Job Description

Position Summary

Southern Kitchen is seeking a polished and driven Director of Hospitality & Events to join our leadership team. This role supports the Executive Director of Operations by overseeing guest arrival and hospitality, managing private dining and events, and providing collaborative oversight of bar operations. The ideal candidate is a hospitality professional with fine dining experience who thrives on creating seamless, memorable guest experiences while developing strong front-of-house teams.

Key Responsibilities

Hospitality & Guest Arrival

• Serve as an active on-floor manager, engaging with guests, resolving concerns, and ensuring world-class service.
• Lead and train the host team to deliver polished greetings, reservation management, and flawless first impressions.
• Oversee reservation flow to maximize seating, guest satisfaction, and smooth service operations.

Bar Oversight (with Bar Manager/Lead)

• Partner with the Bar Manager/Lead to uphold beverage quality, service consistency, and guest engagement.
• Support scheduling, training, and performance reviews for bar staff.
• Assist with bar promotions, happy hour programming, live music, and social events.
• Ensure full compliance with alcohol service and ABC regulations.

Private Dining & Events

• Act as the primary point of contact for private dining and event clients.
• Coordinate event details: menu planning, room setup, staffing, and billing.
• Oversee FOH staff during events to guarantee seamless execution
• Maintain BEOs, event files, contracts, and client communications.

Administrative Leadership

• Schedule host staff and private dining FOH teams.
• Track labor costs and assist in profitability reporting.
• Provide regular updates to the Exec of Ops on event revenue, bar performance, and host team development.
• Support compliance with health, safety, and alcohol service standards.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of management or supervisory experience in fine dining or upscale hospitality.
• Proven ability to lead guest services, private dining, and bar operations in collaboration with leadership.
• Strong knowledge of fine dining service standards and event execution.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) laws.
• Flexible schedule with availability on nights, weekends, and holidays.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary + performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Growth potential within a high-volume, elevated dining environment.
• A culture focused on hospitality, teamwork, and professional development.
• Opportunity to lead guest-facing experiences that set the standard in fine dining service.

Work Schedule

Full-time | 8-hour shifts | Nights, weekends, and holidays required.

On-call availability for private dining events and guest services.

🍽️ Welcome to Southern Kitchen Restaurant – Where Soul Meets Service
At Southern Kitchen, we don’t just serve food — we serve warmth, community, and tradition. Located in Stony Point Fashion Park in Richmond, VA, our restaurant is known for authentic Southern cuisine, heartfelt hospitality, and a dining experience that feels like home.
Whether it’s our perfectly fried catfish, creamy mac & cheese, or sweet tea served with a smile, everything we do is rooted in family, flavor, and pride.
We’re building a team of passionate, reliable, and energetic individuals who love great food and great people. If you're looking to grow in the restaurant industry, be part of a team that supports one another, and work in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment — you’re in the right place.
👨🏾‍🍳 What We Offer:
A welcoming and supportive team culture
Opportunities to grow within the company
Flexible scheduling and competitive pay
Training and development from experienced leaders
A chance to be part of something special in RVA
🌟 Join Our Story
We’re more than a restaurant — we’re a family. If you bring hustle, heart, and hospitality, we’d love to have you at our table.

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