Banqueting Head Waiter

HotelJobs; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Formal uniform

Job summary

Hospitality Hire is seeking a Banqueting Head Waiter for a prestigious hotel environment in Sandton. You will lead the banqueting service team, supervise conferences, weddings and corporate events, and ensure polished, personalised guest experiences.

The role requires hands-on leadership, excellent English, and a track record in 5-star hotel banqueting. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced, luxury setting and drive service excellence on every function.

Qualifications

• Hospitality-related qualification advantageous.
• Minimum 2 years’ Head Waiter experience in a 5-star hotel environment.
• Experience in banqueting, conferencing and events preferred.
• Strong leadership and team supervision skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate and support a service team.
• Knowledge of food, menus and wine/beverage pairings.
• Excellent command of English; additional languages advantageous.
• Polished presentation and guest-satisfaction focus.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage guest concerns professionally.
• Attention to detail, organisation and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate banqueting, conference and event service operations.
• Lead, motivate and support the service team before, during and after functions.
• Conduct pre-function staff briefings covering event details and guest expectations.
• Ensure venues are set up correctly, clean and presentation-ready.
• Maintain five-star service standards across events.
• Monitor service delivery and guest satisfaction.
• Welcome guests warmly and provide attentive, personalised service.
• Take food and beverage orders and assist with service when needed.
• Provide menu recommendations and answer guest questions convincingly.
• Upsell beverage options to enhance guest experience.
• Collaborate with kitchen, bar and events teams for seamless service.
• Handle guest requests, concerns and issues professionally.
• Manage service areas, stock and equipment handling.
• Ensure compliance with food handling, hygiene and safety requirements.
• Support wider F&B operations when required.
• Perform additional duties as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Team supervision

Guest service excellence

Communication skills

Service orientation

Motivation & coaching

Multitasking under pressure

Wine and beverage knowledge

English fluency

Education

Hospitality-related qualification advantageous

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position: Banqueting Head Waiter

Location: Sandton

Hospitality Hire is recruiting an experienced Banqueting Head Waiter for a prestigious hotel environment. We are looking for a service-driven, reliable and hands-on hospitality professional who is confident leading from the front and maintaining exceptional service standards in a busy banqueting and events operation. From conferences and corporate functions to weddings and special events, you will play an important role in ensuring every function is professionally executed and every guest receives attentive, polished and personalised service. The successful candidate will have previous Head Waiter experience within a 4 or 5-star hotel; strong leadership ability and the confidence to supervise a team while remaining actively involved in service. If you thrive in a fast-paced luxury hospitality environment, take pride in exceptional service and know how to motivate a team during demanding events, we would like to hear from you.

Minimum Requirements

• Hospitality-related qualification advantageous
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a Head Waiter capacity within a 5-star hotel environment
• Previous hotel banqueting, conferencing and events experience strongly preferred
• Strong leadership and team supervision skills
• Ability to lead, motivate and support a banqueting service team
• Good knowledge of food, menus and food pairing
• Knowledge of wines, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages advantageous
• Excellent command of the English language essential; additional languages advantageous
• Professional, well-groomed and polished presentation
• Friendly, approachable and service-driven with a genuine passion for guest satisfaction
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage guest concerns, conflict and challenging situations professionally and diplomatically
• Strong attention to detail, organisation and operational efficiency
• Ability to multitask and remain composed in a busy, pressurised events environment
• Physically able to work extended periods on your feet
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, public holidays and according to operational requirements
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant F&B operating systems

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate banqueting, conference and event service operations
• Lead, motivate and support the banqueting service team before, during and after functions
• Conduct pre-function staff briefings covering event details, service requirements and guest expectations
• Ensure all function venues are correctly set up, clean, organised and presentation-ready
• Maintain exceptional 5‑star service standards throughout conferences, weddings, functions and special events
• Monitor service delivery, presentation standards and overall guest satisfaction
• Welcome guests warmly and provide attentive, professional and personalised service
• Take food and beverage orders and assist with service when operationally required
• Provide knowledgeable menu recommendations and confidently answer guest questions regarding food and beverages
• Upsell menu and beverage options appropriately to enhance the guest experience
• Work closely with kitchen, bar and events teams to ensure seamless service delivery
• Handle guest requests, concerns and service issues promptly and professionally
• Ensure tables and service areas are correctly set, maintained and cleared throughout events
• Assist with stock control, equipment handling and operational reporting
• Process payments accurately and maintain appropriate cash-handling and billing procedures where required
• Ensure compliance with food handling, hygiene, health and safety requirements
• Protect and correctly handle banqueting equipment, operating supplies and hotel property
• Support the wider F&B operation when required
• Perform additional duties according to operational requirements

The Person We Are Looking For

You are a hands-on hospitality professional who understands that leadership in banqueting means being visible on the floor, supporting your team and taking ownership of the guest experience. You are organised, confident and calm under pressure. You notice the small details, communicate clearly with colleagues and guests, and understand the pace and precision required to deliver successful events in a luxury hotel environment. Most importantly, you lead by example and take genuine pride in creating memorable guest experiences through exceptional service