Front of House Coordinator

Rice University; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Rice University on-site Front of House Coordinator role overseeing front-of-house operations in a fast-paced dining environment. You will supervise dining assistants, greet guests, verify meal plans, and manage shift schedules under the Dining Manager.

This on-site position requires strong leadership, teamwork, and impeccable food safety standards, with an emphasis on guest service and operational reliability in a university dining setting on the Houston campus.

Qualifications

• Able to read and write in English and understand standard recipes and production sheets.
• HACCP log sheets are maintained for all meals.
• Minimum 1–2 years in a professional kitchen setting.
• Experience supervising staff in a fast-paced dining environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise cooks, cashiers, dishwashers, and temporary staff to meet service standards.
• Set and distribute schedules for dining assistants.
• Submit shift notes, incident reports, and metrics to the Dining Manager.
• Greet guests, scan IDs, and verify meal plans.
• Oversee front-of-house operations, restocking, and station management.
• Prepare foods per menu and recipes while maintaining quality and presentation.
• Ensure sanitation and safety standards are met across stations.
• Coordinate staff breaks and inventory of FOH supplies.
• Support safety compliance and emergency response as needed.

Skills

English proficiency

Recipes & production sheets

HACCP log sheets

Kitchen experience

Cooking techniques

Knife skills

Teamwork under pressure

Food presentation

Education

High school diploma

Tools

ServSafe certification

Job description

Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a résumé in the SupportingDocuments section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system that supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Position Summary

The Front of House Coordinator (FOH Coordinator) ensures the efficient and effective operation of the assigned servery. Under the direction of the Dining Manager, this role serves as the primary supervisor for front-of-house dining assistants and operations. Key responsibilities include greeting guests, scanning student ID cards, and verifying meal plans. This role serves as an administrative and operational lead, setting and distributing schedules for dining assistants and ensuring all end-of-shift documentation is completed.

Ideal Candidate Statement

The ideal candidate has experience working in a team-oriented, fast-paced dining environment and demonstrates strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills. They should be comfortable supervising staff, managing schedules, and addressing operational challenges while maintaining high service standards.

Workplace Requirements

On-campus position: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at their assigned location at Rice University. Per Ricepolicy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Physical Demands

LIGHT WORK: Exert up to 25 lbs. of force occasionally. Requires walking or standing for up to 8 hours per day. Other physical requirements include manual dexterity and the ability to see, hear, reach, climb, and balance.

Other Requirements

Must be able to detect scents and discern flavors.

Environment

The work environment is a commercial kitchen and includes exposure to extreme temperatures. Work hazards include exposure to chemicals, wet floors, dangerous equipment (fryers, stoves, ovens, knives, slicers, etc.), and hot oil, steam, and water.

Essential On Campus

This role is classified as an Essential On-Campus Position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. During emergencies or crises, the employee is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions.

Hiring Range

Hiring Range: $20.64 – $27.00 hourly. Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma
  
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
• 1–2+ years of experience
  
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Certification

• Certified Food Handler’s Permit (Houston) or equivalent (e.g., ServSafe).

Skills

• Able to read and write in English.
• Able to read and understand standard recipes and production sheets.
• Documents HACCP log sheets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Proven experience in a professional kitchen environment.
• Strong foundational knowledge of cooking techniques and food safety standards (ServSafe certification preferred).
• Exceptional ability to work independently or as part of a team in a high-pressure environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency in knife skills, mise en place, and station management.
• A commitment to cleanliness and high-quality food presentation.

Essential Functions

• Supervision & Leadership: Provides direct supervision to cooks, cashiers, dishwashers, and temporary employees to ensure they operate in accordance with service and operational standards.
• Scheduling & Administration: Under the direction of the Dining Manager, is responsible for setting and sending schedules to their respective dining assistants.
• Operational Reporting: Required to submit detailed shift notes, incident reports, and operational metrics to the Dining Manager at the end of each shift.
• Access Control & Guest Service: Acts as the first point of contact for guests by greeting customers, scanning student ID cards, and verifying meal plans.
• FOH Management: Oversees the entire front-of-house (FOH), including restocking, preparation, and cleaning of different stations.
• Food Preparation: Prepares a variety of foods in accordance with menu instructions and standardized recipes while maintaining food quality and appearance standards.
• Station Proficiency: Must be able to work any and all standardized stations within the dining operation.
• Sanitation & Cleanliness: Keeps work areas clean and participates in maintaining a high degree of sanitation within the kitchen and serving areas, including cleaning standard kitchen equipment.
• Staff Coordination: Coordinates break and meal periods for dining staff within the operational needs of the servery.
• Inventory & Supplies: Assists in ordering and taking inventory of front-of-house supplies and ensures online menus are accurate.
• Safety & Compliance: Ensures compliance with university policies and food safety requirements while providing direction and assistance to visitors.
• Emergency Response: Serves as an Essential Employee during campus emergencies, requiring on-site presence to carry out vital functions.
• General Duties: Performs all other duties as assigned.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [e-mail] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [e-mail]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.