Leading hospitality group located in Madison, WI is seeking a Front of House Manager for an established, high-volume restaurant concept. This leader will be responsible for Front of House staffing, employee development, operational readiness, service standards, and departmental culture. The role requires an engaged and organized hospitality leader who can cultivate a professional, inclusive, and accountable team. The Front of House Manager will ensure that the restaurant is appropriately staffed, employees are successfully hired and onboarded, training remains on track, and Front of House systems are organized and effective. This position will work closely with the General Manager, directly supervise the Service Manager, and provide leadership and direction to Shift Leads and hourly Front of House employees. Operationally, the Front of House Manager will regularly lead onsite service as a Shift Lead or Manager on Duty. You will be expected to maintain a visible presence on the floor, make sound decisions during high-volume periods, and model a positive and composed leadership style. You will serve as a coach, mentor, and communicator while empowering the Front of House team to execute at a higher level. Most importantly, you will help build a culture that champions hospitality, humility, collaboration, respect, knowledge, inclusivity, fun, and accountability. Front of House LeadershipTeam Culture and Development Lead the Front of House and Shift Lead teams by example. Create a positive, professional, inclusive, and accountable departmental culture. Establish clear expectations and follow through consistently. Coach Shift Leads to uphold the restaurant's standards of service, organization, communication, and accountability. Provide employees with timely, direct, and constructive feedback. Recognize strong performance and create opportunities for employee growth. Address performance or conduct concerns promptly, fairly, and professionally. Involve the General Manager when formal discipline or escalation is necessary. Support employee reviews and recommendations regarding development, promotion, or compensation. Serve as the primary operational communicator for the Front of House department. Encourage collaboration among the Front of House, Kitchen, Bar, Events, and management teams. Ensure all employees are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. Service Leadership and Guest Experience Regularly work Shift Lead or Manager on Duty shifts, generally totaling approximately 20-25 onsite service hours per week. Actively lead service with a calm, organized, and visible floor presence. Coach and support employees in real time. Maintain excellent standards of hospitality, professionalism, cleanliness, organization, and guest-facing presentation. Respond to and resolve guest concerns with empathy, sound judgment, and appropriate urgency. Enforce restaurant policies and service standards consistently. Support private events, holidays, community events, and other high-volume services. Maintain a safe, clean, organized, and welcoming environment. Identify operational issues and work collaboratively with other department leaders to implement solutions. Staffing and Employee Administration/Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Serve as the primary owner of Front of House recruiting, hiring, and onboarding. Maintain a clear understanding of current and anticipated staffing needs. Communicate hiring needs to the General Manager. Post open positions, review applicants, coordinate interviews, and lead candidate selection. Conduct interviews with support from the Service Manager and other managers when appropriate. Ensure candidates understand the company's culture, expectations, compensation structure, benefits, and workplace policies. Coordinate onboarding requirements, employee orientation, and initial training schedules. Ensure onboarding and orientation materials remain accurate, organized, and current. Create a welcoming and effective introduction to the restaurant for every new employee. Scheduling and Staffing Create, distribute, and maintain the Front of House schedule approximately two weeks in advance. Ensure staffing levels support excellent service while remaining aligned with labor expectations. Anticipate staffing adjustments for holidays, private events, community programming, seasonal changes, and other high-volume periods. Coordinate with the Service Manager regarding event staffing requirements. Manage employee availability, time-off requests, shift coverage, and schedule adjustments. Review and approve Front of House time punches by established payroll deadlines. Communicate significant staffing or labor concerns to the General Manager or Assistant General Manager. Training and Employee Development Oversee the training progress of all newly hired Front of House employees. Coordinate orientation and training schedules. Ensure trainers understand each employee's goals and areas requiring additional attention. Track the completion of training requirements and determine employee readiness for independent shifts. Communicate regularly with trainers, Shift Leads, and the Service Manager regarding employee progress. Partner with the Service Manager on event-server training and event-specific service standards. Work with restaurant leadership to develop ongoing training for existing employees. Ensure Front of House employees maintain appropriate menu, beverage, policy, and service knowledge. Develop confident Shift Leads who can make sound decisions and support the team effectively. Front of House Systems/Administrative Operations Maintain working knowledge of company operating procedures, HR processes, workers' compensation procedures, incident reporting, and other administrative requirements. Maintain Front of House scheduling, labor, training, and communication systems. Oversee Front of House disposable and dry-goods inventory and ordering. Ensure seating, reservation, and service systems remain accurate and operationally appropriate. Oversee Front of House checklists and ensure assigned responsibilities are completed. Attend required management meetings and communicate relevant information to the Front of House team. Escalate significant staffing, employee-relations, operational, safety, or guest issues to the appropriate manager. Complete administrative responsibilities accurately and within established deadlines. Qualifications/Required Experience At least two years of restaurant or hospitality management experience. At least one year of Front of House experience in a leadership role. Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing employees. Experience with restaurant scheduling, staffing, hiring, onboarding, or employee training. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to provide clear feedback, manage difficult conversations, and hold employees accountable respectfully. Ability to remain composed and make sound decisions during busy services. Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and other peak service periods. Preferred Experience Experience working in a high-volume, full-service restaurant. Experience leading multiple Front of House positions or service areas. Familiarity with restaurant scheduling, payroll, point-of-sale, reservation, and labor-management systems. Experience supporting private dining, special events, or large-format service. A demonstrated ability to improve employee engagement, retention, training, or departmental culture. Time Management, Personal Health, and Balance This position requires commitment, consistency, and a strong onsite leadership presence. Long-term success will depend on your ability to train and develop a capable Front of House team that can execute the restaurant's standards consistently. The Front of House Manager is expected to organize administrative work effectively while maintaining appropriate personal health and balance. Communications should be answered promptly according to their urgency and the manager's availability. Scheduling, interviewing, onboarding, employee communication, meetings, training coordination, ordering, and other administrative responsibilities must be completed during recorded and approved working time. The role requires the ability to stand and remain mobile for the majority of a shift. The role requires the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and transport items up and down stairs, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reporting Relationships The Front of House Manager will report to the General Manager The Front of House Manager will directly supervise the Service Manager. This position will provide leadership and direction to Shift Leads and hourly Front of House employees. As Front of House Manager, you will be a senior member of the restaurant's management team and collaborate closely with Kitchen, Bar, Events, and company leadership. Payment Structure This role will receive a weekly stipend to cover time worked on administrative duties. The weekly stipend pay is evaluated depending on capability and experience. Additionally, the Front of House Manage will be expected to work 20+ hours per week managing service on the floor in which they will be paid a high hourly wage ranging from $25-$40/hr. Who Will Thrive in This Role The right candidate is an organized operator, an active coach, and a genuine hospitality professional. You take pride in creating structure without losing warmth. You understand that a healthy culture requires both empathy and accountability. You communicate early, follow through on commitments, and remain present when the restaurant is at its busiest. You are receptive to feedback, comfortable making difficult decisions, and committed to helping the people around you succeed. This position is based in Madison, Wisconsin. Local candidates and hospitality professionals interested in relocating to Madison are welcome to apply. Rule No. One Hospitality Group is committed to creating a culturally diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.

Pay:

$55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Paid training Relocation assistance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person