A dining room manager works in a restaurant or another area where food service takes place, like a large corporate cafeteria, a resort, or a hospital. He or she is responsible for managing all aspects of the dining room, such as making sure the servers and bussers are working as they are supposed to, maintaining the appearance of the dining room, and dealing with any customer problems. The manager typically does not supervise people in the kitchen, where the chef or chefs are generally in charge.
Typically, a dining room manager will be someone who has a extensive experience in the food service industry. It can be a very stressful, challenging, and fast paced job, particularly in larger restaurant environments. Many managers will first begin as servers and then work their way up into a supervisory or managerial role. The responsibilities of the job may vary depending on the size of the establishment and the number of other employees that work there.
As with most managerial positions, someone in this position will often be in charge of planning the work schedule for the other employees, making sure that all shifts are sufficiently covered, and attempting to accommodate requests for days off. He or she may interview potential new employees, and make hiring decisions as well as determine whether or not someone can continue working. Once new employees are hired, the manager might be responsible for training them and enforcing any company standards regarding dress code or work behavior, for example.
In addition to working with other employees, the manager of a dining room will typically need to maintain an inventory of any necessary linens or other products, and do the ordering as needed. He or she may also be responsible for bookkeeping or maintaining accounts. Customer service is also a large part of this job, and it is vital for this individual to be able to resolve any issues with customers quickly and quietly, while maintaining a courteous and respectful demeanor.
A dining room manager will typically not work regular hours. Often, weekend or evening shifts are required, sometimes more than full time. For people who want to work in the food service industry, however, it can be an excellent career path that offers benefits and other perks, and it allows a lot of interaction with other people. It also provides professional insight into the industry for anyone considering opening a restaurant of their own.
