Lead Host

RPM Italian - D.C.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Restaurant Discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Vacation for Qualifying Employees

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical

Dental & Vision Insurance

Life, Accident & Critical Illness保险

401(k)

Job summary

RPM Italian - D.C. is seeking a Lead Host to oversee guest seating, front-of-house operations and host training. You will welcome guests, manage reservations, and support a high-energy dining team.

Responsibilities include coaching hosts, maintaining training materials, and ensuring accurate wait times and seating. This role requires a positive attitude, strong communication, and the ability to multitask in a busy environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality or affinity for guest service.
• Ability to greet and seat guests warmly and efficiently.
• Strong communication and multitasking under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests warmly and seat them promptly.
• Answer phones, take reservations and messages with accuracy.
• Train and develop host staff, maintain training materials.
• Schedule and oversee host training and new-hire paperwork.
• Ensure guest counts and wait times are tracked and reported.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of host area and front-of-house.

Skills

Guest service

Communication

Team training

Tools

POS system

Reservation system

Job description

We're hiring people to join our team as LEAD HOST STAFF!

A Few of Our Lead Host Benefits:

• Restaurant Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program - Focusing on a Commitment to Mental Health & Wellness
• Paid Vacation for Qualifying Employees
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Insurance
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Life, Accident Protection & Critical Illness Insurance
• Domestic Partner Benefits
• 401(k)

Created by Bill and Giuliana Rancic with RJ, Jerrod, and Molly Melman, RPM Italian offers modern Italian cuisine in an elegant yet urban atmosphere. Our menu is both sophisticated and unpretentious: from the simplicity of freshly prepared in-house pastas, like our signature Mama DePandi's Bucatini Pomodoro, to the textured flavors of whole wood-grilled Branzino, RPM Italian focuses on well-crafted and versatile interpretations of classic dishes.

EOE. We participate in E-Verify / Participamos en E-Verify

LEAD HOST JOB DESCRIPTION

Lead Hosts are responsible for host training, the maintenance of training manuals and upholding standards of guest service. Responsible for the initial warm greeting and seating of guests, answering of telephones, taking reservations and messages, maintaining accurate guest counts and wait times and saying goodbye to all guests. Assist with Coat Check duties as directed.

Essential Functions

• Interact with, direct, train and develop host employees in a fair and dignified manner
• Warmly greet and seat guests in the restaurant
• Answer telephones, and take orders, messages and reservations
• Available to work a variety of hours, days and shifts, including weekends
• Safely and effectively move chairs, tables, highchairs and booster seats
• Safely and effectively use and operate all necessary tools and equipment
• Ability to effectively communicate in order to perform and follow job requirements in written and spoken direction
• Multitask calmly and effectively under pressure
• Work in a confined, crowded space of variable noise and temperature levels
• Able to move and lift up to 10 pounds, frequently move and/or lift up to 25 pounds, and occasionally move and/or lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to stand and walk for an entire shift and move safely through all areas of the restaurant, which may include stairs, uneven or slick surfaces

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Ensure the overall guest experience exceeds expectations and anticipate guests needs
• Greet guests with a warm, sincere smile
• Use tact and good judgement when dealing with guest challenges and respond to guest needs with patience and courtesy
• Assist with processing hosts new-hire paperwork
• Schedule, conduct and/or oversee all aspects new-hire and on-going host training
• Review and maintain host manuals and training materials
• Observe host employees service standards and communicate observations to Management, Partners and Trainers; Assist in developing and implementing necessary plans of action
• Assist with maintaining and updating restaurant’s \"zoning\" procedures
• Use proper phone and voicemail etiquette and guidelines
• Assist with clearing, cleaning and resetting tables and maintaining restrooms
• Sell and accurately account for gift cards
• Understand and respond knowledgeably to questions about the restaurant and menu
• Follow all steps of service
• Understand and follow the food allergy procedure and special orders/restrictions
• Proficiency in the use and operation of all necessary tools and equipment, including the reservation, telephone, paging and voicemail systems
• Comply with all safety and sanitation guidelines and procedures
• Successfully complete alcohol awareness training
• Follow all rules, policies, procedures and conditions of employment, including those outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Get along well with others and be a team player
• Other duties will be assigned as needed