Restaurant Manager

Job description:Restaurant Manager — Guest Experience & Hospitality ExcellencePosition SummarySavannah 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 OversightOversee 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 & LeadershipRecruit 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 ExcellenceManage 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.Qualifications3+ years of restaurant or hospitality management experience.Experience in high-volume dining, events, entertainment venues, or experiential hospitalitypreferred.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 insuranceHealth insurance

Created: 2026-05-15