Coaching, Corporate Policies, Cost Control, Demand Forecasting/Planning, Demographics, Dental Insurance, Food Quality, Food Services, Hospitality Construction, Inventory Costs, Inventory Management, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Metrics, Onboarding, Restaurant, Safety Compliance, Safety/Work Safety, Storytelling, Team Building, Training Program
Job description:
Restaurant Manager — Guest Experience & Hospitality Excellence
Position Summary
Savannah Riverboat Cruises is seeking a highly service-driven Restaurant Manager to lead and elevate our onboard dining experience to a "Disney-level" standard of hospitality. This role is responsible for transforming each cruise into a seamless, immersive, and memorable experience where dining, entertainment, and Southern charm come together flawlessly.
This is not a traditional restaurant management position — this is an experienced leadership role. The Restaurant Manager sets the emotional tone onboard, ensures exceptional service choreography, and builds a hospitality culture that delights guests from boarding to farewell.
Hospitality Training & Culture Leadership (Core Responsibility)
- Develop and implement a comprehensive hospitality training program focused on anticipatory service, storytelling, and immersive guest engagement.
- Train crew members to create 'magic moments' that surprise and delight guests.
- Lead daily pre-cruise service briefings that align the team on guest demographics, special occasions, and experience goals.
- Coach team members on refined Southern hospitality, guest recognition, and polished service presentation.
- Implement service recovery training that empowers staff to confidently resolve concerns onboard.
- Conduct ongoing floor coaching during live cruises to maintain elevated service standards.
- Ensure seamless collaboration between service staff, culinary team, entertainment, and marine operations.
Guest Journey Oversight
- Oversee the full guest experience — from dockside welcome to final departure.
- Ensure smooth boarding flow, dining service timing, entertainment transitions, and farewell touchpoints.
- Create systems for recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, VIP guests, and repeat cruisers.
- Maintain impeccable cleanliness, ambiance, and presentation throughout the vessel.
- Monitor guest feedback and online reviews to continuously elevate the experience.
Team Development & Leadership
- Recruit hospitality professionals who embody warmth, professionalism, and enthusiasm.
- Design structured onboarding specific to riverboat service standards and experiential dining.
- Provide hands-on coaching during cruises in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Foster a culture of accountability, pride, and performance excellence.
- Develop assistant managers and supervisors into hospitality leaders.
Operational Excellence
- Manage staffing levels according to cruise schedules and seasonal demand.
- Oversee labor control while maintaining premium service standards.
- Ensure compliance with maritime safety protocols, health codes, and company policies.
- Partner with culinary leadership to ensure consistency in food quality, timing, and presentation.
- Monitor inventory, cost controls, and service efficiency metrics.
Qualifications
- 3+ years of restaurant or hospitality management experience.
- Experience in high-volume dining, events, entertainment venues, or experiential hospitality
- preferred.
- Demonstrated success building and leading service training programs.
- Strong leadership presence and high emotional intelligence.
- Ability to remain calm and decisive in a moving vessel, live entertainment, and time-sensitive evironment.
- Passion for guest engagement and memorable experience creation.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
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Savannah Riverboat Cruises