Head of Waiting Staff

Also known as: Head Waiter, Head Waitress,

As a head of waiting staff your role is to organise the waiters/waitresses and  to ensure there is a high standard of waiting service at an event. You will regularly brief the waiting staff to ensure they are familiar with the menu.

Your day-to-day duties may involve:
• meeting and greeting guests
• taking guests orders
• collecting payment at the end of the meal
• creating shift rotas
•maintaining health and safety procedures

You will organise the waiters and waitresses and supervise them while they serve the guests, ensuring that the food and drink service is according to company policy. 

During an event the venue might be a marquee, a banqueting hall or outdoors in the grounds of a stately home. You will supervise your team while they prepare the restaurant for service and clear away when the guests have left. A head of waiting staff will be needed at banquets, cocktail parties, special dinners, weddings and other functions using silver service. On these occasions, there may be a buffet from which customers help themselves or are served a selection of salads, sweets, cheeses or other cold or hot dishes.

A head of waiting staff will assist the team as they advise guests about the menu, and serve meals. You may also clear their plates, replenish the drinks and wine glasses, and maintain the cleanliness of the venue. In most businesses you will also be responsible for greeting guests, showing them to their table, taking orders and collecting their payment at the end of the meal.

In addition to the front of house duties you will create staff rotas to ensure there are enough team members for every event. A head of waiting staff must have great interpersonal skills to manage a team and keep them motivated.