What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maitre D position at Coucou?
Maître d’ — Coucou Venice
Location: Venice, CA
Reports to: General Manager / Ownership
Supervises: All Front-of-House Team Members
Role Overview
The Maître d’ at Coucou Venice is a senior Front-of-House leader responsible for delivering a gracious, seamless guest experience while managing, supporting, and developing the FOH team. This role blends hospitality, leadership, and operational excellence — serving as the face of the dining room and a key partner to management.
The Maître d’ sets the tone for service, ensures standards are upheld at every table, and acts as a central point of communication between guests, FOH staff, the kitchen, and leadership.
Key Responsibilities: Guest Experience & Floor Leadership
- Act as the primary host and ambassador of Coucou Venice during service
- Manage reservations, seating flow, pacing, and table assignments
- Greet and engage guests warmly, handle special requests, and resolve guest concerns with professionalism and discretion
- Maintain service standards, ambiance, and hospitality ethos throughout each shift
- Anticipate guest needs and elevate the overall dining experience
Front-of-House Leadership & Team Management
- Serve as the direct manager for all FOH team members, including hosts, servers, bussers, and bartenders
- Write and manage weekly FOH schedules in alignment with business needs and labor goals
- Assign and manage FOH breaks during service to ensure compliance and smooth operations
- Lead pre-shift meetings and ensure clear communication of nightly priorities
- Coach, mentor, and support FOH staff to maintain high performance and morale
- Participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management of FOH employees
- Address disciplinary issues and provide ongoing feedback in partnership with management
Operations & Administration
- Conduct daily floor walks to ensure readiness before service
- Monitor service flow, table turns, and staffing levels in real time
- Communicate closely with the kitchen and bar to ensure timing and coordination
- Assist with opening and closing procedures as needed
- Support management with FOH policies, service standards, and SOPs
- Uphold all health, safety, and labor compliance standards
Leadership Collaboration
- Participate in weekly leadership meetings with ownership and management
- Provide insights on guest feedback, staffing needs, and service improvements
- Act as a key liaison between FOH and BOH leadership
- Contribute to ongoing refinement of service standards and guest experience initiatives
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience in a senior FOH role (Maître d’, Head Host, FOH Manager, or similar)
- Proven leadership experience managing FOH teams and schedules
- Strong knowledge of service standards, reservations systems, and dining room operations
- Exceptional communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
- Calm, polished demeanor under pressure
- Passion for hospitality, people development, and guest experience
- Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required
What Success Looks Like
- Guests feel recognized, welcomed, and cared for from arrival to departure
- FOH team is well-scheduled, supported, and performing at a high level
- Service runs smoothly, efficiently, and with warmth — even during peak periods
- Clear communication and trust between FOH, BOH, and leadership
- Coucou Venice consistently delivers a memorable, elevated dining experience
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: $25.00 - $35.00 per hour
Expected hours: 20 – 30 per week
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
Salary : $25 - $35