VP of Front of House Operations

Hospitality Confidential is pleased to present an exciting new Vice President of Front of House Operations role in San Diego. Our client is a modern, high-volume restaurant group celebrated for its innovative approach to a variety of cuisines, with a focus on fresh, sustainable ingredients and handmade tortillas. Known for its vibrant atmosphere and elevated take on tacos, they blend authentic flavors with a contemporary dining experience, making it a standout in the culinary scene!

The Vice President of Front of House will be responsible for overseeing front‑of‑house operations in all markets. The primary focus will be on people, guest experience, and operational financial efficiency. This position will report to the President of Operations.

FINANCIAL (COGS & Labor):
Work with Operations and Main Office to establish and achieve clear profitability, performance goals, and metrics:

• Create periodic financial forecasts for the business to show blended COGS and labor percentages for FOH.
• Monitor CTUIT data on a daily and weekly basis to identify areas of opportunity.
• Ensure all managers are reviewing FOH inventories (e.g., beverages, supplies) and adjusting ordering habits to meet financial goals.
• Review FOH storage locations to ensure product pars are strategic and operations are organized and efficient within the given space.
• Guide managers in monitoring ordering habits and labor scheduling to achieve labor and cost goals.
• Monitor staff schedules and staffing pars to ensure appropriate staffing levels for each shift to optimize guest experience and efficiency.
• Work with Client Home Office, General Managers, and Operations Leadership to determine capital improvements needed in FOH areas (e.g., dining room, bar, or guest‑facing spaces).

Work with our leaders to grow the Client brand and culture:

• Be the standard you wish to set and constantly look to ‘inspect what you expect’ from your leaders.
• Hold management team accountable for achieving operational and guest service goals.
• Continuously coach and train FOH managers, servers, bartenders, and hosts to enhance guest experience, service flow, and operational efficiency.
• Seek opportunities to connect with internal and external community stakeholders to strengthen the Client brand.
• Train new General Managers and Assistant General Managers during their first weeks to ensure alignment with Client standards.
• Certify all lead FOH positions by training and testing candidates.
• Review staffing templates and shift times to ensure smooth FOH operations while maintaining baseline labor percentages.
• Review shift notes and follow up promptly with restaurant management to resolve issues, provide answers, and ensure Client standards and culture are upheld.
• Conduct interviews for potential FOH leadership roles and facilitate any terminations of FOH managers.

• Lead and mentor the leadership teams across all units, focusing on fostering a positive, guest‑centric culture that promotes teamwork and excellence.
• Collaborate with HR and restaurant leadership to recruit, train, and retain top talent across all locations.
• Develop and implement training programs that ensure consistent and high‑quality service across the group.
• Conduct periodic performance reviews and support continuous improvement through ongoing coaching and feedback.

Work with leaders to ensure exceptional service and brand consistency:

• Oversee service standards, guest interactions, and presentation to ensure alignment with Client’s brand and culture.
• Conduct routine audits of service quality, ambiance, and brand standards in the dining room and bar areas.
• Ensure all FOH areas (dining room, bar, host stand) are clean, organized, and meet brand expectations.
• Implement and monitor standard operating procedures (SOPs) for guest service and health/safety compliance.
• Follow up post‑health inspections to address any FOH‑related concerns.
• Ensure FOH teams are trained to anticipate guest needs and deliver personalized, high‑energy service.

• Expert on all areas of the employee lifecycle; hiring, training, feedback, growth, acknowledgement, employee…