The Front of House Manager leads daily dining service across Interlochen's cafeterias and catered events. This role is responsible for the guest experience, front-of-house staffing and training, service flow, and food safety practices on the service line. The Front of House Manager works closely with the Executive Chef, the Assistant Director of Dining Services, and the back-of-house/catering team to deliver consistent, welcoming service to students, campers, faculty, staff, families, and guests in a high-volume setting that grows significantly during the summer camp season.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
Service Operations and Guest Experience
- Lead daily FOH operations across cafeterias and service areas, including line setup, service flow, replenishment, cleanliness, and closing. Ensure each meal period opens on time and runs smoothly at peak volume.
- Model Interlochen's service standards on the floor, set clear expectations for staff, and monitor quality throughout service.
- Resolve guest concerns promptly and professionally, and use feedback to improve service.
- Communicate allergen and special diet information accurately in coordination with the Executive Chef, ensuring labeling and serving practices prevent cross-contact.
- Maintain a safe, welcoming dining environment that follows youth protection policies, including appropriate supervision and professional boundaries.
- Adjust service plans for high volume periods such as camp sessions, academy move-in, and festivals.
Staff Leadership
- Recruit, onboard, train, and supervise FOH staff, including regular, seasonal, and student employees, ensuring each is trained on service, food safety, allergen, and youth protection expectations before working independently.
- Build schedules that match service volume within labor budgets, approve timekeeping, and monitor overtime.
- Lead summer seasonal hiring and training so the team is fully staffed before camp begins.
- Coach staff, recognize strong performance, conduct performance reviews, and address personnel issues with Human Resources and Dining Services leadership.
- Develop shift leads and cross-train staff to strengthen coverage.
Food Safety, Operations, and Cross-Team Collaboration
- Partner with the Assistant Director of Dining Services to keep FOH areas compliant with health codes and sanitation standards. Monitor holding temperatures and cleaning schedules, maintain required logs, and escalate concerns promptly.
- Assist with health inspections and audits, implement corrective actions, and retrain staff as needed.
- Coordinate with kitchen and catering teams on events, menus, staffing, and service timing so the kitchen and dining room operate as one team.
- Hold regular check-ins with the BOH and Catering leader to share meal counts, menu changes, special diet needs, and upcoming events.
- Report service volume, labor, and guest feedback to the Director of Dining Services, and recommend improvements with the Assistant Director and the BOH and Catering leader.
General
- Comply with Interlochen policies and procedures and act as a responsible steward of Interlochen resources.
- Respect the culture, diversity, and rights of all students, their families, employees, and the community.
- Prioritize duties in a manner consistent with organizational objectives and growth.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate or Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Food Service Management, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in front-of-house hospitality or institutional food service, including at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
- Experience in high-volume dining, campus, or camp environments preferred.
- ServSafe certification and/or ServSafe Instructor certification.
- Knowledge of front-of-house operations, service standards, and food safety practices in a high-volume environment.
- Experience scheduling, training, and supervising diverse teams, including students and seasonal employees.
- Ability to remain calm, organized, and guest-focused during peak service periods and live events.
- Ability to accurately communicate allergen and special dietary information to guests, parents, and kitchen staff.
- Ability to handle cash accurately and adhere to established financial controls.
- Ability to address and resolve employee concerns and conflicts fairly and promptly.
- Ability to understand and execute verbal and written instructions.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated respect for cultural, ethnic, spiritual, and linguistic diversity, including differences in personal goals, lifestyle choices, and family backgrounds.
Application Materials Required:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Vacation, Sick, Holiday and generous winter holiday time off
- Life insurance
- Voluntary life insurance
- Short and long-term disability
- Employee development & tuition reimbursement programs
- 403(b) plan, managed by TIAA
- Free or discounted employee tickets to Interlochen performances and events *some exceptions apply
- Early event ticket purchase before general public sales begin
- Free Stone Cafeteria meal on shift
- Dennison Recreation Center accessibility (includes spouses)
- Priority access to Interlochen employees at Pitter Patter Day Care Center (less than one mile from campus)
- Employee Referral Program (cash payments)
- Tuition discounts for employee's children at Academy, Camp and Interlochen Online
- Parental leave (12 weeks paid for Pregnancy/Maternity/Childbirth leave, 6 weeks paid for Parental leave).
Interlochen is proud to provide priority placement at Pitter Patter Preschool & Childcare located in the Interlochen Community Center, near our campus, for employees' dependents. In addition, Interlochen employees may be eligible for the MI Tri-Share Program. This program shares the cost of childcare between the state of Michigan, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and the employee (The employee will only pay 1/3 of the total cost, if eligible). Income guidelines and more information about MI Tri-Share can be found at https://www.michigan.gov/mwc/initiatives/mi-tri-share-child-care.