Private Dining Room Manager

COTE, the carnivorous vision of proprietor Simon Kim, blends the dining experience of Korean Barbeque together with the hallmarks of a classic American Steakhouse. The result is a unique, convivial and interactive atmosphere, accompanied by the highest quality USDA Prime beef, an impeccable 1200+ label wine list, and a suite of classic-but-creative cocktails

Smokeless grills in every table, combined with cuts from our in-house dry aging room, ensure that every morsel of steak is hot, fresh, and caramelized every bite. 

At COTE, we follow a simple mantra: 🥩 + 🔥 + 🍸 = 😊

• Hiring Phase: COTE begins the hiring process, including resume screening and interviews, August 12 onwards. 
• Training Phase: The training phase is planned for two weeks in mid-September, Monday-Friday. The week of 9/15, training will run from 10am to 3pm in order to allow those who are currently employed to continue working. The week of 9/22, training will run from 10am to 4pm. 
• Pre-Opening: The Pre-Opening phase runs from Monday, 9/29 to Thursday, 10/2 and consists of Friends & Family services during normal dinner hours.
• Grand Opening: The grand opening party will take place on Friday 10/3, and the restaurant will be open for service 7 days/week beginning on Saturday 10/4.

Job Summary:  

The Private Dining Room (PDR) Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of private dining and event execution at COTE. This role bridges the gap between Front of House, Back of House, and Events teams to ensure seamless guest experiences. The ideal candidate is a dynamic leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels in guest service, and demonstrates exceptional operational and communication skills.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Hospitality:

• Promotes the core values and culture of COTE, including but not limited to excellence in food and beverage, service, and hospitality. 
• Liaise between the Events, FOH, and BOH, departments before and during all events. 
• Provides and oversees the service for all VIP customers when on property.
• Develops positive customer relationships and addresses customer service needs. Responds to customer feedback as needed. 

Operations:

• Oversees daily restaurant administration including payroll, opening/closing administration, service floor plans, daily walkthroughs, etc. 
• Manages hourly employees in their daily responsibilities at COTE, providing clear, effective direction. 
• Creates systems of accountability and provides consistent feedback, coaching, and disciplinary action as needed. 
• Performs all back office POS functions including employee profile and menu creation. 
• Plans, executes and communicates all promotions and company information effectively and efficiently.
• Conducts Department of Health (“DOH”) walk-throughs multiple times per day when on duty to ensure DOH compliance; Address all DOH violations immediately.
• Promotes and practices safe work habits, identifies and resolves potential safety hazards; Documents accidents, conducts initial investigation and determination of root cause of safety incidents in the interest of maintaining a safe work environment.
• Ensures that all team members are educated on our products and services. 
• Ensures that all COTE drink and food recipes and procedures are followed, maintaining the highest quality and consistent product standards.
• Participates in community events and helps to ensure corporate social responsibility goals of the company are met.
• Support standard dining service flow when private events are light.

Staff Management:

• Hire, train, supervise, manage, coach, counsel, and evaluate FOH hourly employees. Develops and inspires the team. 
• Acts as role model for outstanding service; continuously works to elevate service standards, and personally embodies hospitality in daily actions.
• Consistently monitors, coaches and encourages management team and hourly service employees to meet Company’s service standards.
• Resolves team member or customer conflicts consistent with COTE’s complaint handling guidelines. 
• Builds morale and team spirit by fostering a work environment where team members’ input is encouraged.
• Responsible for training new employees as assigned.

Events:

• Manage multiple BEOs during nightly service across all dining areas, including private dining rooms (PDRs) and contracted large groups; Manage the sales cycle of an event from inception to completion, prioritizing all facets of event coordination.
• Monitor all event calendars for assigned businesses, with a focus on organization and accuracy.
• Oversee maintenance of the reservation book in conjunction with the Maître d' Manager. 
• Ensure that all large group dining reservations are booked in the reservation book once confirmed. 
• Serve as the main on-site point of contact for all collateral and external rental deliveries. 
• Own all VIP gifting plans, and sign off on special accommodations including friends & family discounts. Develop and nurture customer and community relationships.
• Provide strong communication to effectively deliver accurate messaging to all customers. 
• Provide updates to events as necessary with both Front of House and Back of House teams in order to ensure clear and constant communication. 
• Ensures that all events are correctly staffed for including PARs and call times. 
• Directly oversee set-up for all contracted events, including VIP and partnership events, all BEO’s in the PDR and in the dining room.
• Regularly audits events, brochures, and costs the program with the culinary and beverage team departments. 
• Proposes pricing and menu updates to leadership and the sales and events department for approval.
• Suggest programming to the sales team based on events operating experience.
• Maintain and update event marketing materials and menus.
• Understand, maintain, and review all department financials against budgeted goals. Audits all event closures for financial accuracy. Maintains tidy events bookkeeping at the direction of the VP of Finance and the Head of Global Events. 
• Prepare and present quarterly and annual reports in conjunction with the sales and events team.

Standards:

• Display knowledge of Cote brand, culture, and product.
• Demonstrate the Company’s core values of people, learning, culture, relationships, sustainability and stewardship.
• Maintain professional and respectful behavior when in contact with customers, management, and teammates.
• Present a polished personal appearance, adhering to company grooming standards outlined in the Employee Handbook. 
• Adhere to all company policies and procedures outlined in handbooks, manuals, and other company documents.
• Attend and participate in all scheduled meetings, training sessions, and continuing education activities.
• Take care of all company property.
• Maintain safety, cleanliness, and sanitation standards.
• Comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Qualifications:

• Must have the ability to read, speak, understand, follow written directions, and verbal instructions in English.
• Must be reachable by email and able to communicate via phone as well.
• Communicates information effectively and efficiently. 
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Possesses a positive, results-oriented, team-player mentality.
• Ability to perform job duties and responsibilities well and maintain professionalism and composure under pressure and in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Ability to under pressure and maintain professionalism when working under stress.
• Knowledge of workplace safety procedures and local Department of Health standards.
• Food Handler’s Certification or the ability to obtain in accordance with federal, state, or local regulations and/or Company policy.
• Able to work a flexible schedule in order to accommodate business levels (weekend, nights, and holiday availability required). We will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs.  
• Familiarity with restaurant management software such as point of sales, reservations management, inventory management, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace. 
• Working understanding of human resource principles, practices, and procedures.
• Demonstrates positive leadership characteristics and supervisory skills, which inspire team members to meet and exceed standards. 
• Ability to effectively train others.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.
• Ability to exercise tact, courtesy, and ethics when dealing with vendors, co-workers, and customers. 
• Ability to maintain a positive working relationship with all third-party vendors.
• Degree in Hospitality, Culinary Management, or similar subject preferred.
• Ability to execute steps of service in adherence with company policy. 
• Must be of legal age to serve alcohol. 
• Certification for responsible alcohol service or ability to obtain within 6 months.