Assistant Restaurant Manager - Independent Restaurant

Role Overview

Assistant Restaurant Manager at Radiant Hospitality Company, a chef-owned, independent all-day dining restaurant in Dubai. This is a hands-on deputy role in a busy, walk-in-only venue where front-of-house leadership and guest welcome are central to the operation.

Company Overview

The client is a casual, personal, community-led restaurant built around a communal table and an open kitchen, with a small retail offer. The menu features elevated comfort food, and the team is small, offering real management development and the opportunity to help shape service in a growing, chef-owned concept.

Role Purpose

You will deputise for the Restaurant Manager, own the front door and walk-in queue management, lead the front-of-house team during service, and take full operational charge of the venue in the Restaurant Manager's absence. The role requires confident, vibrant and genuinely warm leadership that remains calm and decisive during peak service periods.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Experience & Host Stand Management

• Run the host stand during peak periods: greet guests, quote accurate wait times and manage the walk-in queue and waitlist using a manual seating system.
• Manage the floor plan and seating to balance demand, table turns and guest comfort, including the communal table.
• Keep waiting guests informed and comfortable, and offer alternatives while they wait where appropriate.
• Recognise regulars and VIPs, record guest preferences and feedback, and respond to online reviews in line with company guidelines.
• Handle complaints and special requests calmly, resolving them on the floor wherever possible.

Front-of-House Operations

• Lead pre-shift briefings covering the covers forecast, menu changes, unavailable items, VIPs and the service focus.
• Oversee the floor throughout service, deploying staff to sections and adjusting cover as volumes change.
• Monitor table status and turn times, and coordinate with servers and bussers to reset tables quickly.
• Keep the kitchen and front of house in step, managing pacing between the open kitchen and the dining room.

Management & Deputy Duties

• Deputise for the Restaurant Manager during days off, leave and absence, with full responsibility for opening, running and closing the venue.
• Carry out opening and closing checklists, including cash-up, float and POS reconciliation.
• Complete shift handovers and daily, weekly and incident reports.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach and motivate the front-of-house team, and take part in recruitment, onboarding and on-the-job training.
• Prepare staff rotas for the Restaurant Manager's approval, and manage attendance, leave and break schedules.
• Uphold grooming, conduct and service standards, handle first-line performance issues and contribute to staff appraisals.

Financial & Inventory Management

• Monitor labour, consumables and breakage costs against budget, and support sales and cost reporting.
• Support stock control across the restaurant and its retail offer: ordering, receiving, stock counts and wastage logs.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with Dubai Municipality food safety and hygiene regulations and HACCP procedures, and keep health, safety and fire records up to date.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3 to 5 years of front-of-house experience, including at least 2 years as a supervisor or assistant manager.
• Proven experience running a host stand and walk-in waitlist in a high-demand, no-reservations venue, including manual seating and waitlist management.
• Background in busy, chef-led, independent or award-recognised restaurants preferred.
• Food safety certification (for example PIC or HACCP Level 2 or 3), or willingness to obtain it.
• A hospitality or business qualification is an advantage.
• Must already hold the right to work in the United Arab Emirates.

Skills & Competencies

• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure during peak service.
• A confident, warm and genuine hospitality style suited to a personal, community-led venue.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail and clear communication with guests, kitchen and team.
• Experience with POS systems, and with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• A real interest in food, cookbooks and produce, and the ability to talk about a menu with confidence.
• Fluent English; Arabic or other languages are an advantage.
• Flexibility to work weekends, evenings and public holidays.

Additional Information

This is a permanent, full-time, on-site position working a 5-day week on a shift basis, including weekends and evenings. The role reports to the Restaurant Manager. Target start date is 8 November 2026; candidates available at short notice will be prioritised. Candidates must be based in the United Arab Emirates; the client will sponsor the work visa for the successful candidate.

Salary: AED 12,000 per month, all-inclusive (basic salary plus housing and transport allowances), depending on experience.

Medical insurance provided.

30 days of annual leave, with a flight ticket every 12 months.

Duty meal provided.

Uniform provided.

Further benefits to be confirmed during the recruitment process.