Lead Host (Host Supervisor)

Solette LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits

Health Savings Account

Flexible Savings Account

Employee Assistance Program

Annual Education Allowance

Referral program

Team building events

Friends and Family rates

Job summary

Onni is seeking a Lead Host in Chicago to oversee the host stand and ensure a superior guest experience from arrival to seating. You will lead the host team, manage reservations and waitlists, and coordinate with management and service staff to optimize seating flow.

You will train and mentor the host team, create daily assignments, provide real-time coaching, and maintain clean, organized lobby areas. This role requires prior hosting (lead or supervisory) and a positive, professional demeanor

Qualifications

• Prior hosting experience required (lead or supervisory experience preferred).
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Ability to manage a busy environment and multitask effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Professional appearance and positive attitude.
• Familiarity with reservation systems (OpenTable, Resy) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Greet guests warmly and professionally, setting the tone for an outstanding dining experience.
• Manage waitlists and reservations efficiently while maintaining accurate wait time estimates.
• Handle guest concerns, special requests, and escalations with professionalism.
• Ensure guests feel welcomed, valued, and appreciated at all times.
• Supervise, train, and mentor host team members.
• Lead by example in service standards, appearance, and attitude.
• Create daily host assignments and ensure proper shift coverage.
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to improve performance.
• Manage table rotation and seating to maximize efficiency and server balance.
• Communicate effectively with servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff.
• Maintain accurate records in reservation and seating systems.
• Ensure the host stand, lobby, and entrance areas remain clean and organized.
• Oversee the reservation system setup, updates, and special notes.
• Assist with scheduling, call-outs, and shift adjustments.
• Support management with reporting guest trends or concerns.
• Uphold company policies, procedures, and service standards.

Skills

Guest service

Communication

Organizational skills

Leadership

Tools

OpenTable

Resy

Job description

Job Description: The Lead Host is responsible for overseeing the host stand, ensuring exceptional guest service from the moment guests arrive to the time they are seated. This role leads the host team, manages reservations and waitlists, and coordinates closely with management and service staff to optimize seating flow and guest experience.

Perks and Benefits

• Competitive pay & a Comprehensive Benefit Package.
• Other benefits include Health Saving Account.
• Flexible Saving Account.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Annual Education Allowance.
• Generous Referral Program.
• Fun & collaborative company culture with lots of team building events.
• Friends and Family rates for Level Hotels & Furnished Suites, The Opus Hotel, and The Emily Hotel.

What Will You Do:

• Guest Experience Greet all guests warmly and professionally, setting the tone for an outstanding dining experience
• Manage waitlists and reservations efficiently while maintaining accurate wait time estimates
• Handle guest concerns, special requests, and escalations with professionalism
• Ensure guests feel welcomed, valued, and appreciated at all times
• Leadership & Team Support Supervise, train, and mentor host team members
• Lead by example in service standards, appearance, and attitude
• Create daily host assignments and ensure proper shift coverage
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to improve performance
• Operational Excellence Manage table rotation and seating to maximize efficiency and server balance
• Communicate effectively with servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff
• Maintain accurate records in reservation and seating systems
• Ensure the host stand, lobby, and entrance areas remain clean and organized.
• Administrative Duties Oversee the reservation system setup, updates, and special notes
• Assist with scheduling, call-outs, and shift adjustments
• Support management with reporting guest trends or concerns
• Uphold company policies, procedures, and service standards

What You Bring:

• Prior hosting experience required (lead or supervisory experience preferred)
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Ability to manage a busy environment and multitask effectively
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills
• Professional appearance and positive attitude
• Familiarity with reservation systems (OpenTable, Resy, etc.) is a plus

What Success Looks Like:

• Smooth and efficient seating flow during peak hours
• Positive guest feedback and high satisfaction scores
• Strong, well-trained host team with high morale
• Minimal wait-time discrepancies and seating issues

AI Use:

This role may involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support research, analysis, content development, design, reporting, or operational efficiency. Employees are expected to use AI responsibly and in compliance with company policies, data privacy requirements, confidentiality obligations, and applicable laws. All AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs must be reviewed for accuracy, quality, and appropriateness before use. Employees are also expected to disclose when AI tools have been used in the creation of work and must not present AI-generated content as solely their own original work.

Salary Range:

$23 per hour

About The Company:

Onni For over half a century, Onni has been building communities for people to live, work, and play. Our success reflects our commitment to our employees and partners, and our dedication to quality construction, innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Our expertise expands across North America, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and Chicago.