Assistant Restaurant Manager

Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Mama Shelter is seeking an Assistant Restaurant Manager to bring energy, structure, and flow to every service. You’ll oversee floor operations, support a frontline team, and ensure guest experiences are unforgettable.

You’ll work closely with Kitchen, Bar, Events, and Marketing to deliver vibrant dining moments, coach staff, maintain standards, and drive guest satisfaction in a fast-paced, luxury-branded environment.

Qualifications

• Solid Food & Beverage experience in hospitality.
• Experience in lifestyle, luxury or high-volume experiential brands.
• Natural floor leader who leads by example.
• Commercial awareness with understanding of revenue and cost control.
• Thrives in fast-paced environments.
• Operationally strong and present during service.
• Great communicator and team motivator.
• Passionate about guest experience and creating memorable moments.

Responsibilities

• Guest Experience Champion: deliver high-energy, memorable dining across services.
• Operational Support Leader: manage service, opening/closing, and floor coordination.
• Commercial Support Driver: assist revenue targets, monitor sales trends, control costs.
• Team Motivator & Floor Leader: train, onboard, and energize front-of-house team.
• Collaboration Partner: work with Culinary, Bar, Events, and Marketing for seamless service.
• Standards Keeper: maintain Mama’s service standards and presentation.
• Energy & Floor Presence Driver: stay visible on the floor and set the vibe.

Skills

Food & Beverage experience

Floor leadership

Communication

Job description

MAMA?

Founded in 2008 by Serge Trigano and his sons Jérémie and Benjamin (co-founders of Club Med), Mama Shelter is a creator of living spaces and a daily director! These are atypical places, where everyone feels at home, places born of a blend of influences, freedoms, sensations and emotions. Each Mama tells the story of the city in which it is located, and all influences blend together. We offer our guests a joyful atmosphere and exceptional service at an affordable price. More than just rooms and restaurants, Mama Shelter is a dynamic, a vibe: they are true urban refuges, not only aesthetically pleasing and modern but also popular, welcoming and sexy. Whatever your role, we're all here to make the customer experience as unforgettable as possible. Our mission: to bring little moments of happiness to people. Our growth has enabled us to offer our teams great career paths through internal development and international mobility, and it's not a question of diplomas or years of experience. Mama Shelter is part of Ennismore, a creative hotel group rooted in cultures and destinations, with a global portfolio of brands. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, founded in 2021.

Company Description

Founded in 2008 by Serge Trigano and his sons Jérémie and Benjamin (co-founders of Club Med), Mama Shelter is a creator of living spaces and a daily director! These are atypical places, where everyone feels at home, places born of a blend of influences, freedoms, sensations and emotions. Each Mama tells the story of the city in which it is located, and all influences blend together. We offer our guests a joyful atmosphere and exceptional service at an affordable price. More than just rooms and restaurants, Mama Shelter is a dynamic, a vibe: they are true urban refuges, not only aesthetically pleasing and modern but also popular, welcoming and sexy. Whatever your role, we're all here to make the customer experience as unforgettable as possible. Our mission: to bring little moments of happiness to people. Our growth has enabled us to offer our teams great career paths through internal development and international mobility, and it's not a question of diplomas or years of experience. Mama Shelter is part of Ennismore, a creative hotel group rooted in cultures and destinations, with a global portfolio of brands. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, founded in 2021.

Our Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

Mama is an inclusive company, and our ambition is to recruit and promote diverse talent.

Job Description

THE MISSION

You are the right hand to the heartbeat of Mama’s restaurant and bar experience. As Assistant Restaurant Manager, you help bring energy, structure, and flow to every service—ensuring the floor runs smoothly, the team feels supported, and every guest experience is unmistakably Mama. You are present on the floor, not behind a desk, leading in real time, solving in the moment, and helping turn every service into a vibrant, social experience.

Here’s What You’ll Be Responsible For

Guest Experience Champion

• Support the delivery of a consistently high-energy, memorable dining experience across all services
• Engage with guests, build rapport, and ensure every interaction reflects Mama’s bold personality
• Step in to resolve guest feedback quickly, positively, and with personality

Operational Support Leader

• Support daily restaurant operations including service, opening, closing, and floor management
• Ensure smooth coordination between kitchen, bar, and front-of-house teams
• Help maintain strong service flow, cleanliness, and readiness across all areas

Commercial Support Driver

• Assist in achieving revenue and profitability targets through strong service execution
• Monitor sales trends, upselling opportunities, and service efficiency
• Support control of labour, wastage, and operational costs in line with targets

Team Motivator & Floor Leader

• Lead by example on the floor, supporting and energising the team during service
• Assist in training, onboarding, and continuous coaching of front-of-house team members
• Help build a culture of pride, personality, and performance

Collaboration Partner

• Work closely with Culinary, Bar, Events, and Marketing teams to ensure smooth service delivery
• Support execution of activations, promotions, and special dining experiences
• Ensure alignment between brand vision and day-to-day operations

Standards Keeper

• Support maintenance of Mama’s service standards across all guest touchpoints
• Ensure consistency in presentation, cleanliness, and service delivery
• Help identify and elevate operational gaps quickly and effectively

Energy & Floor Presence Driver

• Stay highly visible on the floor during service, setting the tone and pace
• Support the atmosphere of the venue through guest engagement and team energy
• Help create a lively, social, and unforgettable dining environment

What Success Looks Like

• A smooth, high-energy restaurant service where the team feels supported and confident
• Consistently strong guest feedback and repeat visitation
• A motivated FOH team delivering personality-led service
• Seamless daily operations with strong alignment between kitchen, bar, and floor

Qualifications

MADE FOR YOU… ONLY IF

• You have solid Food & Beverage experience in hospitality
• You come from lifestyle, luxury, or high-volume experiential brands
• You are a natural floor leader who leads by example
• You are commercially aware with a good understanding of revenue and cost control
• You thrive in fast-paced, high-energy environments
• You are operationally strong and love being actively present during service
• You are a great communicator and team motivator
• You are passionate about guest experience and creating memorable moments
• You can juggle multiple priorities without losing focus or energy

YOUR LITTLE EXTRAS

• Pre-opening experience? Big plus
• Lifestyle or branded restaurant experience? Even better
• You understand how to turn great service into a vibe, not just a process
• You bring energy, structure, and Mama personality every day