Restaurant Team Leader

Dobbies; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A garden centre retailer seeks a Restaurant Team Leader in Chester-le-Street. In this role, you'll deliver exceptional customer service, support and coach staff, and ensure food hygiene standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in customer service, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, and have a passion for food and hospitality. Benefits include flexible holiday use and generous discounts.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

50% off in Restaurants

Access to financial wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role; supervisory experience preferred.
• Relevant food safety qualifications are advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to work well in a team and build relationships.

Responsibilities

• Support and coach staff while deputising for management.
• Provide excellent customer service across the restaurant.
• Ensure compliance with operational procedures and hygiene standards.

Skills

Customer service skills

Teamwork

Food safety knowledge

Job description

Our Restaurant Team Leaders play an essential role in delivering an exceptional customer experience across our Restaurants — delivering tasty food, ensuring food hygiene, and mentoring our Restaurant Customer Advisors while supporting the management team.

Responsibilities

• Supporting and coaching other staff members and deputising for management in their absence
• Providing excellent customer service by assisting customers with various transactions across the restaurant
• Working with the team to ensure staff efficiency, covering all stations effectively, and maintaining a high level of service
• Driving sales through customer interactions and promoting the benefits of the Dobbies Club membership
• Ensuring compliance with operational procedures, monitoring standards, and following company guidelines
• Assisting with customer queries using high-quality product knowledge, including allergies and dietary requirements
• Maintaining cleanliness and upkeep of the restaurant
• Some keyholder responsibilities may be required

Who we are looking for

• A passion for food and hospitality and for delivering a great customer experience with a smile
• Experience in a customer-facing role, with supervisory experience preferred
• Relevant food safety qualifications are an advantage but not essential
• Ability to work well in a team, build relationships, and enjoy celebrating success
• Punctual, well-presented, and a hardworking attitude
• Eager to learn new skills and gain new experiences
• Thrives in a busy, fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates our values: being one team, getting better every day, bringing a smile, living and breathing gardens, and making it work for our customers

What we offer

• Generous annual leave entitlement, with flexible holiday use
• Uncapped store discounts: 50% off in our Restaurants, 25% off in the Garden Centre, and 10% off in our food halls
• Access to Wagestream for financial wellbeing support, including earnings access before payday, savings, and financial advice
• Support through Retail Trust, offering confidential support, virtual GP, free counselling, and retail rewards
• Development opportunities via Dobbies Academy and eLearning platforms
• A passionate, diverse, and committed team culture focused on customer satisfaction

About us

Founded in 1865 by James Dobbie, Dobbies is the only garden centre retailer with stores in every UK nation. We are passionate about gardens and plants, showcasing this through our own brand, branded products, concession partners, and services. We promote garden living all year round.

Many stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, providing a relaxed environment for refreshments and meals. We organize events and experiences to bring communities together and support a national charity partner, raising money for various causes.

We are committed to being a great place to work, encouraging colleagues to be their best, share successes, and work together to serve our customers.