Dining Room Captain

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to join the team as a Dining Room Captain at the #1 Hotel in Los Angeles, as voted by Travel and Leisure: Oceana in Santa Monica, CA. This oceanfront, all-suite hotel reopened in July 2019 after undergoing a $35 million complete transformation. The restaurant will be newly renovated and relaunched with a brand-new concept and dining room design by Martin Brudnizki. The restaurant will feature a refreshed dining concept inspired by Santa Monica’s lush natural beauty. Expect an inventive menu, artfully prepared plates, and handcrafted cocktails to join a curated wine list—all resulting in a Southern California dining experience beyond compare. We are now seeking motivated and enthusiastic professionals to join our team as integral members. 

As a Dining Room Captain for Hotel Oceana Santa Monica’s new restaurant, you play a vital role in achieving our goal of delivering high levels of guest satisfaction and unparalleled service by providing exceptional food service to both dine-in guests and room service. Over the next few weeks, we will schedule in-person and digital interviews for qualified candidates.

Apply today! Then, check your phone and email messages frequently for a message about scheduling a brief phone interview.

The How…

Throughout each shift, you are responsible for promptly taking orders from guests, communicating food allergies and nutritional needs to kitchen staff, assisting with delivery orders, and checking in periodically to ensure guest satisfaction. Your attention to detail in the dining environment, order accuracy, and ability to familiarize yourself quickly with the restaurant’s offerings will help ensure a positive dining experience.

As the Server Captain, you also assist the Food and Beverage Manager and Floor Supervisor in ensuring operational efficiency by effectively coordinating the service staff during peak and non-peak operating hours.

Your friendly, efficient, and high-touch approach is perfect when engaging with guests and team members. Your diligence in addressing and appropriately escalating guest feedback, concerns, or complaints while clearly and tactfully communicating with servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff is an asset and contributes to effective restaurant operations.

Your year-plus experience in a server position in a fine dining setting is helpful for quickly acclimating to the job responsibilities.

The Details…

You will work a full-time hospitality schedule, defined by operational needs, which includes weekends and holidays.

Must conform to hotel dress and grooming standards, which include wearing the hotel-issued uniform, no visible tattoos while wearing a uniform, no unnatural hair colors, no piercings other than one pair of earrings, and neatly groomed facial hair. 

We offer a range of benefits to meet your needs, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) retirement savings account, and basic life insurance options. New employees accrue 80 hours of vacation in the first year and earn up to 80 hours of paid sick leave per year. Eligible employees also receive holiday pay (if working) or paid holidays (if scheduled off) for six annual holidays*.

After you apply, please listen to voicemails, answer calls from unknown numbers, and check your emails for a message from us regarding the next step.

*To be eligible for holiday pay, employees must have completed 90 days of employment and worked the last scheduled day before and the first day after the holiday.

Hotel Oceana Santa Monica is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We will consider all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Treats all guests with the highest level of concern and care; demonstrates a natural disposition towards personal and public safety; operates from a place of integrity, honesty, and ethics
• Able and willing to maintain regular attendance and punctuality to ensure all essential duties are fulfilled
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write and speak clearly
• Treats everyone with respect and dignity, accepts responsibility and takes ownership of tasks, follows through on commitments, takes initiative and maintains confidentiality
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, strong time management skills with a proven ability to meet goals and deadlines
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Education and Experience

• A high school diploma or GED is required, or equivalent work experience in the hospitality industry
• Food handling certification (ServSafe and Responsible Beverage Service) required
• Prior food service experience in a hospitality environment is preferred, but not necessary

Physical Requirements

• Expected work hours: Full-time on a schedule defined by operational needs
• Travel: None
• Work environment and physical demands:
  • Able to frequently lift or move items weighing up to 10 pounds; occasionally needs to lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds
  • Able to use hands to use and manipulate tools and objects or control equipment; adequate vision to do the same safely
  • Able to move about the property to perform assigned tasks and responsibilities, including standing for extended periods, walking or otherwise traversing the property, climbing stairs, stooping, kneeling, or crouching to perform functions
• FLSA Status: Nonexempt

Please note that this job description is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee in this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities are subject to change at any time, with or without notice.