Service Support - Food Runner

Early Bird Night Owl; Raleigh, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 14,000 - 19,000; Part time

Job summary

The Gables is seeking a part-time Runner to connect Alcove’s front- and back-of-house teams, running food and supporting service during busy shifts and events.

You’ll ensure accurate plating, quick communication between kitchen, servers, and bar, and help with dishwashing and stock. This flexible role emphasizes urgency, reliability, and guest-friendly service in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality or food service.
• Ability to work with urgency during busy periods.
• Strong communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Deliver and serve food and beverages accurately.
• Coordinate with kitchen and bar to ensure timing.
• Assist with prep, stocking, and dishwashing as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of menu and guest experience.
• Support events and high-volume service.

Skills

Hospitality experience

Urgency and accuracy

Communication skills

Teamwork

Job description

JOB TYPE:

Part-time/Flexible, Volume-Based Shifts

PAY:

$12 per hour plus tips

REPORTS TO:

F&B Manager, Property Leadership: Innkeeper, Assistant Innkeeper

OUR WHY

At The Gables, we are humble ambassadors of our community. We believe hospitality begins with kindness, curiosity, and a genuine desire to care for others. Through thoughtful details, intentional design, and authentic, meaningful connections, we create experiences where every guest feels welcomed, valued, and at home.

OUR CORE VALUES

INSPIRE WONDERInnovation and Creativity | Surprise and Delight

FOSTER HOSPITALITYInclusive Culture | Home Away from Home

PURSUE EXCELLENCEExceptional Experiences | Attention to Detail | Focus on Quality

DEMONSTRATE INTENTIONALITYEmpathetic Engagement | Anticipatory Service | Sense of Ownership

CULTIVATE COMMUNITYTeam Collaboration | Community Engagement | Take Time to Celebrate

POSITION SUMMARY:

As a Runner at The Gables, you connect Alcove’s front- and back-of-house teams by keeping food, dishes, information, and support moving smoothly through service.

This flexible, volume-based role is scheduled primarily for busy shifts, events, and periods when extra support is needed. You run food accurately, support servers, bar, and kitchen teams, share responsibility for dish flow, and move quickly to the area where help is needed most. Flexibility, urgency, communication, and initiative are essential.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

• Runs food accurately and with urgency while maintaining presentation, organization, and guest-care standards.
• Keeps communication and serviceware flowing between the kitchen, servers, and bar team.
• Remains flexible, dependable, and composed while moving between food running, dishwashing, stocking, and service support.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Food and Beverage Preparation and Service

• Deliver food and beverage orders accurately and promptly, confirming presentation and order accuracy before items leave the service area.
• Communicate clearly with the kitchen, servers, and bar about timing, missing items, special requests, and service needs.
• Support pre-bussing, resetting, stocking, polishing, basic plating or garnishing, simple food prep, and beverage service as trained and needed.

Guest Service and Menu Knowledge

• Maintain working knowledge of the Alcove menu, including key ingredients and preparation methods, so items can be delivered and described accurately.
• Welcome hotel guests and neighborhood visitors warmly, respond to service cues, and communicate guest requests promptly.
• Provide basic guidance about The Gables and help create a relaxed experience by moving with purpose while remaining calm and approachable.

Service Support, Inventory and Product Management

• Keep service stations, dish storage, and support areas organized and stocked with clean serviceware and essential supplies.
• Monitor plates, glassware, silverware, napkins, cleaning supplies, and other operating items and communicate needs before they affect service.
• Replenish supplies, move clean wares where needed, handle items carefully, and assist with receiving or organizing products as directed.

Cleanliness, Equipment, Health, and Safety

• Share responsibility for dishwashing, including loading, running, unloading, and cleaning the dish machine and properly storing clean wares.
• Keep dish, kitchen support, service, and work areas clean and organized; handle trash, recycling, spills, and routine cleaning as assigned.
• Follow all food handling, sanitation, health, and safety procedures and work carefully around hot food, glassware, wet floors, cleaning products, and equipment.

Communication, Teamwork, and Property Support

• Communicate professionally with guests, kitchen, servers, bar, and management about anything affecting timing, accuracy, service flow, or the guest experience.
• Move between front- and back-of-house responsibilities based on where support is most needed, maintaining a team-first approach.
• Assist with events, private gatherings, catering, and high-volume service while helping keep Alcove clean, organized, and moving efficiently.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:

Must be eligible to work in the United States.

Must be able to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, events, and varying weekly shifts.

Must meet all applicable requirements for food handling and any beverage service responsibilities assigned to the role.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience & Skills

• Previous hospitality experience preferred; a strong willingness to learn and support the team is essential.
• Ability to work with urgency and accuracy, prioritize changing needs, and remain composed during busy service.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to serve as an effective link between front and back of house.
• Ability to learn menu items, service standards, food handling, sanitation, and safe commercial dishwashing procedures.
• Comfortable switching between guest-facing service, dishwashing, stocking, cleaning, food running, and basic kitchen support in the same shift.
• Dependable attendance and flexibility for mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, events, and schedules that may vary with business levels; high-volume or event experience is a plus.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to be on your feet and alert for extended periods and lift up to 45 lbs. as needed.
• Ability to safely carry trays, stacks of dishes, glassware, dish racks, supplies, and other service items.
• Continuous use of hands and arms, bending, reaching, lifting, twisting, and repetitive motions associated with dishwashing and service support.
• Ability to work safely in hot, wet, humid, and fast-moving kitchen and dish areas while maintaining a polished, professional appearance.

If you thrive in busy service, enjoy helping a team stay one step ahead, and are willing to jump in wherever needed, we'd love to meet you.

Note: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor.