Head Waiter — Pre-opening

We are seeking an experienced, polished Head Waiter to join the pre-opening team of a licensed, standalone dining venue in Dubai. This is a senior front‑of‑house leadership role for a hospitality professional who combines exemplary service standards with strong people management, operational discipline and a guest‑first mindset. The Head Waiter will be the visible service leader on the floor, responsible for delivering consistent, high‑quality guest experiences, mentoring wait staff, supporting pre‑opening rehearsals and maintaining service flow during peak covers. This role offers rapid progression for high performers and a rare opportunity to shape standard operating procedures, service choreography and the guest culture of a new venue from launch.

Key purpose of the role

• Ensure guest journeys are smooth, personalised and executed to the venue’s service standards.
• Lead and develop the wait staff team so that every table receives timely, accurate and gracious service.
• Act as the primary liaison between management, kitchen and bar to guarantee coordinated delivery and recovery during service.
• Build a high‑functioning FOH team through coaching, mentoring and structured on‑the‑job training.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead floor operations during assigned shifts: coordinate seating plans, table sequencing and staff deployment to meet service demands.
• Own service standards: ensure greeting, order taking, upselling, timing, food and beverage presentation and table etiquette adhere to SOPs.
• Mentor and coach commis waiters, runners and junior wait staff; run briefings, debriefs and practical training sessions during pre‑opening and live service.
• Manage guest relations on the floor: personally handle VIPs and sensitive escalations with composure, discretion and rapid resolution.
• Oversee mise en place for service stations, confirm sidework completion and maintain station readiness throughout service.
• Coordinate with the bar and kitchen on course timing, special requests and allergen management; communicate delays proactively to guests.
• Monitor service KPIs: average cover time, ticket times, guest feedback and incident logs; escalate trends and improvement plans to management.
• Ensure accurate handling of guest checks, bill presentation and payment procedures; support cash handling audits when required.
• Maintain professional standards in appearance, grooming and floor presence; enforce dress code and presentation within the FOH team.
• Contribute to pre‑opening planning: service run‑throughs, SOP finalisation, seating layout feedback and role mapping.
• Take responsibility for health, safety and hygiene adherence on the floor and ensure food safety policies (allergen control, cross‑contamination prevention) are followed.

Candidate requirements

• Minimum 3–5 years’ front‑of‑house experience in licensed, standalone venues; prior Head Waiter or Senior Waiter experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrable background in fine dining, upscale casual or high‑volume festive restaurant environments is a significant advantage.
• Strong leadership and coaching capability with experience supervising and developing small FOH teams.
• Excellent guest communication skills, polished presentation and the ability to manage high‑pressure service periods with calm efficiency.
• Sound commercial awareness — ability to support upselling, ensure table turn efficiency and protect revenue through attentive service.
• Practical understanding of POS systems, payment processing and basic cash handling procedures.
• Good knowledge of food safety principles and allergen management.
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends and public holidays; willingness to participate in pre‑opening training schedules.
• Valid work eligibility for the UAE and readiness to provide references from recent hospitality roles.

Skills and attributes that stand out

• Natural leadership presence and an ability to coach by example.
• Strong attention to detail and a relentless focus on consistency.
• Confident communicator who can liaise with kitchen, bar and management smoothly.
• Proactive problem solver who anticipates issues and acts quickly to maintain guest satisfaction.
• High emotional intelligence; able to manage guest expectations and staff dynamics with diplomacy.

Application process

To apply, email your CV and a short cover note to gm@paris-paradis.ae with the subject line: Head Waiter — [Your Full Name]. In your cover note, include a 2–3 line summary of your licensed venue experience, your current notice period and earliest availability. Alternatively, visit careers.yalladuka.com for more details and to track the application. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial phone screen, followed by practical assessments and panel interviews. Due to high application volumes, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Location, company information and benefits

• Location: Dubai, UAE — pre‑opening for a standalone licensed venue (exact address confirmed during recruitment).
• Company: A new dining and entertainment concept inspired by elevated social dining, delivering refined menus, a curated beverage programme and memorable service.
• Benefits: Competitive salary (market‑aligned), shift allowances (role dependent), staff meals, medical coverage and role‑dependent support for accommodation or transport where applicable. Pre‑opening roles include structured training, mentorship and strong internal progression pathways into supervisory and managerial positions.

Joining as Head Waiter at pre‑opening means you will play a pivotal role in shaping a venue’s reputation and service DNA. We are looking for resilient, experienced frontline leaders who take pride in craft, teamwork and guest moments — if this describes you, we look forward to receiving your application.