Director of Restaurants | Luxury Hotel | Austin
Director of Restaurants
Luxury Hotel | Multi-Outlet Food & Beverage Operations
Base Salary: $120,000–$125,000
Position Type: Full-Time | Senior Leadership
Relocation: N/A | Local Candidates Preferred
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, and hospitality-driven Director of Restaurants to lead the food and beverage operations of a luxury hotel property. This senior leadership position is responsible for overseeing multiple dining outlets, including restaurants, bars, lounges, in-room dining, and seasonal venues.
The ideal candidate brings a strong background in luxury hospitality, multi-outlet restaurant management, financial performance, and team development, along with a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.
The Director of Restaurants & Bars will provide strategic and operational leadership, drive revenue growth, maintain exceptional service standards, and cultivate a high-performing team. This individual will play an integral role in positioning the property as a premier destination for luxury dining and hospitality.
Key Responsibilities
Restaurant & Bar Operations
- Oversee daily operations across all food and beverage outlets, ensuring exceptional service, product quality, and operational efficiency.
- Provide hands-on leadership to restaurant, bar, lounge, and in-room dining management teams.
- Establish and maintain consistent luxury service standards across all dining venues.
- Lead pre-opening activities, restaurant openings, seasonal transitions, and operational improvements as needed.
- Conduct regular pre-shift meetings with culinary and restaurant leadership to align teams on service expectations, menu offerings, and guest priorities.
- Oversee private dining, special events, restaurant buyouts, and in-room hospitality experiences.
- Collaborate with Executive Chefs and culinary leadership to ensure seamless communication and execution between front-of-house and back-of-house teams.
- Continuously evaluate service procedures, operating systems, and guest experiences to identify opportunities for improvement.
Financial Management & Business Development
- Oversee departmental budgets, financial performance, and profitability across all restaurant and bar operations.
- Monitor and manage food, beverage, labor, and operating costs to achieve established financial objectives.
- Analyze financial reports, operating expenses, and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for revenue growth and improved margins.
- Maintain effective inventory management, purchasing, cash handling, and beverage control procedures.
- Forecast food, wine, liquor, and beverage consumption to support purchasing and operational planning.
- Develop strategies to increase restaurant revenue, average guest spend, and overall profitability.
- Partner with executive leadership to ensure food and beverage operations contribute to broader hotel financial goals.
- Identify new business opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives that enhance the property's dining reputation and financial performance.
Guest Experience & Luxury Hospitality
- Maintain a highly visible presence throughout restaurant and bar operations, actively engaging with guests and supporting service teams.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with VIP guests, high-net-worth individuals, local clientele, and repeat customers.
- Ensure personalized service and exceptional attention to detail across all dining experiences.
- Oversee guest relations, special requests, service recovery, and complaint resolution.
- Monitor guest satisfaction scores, online reviews, and direct feedback to identify opportunities for service improvements.
- Establish a culture of genuine hospitality, professionalism, and consistently elevated guest experiences.
Sales, Marketing & Brand Development
- Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Public Relations teams to develop annual promotional calendars and revenue-driving initiatives.
- Identify opportunities to attract local and external clientele, particularly within the luxury dining market.
- Build relationships with culinary partners, luxury brands, local businesses, and hospitality professionals.
- Support restaurant marketing campaigns, special events, brand activations, and public relations initiatives.
- Leverage industry relationships and strategic partnerships to strengthen the property's visibility and market position.
- Evaluate marketing performance, guest engagement, and promotional initiatives to maximize results.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of restaurant managers, bar managers, supervisors, and hourly employees.
- Oversee recruitment, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, and retention of front-of-house talent.
- Establish clear performance expectations, operational goals, and accountability standards.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and results-oriented workplace culture.
- Identify and develop future leaders through mentorship and succession planning.
- Support change management initiatives designed to improve efficiency, employee engagement, and service excellence.
Compliance & Administrative Management
- Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety, sanitation, workplace safety, and alcohol service regulations.
- Maintain accurate operational reports, financial records, and performance documentation.
- Ensure consistent adherence to company policies, operating procedures, and luxury hospitality standards.
- Communicate effectively with executive leadership regarding departmental performance, operational challenges, and business opportunities.
- Utilize operational data, guest feedback, and financial reporting to guide strategic decisions.
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 6 years of progressive Food & Beverage experience, including at least 2 years in senior leadership positions.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in luxury hotels or high-end hospitality environments in a comparable capacity.
- Proven success managing high-volume, multi-outlet restaurant and bar operations.
- Strong understanding of luxury hospitality, fine dining service standards, and premium guest experiences.
- Demonstrated financial acumen, including budgeting, P&L management, forecasting, cost controls, and profitability analysis.
- Experience developing business strategies, marketing initiatives, and revenue-generating partnerships.
- Proven ability to recruit, train, mentor, and retain high-performing hospitality teams.
- Experience working with VIP clientele and high-net-worth individuals.
- Excellent communication, organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to manage diverse and multicultural teams.
- Ability to adapt to changing business needs and lead effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or a related field preferred.
- Fluent English required; additional languages, including Spanish, are a plus.
- Professional appearance and demeanor consistent with luxury hospitality standards.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and varying schedules to support a 24-hour hotel operation.
Compensation & Benefits
- Annual Base Salary: $120,000–$125,000
- Annual Bonus Potential: Up to 20%
- Paid Time Off: 15 PTO days annually
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical plans for individuals and families
- 401(k): Company match of 5%
- Employee Perks: Dining and hotel stay discounts across the company
- Relocation Assistance: Not available at this time
- Visa Sponsorship: Not available
- Equal Employment Opportunity #AA