FOH Hourly Runner/Busser

GATEWAY HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 1,515,000 - 2,066,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Hotel & Conference Center in Ames, IA is seeking a Busser/Runner to support the dining room during peak hours. You will deliver food from the kitchen, reset tables, and help keep stations clean to ensure a smooth service.

This role emphasizes speed, teamwork, and strong guest service as you assist servers, monitor table settings, and communicate guest needs to cooks and staff.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Customer service experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver dishes from kitchen to the correct tables.
• Restock breakfast buffet items to ensure quality for guests.
• Assist servers by refilling water, coffee, juices, and sodas when needed.
• Clear dirty plates, glasses, and utensils and reset tables promptly.
• Keep service stations clean and stocked with silverware, ice, and condiments.
• Communicate guest issues or feedback to cooks and servers and anticipate needs.

Skills

Customer service

Restaurant experience

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

About this position

Responsible for assisting wait staff in maintaining the dining room during peak business hours. The Busser/Runner bridges the gap between the kitchen and the dining room by delivering food quickly and keeping the tables clean and reset for new guests.

Essential Functions:

• Monitor and restock breakfast buffet items to ensure the best quality for every guest
• Deliver Food: Bring dishes from the kitchen to the correct tables.
• Check Orders: Assist Expo by monitoring food tickets to make sure every plate matches special requests or allergy notes, adding proper condiments, salads, and/or soups if necessary.
• Assist Staff: Help set tables, refill water glasses, and clear dirty dishes when meals are finished.
• Keep Stations Clean: Roll and stock silverware, clean trays and bus tubs, and take out trash.
• Clearing Tables: Remove dirty plates, glasses, silverware, and used napkins as soon as possible.
• Cleaning and Sanitizing: Wipe down table surfaces, chairs, and booths, and sweep up dropped food.
• Restocking Supplies: Keep the service stations supplied with clean silverware, ice, glasses, and condiments.
• Assisting Servers: Pour water, coffee, juices, and/or sodas, if needed.
• Communicate: Tell the cooks, chef, or servers about guests issues or concerns and also any feedback.
• Anticipate guest needs and respond politely to requests.
• Perform all tasks with a sense of urgency and complete in a timely manner
• Deliver the GATEway service standards and exemplify Gateway Values
• Preserve a healthy relationship between the Kitchen and Restaurant Staff
• Contribute to a positive teamwork environment
• Adhere to all Health and Safety Standards at all times
• Maintain inherent attention to detail
• Assist restaurant in other duties as directed by manager or supervisor

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Customer service or previous restaurant experience preferred
• Able to bend, climb stairs and lift/transport up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand and walk for long shifts, bend down, and lift heavy trays or bins (often up to 30-40 pounds).
• Ability to deliver first class customer service that exceeds expectations while staying calm under pressure.
• Speaking skills, ability to communicate with guests, staff, and management accurately and effectively
• Strong organizational and decision-making skills