Maitre D Manager

Gracious Hospitality Management; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured compensation

Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits

FSA/HSA

Commuter Benefits

Referral Bonus Program

Career Advancement Opportunities

Employee Recognition Awards

Paid Time Off

Job summary

COQODAQ, a new concept from Gracious Hospitality Management in New York, seeks a Maître D Manager to oversee guest booking, reception, and VIP service. You will lead the front-of-house team, manage reservations, and ensure seating efficiency and guest satisfaction.

As a COQODAQ ambassador, you will coordinate with the GM and Head of Global Reservations, drive guest experience, and train staff to uphold hospitality standards in a high-volume setting.

Qualifications

• Excellent English communication and guest service skills.
• Experience in hospitality leadership and VIP guest relations.
• Familiarity with reservations management and POS systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee front-of-house operations and guest arrival process.
• Manage reservations, VIP seating, and doorman operations.
• Train hosts and reservation staff for consistent service.
• Coordinate with FOH and culinary teams during service.
• Represent COQODAQ at events and manage VIP relationships.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Customer service

English proficiency

VIP guest service

Education

Degree in Hospitality or related field

Tools

POS systems

Reservations software

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

A new concept from Michelin‑starred COTE Korean Steakhouse, unveiling its highly anticipated opening: COQODAQ, our new fried chicken concept, which is just two blocks from our COTE NYC location.

Gracious Hospitality Management is first and foremost an outstanding hospitality company that conceptualizes Michelin‑starred and James Beard nominated restaurants. We focus on both passion and profitability. We are professionals committed to ensuring exceptional hospitality and service to our customers. GHM has been honored with receiving a Michelin star eight years in a row for its restaurants Piora, Cote Korean Steakhouse & COTE Miami.

The Maître D’ Manager oversees all aspects of the guest booking & reception at COQODAQ. They manage booking protocols and the reservations department to ensure that the restaurant seating is being maximized, and welcome all guests in service. They run a welcoming and efficient door team, find opportunities to drive business to the bar, and maintain personalized relationships with VIP guests. The Maître D’ Manager is ultimately responsible for managing all aspects of the front door, guest arrival, seating and departure, host training, reservationist training and operational procedures. They will ensure that all Hosts and Reservationists deliver attentive, courteous and efficient service to guests throughout, in accordance with Standards. They oversee all special guest requests. The Maître D’ Manager is an ambassador of COQODAQ and the most gracious host. Hospitality and communication skills are necessary and required.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

Hospitality

• Liaises between the FOH and culinary team during service.
• Provides and oversees the service for all VIP customers when on property.
• Develops positive customer relationships and addresses customer service needs.
• Responds efficiently and accurately to all customer complaints and reviews online, in service, and in writing to COQODAQ.

Operations

• Full ownership of the book. Monitors all restaurant reservations and oversees booking protocols at the direction of the General Manager and Head of Global Reservations. Drives tidiness of the grid for maximum efficiency as well as creative solutions for driving more demand.
• Monitors and audits reservationist customer interaction, both emails and phone.
• Reviews all reservations daily, weekly, monthly to coordinate with the GM and Service Manager seating and VIP gifting plans.
• Manages flow of reservations for each shift to ensure optimal seating pattern and service. Advises Management on suggested changes to floor plan or seating strategy. Ensures servers are seated as equitably as possible throughout the shift.
• Acts as face of COQODAQ at industry events, networking events, social events, etc.
• Makes reservations for customers, offering alternatives when the desired slot is not available. Manages VIP relations, including making reservations personally, providing personalized attention in the restaurant, recording preferences and notes from past experiences, performing final quality check on each experience.
• Maintains cleanliness of entrance and other waiting areas throughout shifts by sweeping, cleaning windows and doors, arranging chairs, etc. Sets host stand for service, ensuring all resources (paper, pens, business cards, etc.) are stocked.
• Oversees daily restaurant administration including payroll, opening/closing administration, service floor plans, daily walkthroughs, etc.
• Manages hourly employees in their daily responsibilities at COQODAQ, providing clear, effective direction.
• Creates systems of accountability and provides consistent feedback, coaching, and disciplinary action as needed.
• Performs all back office POS functions including employee profile and menu creation.
• Plans, executes and communicates all promotions and company information effectively and efficiently.
• Conducts Department of Health ("DOH") walk‑throughs multiple times per day when on duty to ensure DOH compliance; Address all DOH violations immediately.
• Promotes and practices safe work habits, identifies and resolves potential safety hazards; Documents accidents, conducts initial investigation and determination of root cause of safety incidents in the interest of maintaining a safe work environment.
• Ensures that all team members are educated on our products and services. Provides regular service classes to the host and reservations team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Must have the ability to read, speak, understand, follow written directions, and verbal instructions in English.
• Must be reachable by email and able to communicate via phone as well.
• Communicates information effectively and efficiently.
• Possesses a positive, results‑oriented, team‑player mentality.
• Ability to perform job duties and responsibilities well and maintain professionalism and composure under pressure and in a high‑paced and at times stressful environment.
• Ability to under pressure and maintain professionalism when working under stress.
• Knowledge of workplace safety procedures and local Department of Health standards.
• Food Handler’s Certification or the ability to obtain in accordance with federal, state, or local regulations and/or Company policy.
• Able to work a flexible schedule in order to accommodate business levels (weekend, nights, and holiday availability required). We will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs.
• Familiarity with restaurant management software such as point of sales, reservations management, inventory management, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace.
• Demonstrates positive leadership characteristics and supervisory skills, which inspire team members to meet and exceed standards.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, and ethics when dealing with vendors, co‑workers, and customers.
• Degree in Hospitality, Culinary Management, or similar subject preferred.
• Ability to execute steps of service in adherence with company policy.
• Must be of legal age to serve alcohol.
• Certification for responsible alcohol service or ability to obtain within 6 months.
• 2+ years similar experience in a fine‑dining, high volume setting preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job duties and responsibilities of this job. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Exert well‑paced mobility for periods of up to 12 hours per day and at least 60 hours per week.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently stand, walk, reach, bend, stoop, push, pull, and kneel.
• Frequently utilize the stairs, often while lifting and carrying heavy items.
• Occasionally crouch and climb.
• Be exposed to hazards including, but not limited to, burns, cuts, scrapes, and frequent exposure of hands to water.
• Withstand fluctuations in temperature within the work environment, from high heat to below freezing.
• Handle heavy equipment and machinery.
• Sit or stand for prolonged periods at a desk while working on a computer.
• May be asked to travel to visit vendors or different company locations.

New York State’s Pay Transparency Law requires employers to include a range of pay for all advertised job, promotion, or transfer opportunities. New York Pay Range: $90,000 USD – $115,000 USD

Benefits (with variation for full‑time/part‑time employment)

• Structured, generous compensation for all positions
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits
• Flexible Spending Account/Health Savings Account
• Commuter Benefits
• Referral Bonus Program
• Career Advancement Opportunities
• Employee Recognition Awards
• Paid Time Off

COQODAQ fully complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti‑discrimination laws by providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, and genetic information (including family medical history), or any other legally protected status.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job should contact the Human Resources department at [e-mail].