Host / Support Staff

Canal Street Eatery & Market; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Spearhead Hospitality is a Chicago-based boutique hospitality management company with a growing portfolio that includes The Robey Hotel, Valedor, Canal Street Eatery & Market, and Caché 310, and others. We seek a Host/Support Staff to seamlessly support front-of-house operations in a hybrid role.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate honesty, reliability, strong communication, and flexibility to transition between Host and Support Staff duties, ensuring exceptional guest service.

Qualifications

• Honesty, integrity, reliability, and professionalism.
• Strong verbal communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow procedures.
• Works well independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to transition between Host and Support Staff.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing business needs.

Responsibilities

• Greet and accommodate guests, manage reservations and seating.
• Answer calls and provide information about the restaurant.
• Assist servers, bartenders, and maintain service flow.
• Deliver food and beverages accurately and safely.
• Maintain clean and organized host stand and dining areas.
• Follow safety and sanitation procedures.
• Support with setup, breakdown, and guest requests.
• Communicate guest needs to team and management.

Skills

Honesty

Integrity

Reliability

Communication

Judgment

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Flexibility

Appearance

Willingness to learn

Job description

About Spearhead Hospitality

Spearhead Hospitality is a Chicago-based boutique hospitality management company with a growing portfolio that includes The Robey Hotel, Valedor, Canal Street Eatery & Market, and Caché 310, with the potential for additional properties under management.

We are committed to creating memorable guest experiences through genuine hospitality, teamwork, operational excellence, and exceptional service.

Position Summary

The Host / Support Staff position is a hybrid Front of House role responsible for supporting both host stand and dining room operations. This position requires flexibility, sound judgment, and a willingness to perform a variety of responsibilities based on business volume, staffing levels, and operational needs.

Employees in this role may be scheduled as a Host, Support Staff member, or in a combination of both functions during a shift. The ability to transition effectively between responsibilities is an essential function of the position.

As a Host, the employee is responsible for managing the guest arrival and departure experience, reservations, seating flow, telephone communications, and the organization of the host stand.

As Support Staff, the employee assists servers, bartenders, and other team members with food and beverage delivery, table maintenance, guest requests, service-area organization, and other operational duties that support an efficient dining experience.

Support Staff pays $12.96 per hour plus tips, while the Host position pays $18.00 per hour.

Duties & Responsibilities

Host Responsibilities

• Greet and acknowledge all guests promptly and professionally upon arrival.
• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests.
• Manage reservations, waitlists, guest counts, seating assignments, and the restaurant floor plan in accordance with established procedures.
• Seat guests in a timely and organized manner and provide menus or other relevant materials.
• Answer incoming telephone calls and provide accurate information regarding the restaurant, menu, hours, reservations, and general guest inquiries.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and properly stocked host stand and entry area.
• Communicate effectively with management and Front of House team members regarding reservations, special requests, guest preferences, and operational updates.
• Monitor guest flow and communicate anticipated wait times accurately and professionally.
• Address routine guest questions and concerns with patience, discretion, and good judgment, escalating matters to management when appropriate.
• Thank guests as they depart and help ensure a positive final impression.

Support Staff Responsibilities

• Remain attentive and available on the dining room floor to support guests and the service team.
• Assist with delivering food and beverages accurately, safely, and efficiently.
• Verify completed kitchen orders and coordinate food delivery to the appropriate guest table.
• Assist with clearing, cleaning, resetting, and maintaining tables throughout service.
• Support the setup, breakdown, cleaning, and organization of tables, buffets, food stations, and other service areas.
• Monitor assigned areas and respond promptly to guest needs and service requests.
• Communicate guest requests, allergies, dietary restrictions, and other special requirements accurately to the appropriate team members.
• Support servers, bartenders, and other Front of House employees in maintaining an efficient and organized service flow.
• Assist with guest checks and payment processing when assigned and properly trained.
• Follow all established procedures for food handling, service, sanitation, and guest safety.

General Responsibilities

• Maintain a working knowledge of the food menu, beverage offerings, restaurant services, and applicable policies.
• Follow all procedures related to food allergies, dietary restrictions, special orders, and guest accommodations.
• Observe the overall guest experience and proactively communicate service issues or operational concerns to management.
• Follow all company policies, workplace rules, food safety requirements, sanitation standards, and safety procedures.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, and professional appearance throughout all assigned work areas.
• Report to scheduled shifts on time, prepared to work, and in compliance with applicable dress and grooming standards.
• Communicate professionally and respectfully with guests, coworkers, supervisors, vendors, and other business partners.
• Work collaboratively with Front and Back of House team members and contribute to a positive workplace environment.
• Perform Host and/or Support Staff responsibilities as assigned based on operational requirements.
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by management.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will:

• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, reliability, accountability, and professionalism.
• Provide consistent, respectful, and service-oriented interactions with guests and coworkers.
• Possess strong verbal communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate sound judgment and the ability to remain composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Be attentive to detail and capable of following established procedures.
• Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to transition between Host and Support Staff responsibilities.
• Be able to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing business and staffing needs.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor consistent with company standards.
• Demonstrate a willingness to learn menu items, beverage offerings, service standards, and operational procedures.
• Be able to receive direction, accept feedback, and apply coaching from supervisors and managers.
• Previous experience in hosting, food running, bussing, serving, customer service, or another hospitality-related role is preferred but not required.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods throughout a scheduled shift.
• Frequently bend, reach, lift, carry, and transport items used in restaurant operations.
• Safely carry food, beverages, dishes, glassware, and other service-related materials.
• Work in a fast-paced environment with frequent interaction with guests and coworkers.
• Work near kitchen equipment, hot surfaces, cleaning chemicals, and other typical restaurant conditions while following all applicable safety procedures.
• Perform duties in varying temperatures and conditions associated with restaurant operations.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Scheduling & Availability

This is a hybrid position, and scheduled duties may vary between Host and Support Staff responsibilities based on business volume, staffing levels, events, seasonality, and operational requirements.

Work schedules may include mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and other periods of increased business activity. Employees are expected to arrive on time, be prepared to work, and follow established scheduling, attendance, and call-off procedures.

Employment Expectations

Employees are expected to comply with all Spearhead Hospitality policies and procedures, including standards related to attendance, punctuality, workplace conduct, harassment prevention, safety, confidentiality, guest service, and professional behavior.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Management reserves the right to modify responsibilities and assign additional duties as business needs require.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. WE DO NOT DISCRIMINATE WITH REGARD TO RACE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, SEXUAL PREFERENCE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CITIZENSHIP, HANDICAP OR DISABILITY, AGE, VETERAN STATUS, MARITAL STATUS, PREGNANCY OR PREGNANCY RELATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS, OR ANY OTHER CATEGORY PROTECTED BY LAW IN REGARD TO ANY EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS

Source: Hospitality Online