What are the responsibilities and job description for the Service Director position at St Jardim?
The Service Director at St. Jardim is responsible for leading and managing the PM front-of-house team, overseeing nightly service execution and the long-term growth of the staff. This role plays a key leadership function in building a strong, dynamic team while upholding St. Jardim’s service and wine standards and ensuring that team members receive ongoing support, coaching and continued development.
We're looking for an energetic and proactive people-manager who thrives in a dynamic environment with the ability to balance guest experience, team development and long-term planning. Reporting to the Director of Hospitality, the Service Director maintains a strong floor presence during PM service (4–5 shifts per week), providing leadership and support to the PM team and Chef(s).
Compensation & Benefits:
- $80,000 - $85,000 annually based on experience
- Generous & flexible PTO
- Subsidized medical, dental and vision insurance
- Collaborative, tight-knit team across our two restaurants (St. Jardim & Fedora)
- Annual staff event and seasonal outings
- Career advancement opportunities and room for growth
- Dining discounts
Key Qualities:
- Strong wine knowledge & background
- Energetic, passionate and high integrity leader capable of mentoring others through a combination of inspiration and accountability
- Strong problem solving abilities with a bias toward action and solutions. Balances scrappiness with finesse
- Thoughtful and can effectively communication with all levels of staff - high emotional intelligence ensuring team feels seen and appreciated
- Ability to balance short-term needs with long-term team development
Role Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development:
- Lead and develop the PM front-of-house team, emphasizing engagement, teamwork and optimism as key values that drive our culture
- Represent and be a role model of St. Jardim’s hospitality, wine and service standards
- Serve as the primary leader and mentor for the PM FOH team – building trusting relationships across a diverse staff
- Actively coach and appraise team performance, delivering timely and constructive feedback
- Model teamwork and service best practices by actively participating in nightly service
- Manage hiring, onboarding and training processes alongside the Director of Hospitality
- Partner with leadership to drive ongoing wine education initiatives
Service Execution:
- Maintain a confident nightly leadership presence, guiding service flow, pacing, guest interactions and team coordination
- Ensure all FOH team members demonstrate strong menu knowledge and can confidently guide guests through the wine list and beverage program
- Strengthen FOH–BOH communication regarding menu changes, 86’s, dish pacing and service needs
- Partner with Chef to maintain open, consistent communication on guest feedback, dish execution and any issues that arise during service
- Conduct PM service preparation, including room setup, staff readiness, organization and communication of nightly priorities
- Manage guest issues with professionalism and sound judgment
- Maintain reservation integrity, guest notes and VIP communication in collaboration with the Maitre D’
- Build and deepen relationships with regulars, neighborhood guests and returning clientele
Scheduling & Administrative:
- Own and manage PM FOH schedules, ensuring coverage, balanced teams and adherence to labor budgets
- Monitor and forecast staffing needs in collaboration with the Director of Hospitality and DOO
- Review payroll, timesheets and tip-pool administration
- Complete nightly manager reports on team performance, wins, challenges, guest feedback and operational needs
- Partner with the DOO to maintain organizational systems, service tools and supply management
- Support FOH-related inventory, beverage-program logistics and operational workflow improvements
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Ensure compliance with DOH, safety and labor policies
Equal Opportunity Employer: St. Jardim does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices, including hiring, promotion, compensation, and training. We also provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation, please contact us at hello@stjardimnyc.com
Salary : $80,000 - $85,000