance-based compensation growth plan for the first year, based on experience and qualifications.

- The opportunity to help define a growing luxury dining brand

- Work alongside Michelin-trained professionals committed to culinary and service excellence, outside a restaurant

- A collaborative and dynamic team environment

- Growth potential as our company and team rapidly expands

Application Process:

If you are a dedicated hospitality professional with a passion for wine and fine dining leadership, we invite you to apply. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience.

Vendador Private Dining is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Join Vendador and be part of creating extraordinary dining experiences while advancing your career in the intersection of fine dining and private events!

Compensation Details

Compensation: Salary ($65,000.00)

Required Skills

Experience in Casual Fine Dining to Ultra Fine Dining Environments

Strong Communication Skills

Exceptional customer service skills

Flexibility

Team Collaboration

Ability to Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

Excellent Communication Skills

Team Management and Development Skills

commitment