Dining Room Manager

Dining Room Manager

Join to apply for the Dining Room Manager role at The Inn at Little Washington
. Since 1978, this flagship restaurant and hotel, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has earned three Michelin stars, a Forbes 5‑Star rating, AAA 5‑Diamond status, and the Wine Spectator Grand Award.

We are looking for a dedicated professional to serve as the face of the organization and champion Chef Patrick O’Connell’s legacy. This opportunity offers on‑job training, advancement potential, flexible schedules, competitive pay, and a comprehensive benefits package.

• Health, vision, and dental insurance (full‑time employees)
• Paid time off (full‑time employees)
• 401(k) retirement plan with match
• On‑job training
• Employee education allowance
• Advancement potential
• Flexible schedules
• Employee appreciation events
• Complimentary uniforms
• Daily “family” meals prepared by the chefs
• Referral bonuses
• Competitive pay

The Dining Room Manager works under the leadership of the Restaurant Manager and acts as Chef Patrick O’Connell’s eyes and ears. The role is the face of the organization, ensuring guests receive a transformative, restorative experience. Tracking repeat guests, creating new business, and proactively managing guest sensitivities are key elements of the position.

• Always act as an ambassador of The Inn
• Assist the Restaurant Manager in the management of restaurant operations
• Safeguard the Inn at Little Washington Brand and assets
• Enforce adherence to 5‑Star/5‑Diamond standards and IALW policies
• Facilitate exceptional service; CIP’s, expo, KT entrance, problem solving, etc.
• Build and implement a culture that has a sustainable, formal program of ongoing staff training, education, and testing
• Support and work with the Restaurant Manager in creating detailed, transparent succession planning initiatives with sincere care for staff’s inclusion and career advancement with a focus on retention
• Support and work with the Restaurant Manager in the forward development of the next wave of leaders
• Support and work with the Restaurant Manager to establish consistency in performance reviews as well as accountability
• Support and work with the Restaurant Manager in the continuous improvement of the job description, onboarding process and testing regimes
• Daily maintenance of POS system
• Create weekly schedules
• Track and document callouts
• Audit employees’ timecards in Paycom on a daily and weekly basis
• Assist with accounting errors as well as Night Audit issues
• Create menu/wine tech sheets to be used as study material
• Guarantee that adequate linen is continuously on hand
• Ensure that the Chair room is consistently in an orderly state
• Interview candidates; onboard and train new hires
• Evaluate staff performance and coach/counsel as necessary
• Conduct daily pre‑shift meeting and elicit feedback from the service/kitchen staff
• Confirm that uniform inspection is complete, and that the dining room is prepared for service
• Monitor for repeat business and/or potential repeat business
• Extensive knowledge of Patrick O’Connell’s biography
• Extensive knowledge of the Inn at Little Washington’s story; past, present, and future
• Familiarity with the current Michelin 3‑Star restaurants in the U.S.
• Prior experience monitoring the “temperature” of a dining room to gauge guests’ mood level
• Identify inspectors or potential inspectors and alert all departments
• Communicate information such as CIP, SDR, and/or areas of concern to the kitchen
• Monitor the execution of service to assure that exceptional food and hospitality are being provided
• Interact with each guest to develop a relationship and evaluate mood level
• Identify, interpret, and resolve guest complaints
• Ensure that clean and healthy dining/service areas are maintained
• Actively promote the minimization of labor cost and loss prevention

• 5+ years’ combined experience in the luxury dining segment of the industry
• 3+ years’ supervisory leadership experience
• 3+ years’ experience as a Table Captain, Concierge, or Front Desk Manager
• Level 1 Wine Certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers
• Alcohol Awareness Program Certification
• Comprehensive knowledge of…