Head of Waiting Staff (1)

Also known as: Head waiter/waitress, Restaurant Supervisor

As a head of waiting staff your role is to make sure there are high standards of customer care for guests at the restaurant. 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

The head of waiting staff will organise the waiters and waitresses, supervising  them while they serve the guests, and ensuring that the food and drink  service is according to company policy. You will also ensure that the waiting staff have cleared the plates and other unwanted items from the table, replenished the drinks and wine glasses, and are maintaining the cleanliness of the venue. 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.

You’ll liaise with the kitchen team to let them know the dishes they must prepare. Between each meal you’ll clear the table and take the chance to maximise sales with recommendations and suggestions. At the end of the service you will direct the customer to the till and process the payment.

In addition to supervising the staff, you will compile staff rotas to ensure there are enough team members for every shift. A head of waiting staff must have great interpersonal skills to manage a team and keep them motivated.