Shift Lead in San diego, California at Malibu Farm Seaport Village

What You’ll Do

The Shift Lead is responsible for supporting the management team in creating an exceptional guest experience while maintaining smooth, efficient restaurant operations. This role serves as a leader on the floor, providing direction to the team, maintaining Malibu Farm standards, and ensuring that every shift runs with urgency, organization, and hospitality.

The Shift Lead position will be responsible for the following:

· Arrive on time, clock in and out accurately, and be prepared to lead the shift from the moment you arrive.

· Maintain a professional appearance and follow all Malibu Farm grooming and uniform standards outlined in the employee handbook.

· Follow all meal and rest break policies in accordance with California labor laws and company procedures.

· Provide a warm, genuine, and hospitable first impression to every guest. Greet guests, acknowledge regulars, and create a welcoming environment throughout their experience.

· Maintain a strong knowledge of the Malibu Farm menu, ingredients, preparation methods, beverages, daily specials, and restaurant policies in order to confidently answer guest questions and make thoughtful recommendations.

· Ensure all guests receive attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable service while maintaining Malibu Farm's standards of hospitality.

· Answer the restaurant telephone promptly and professionally and appropriately direct guest inquiries, reservations, event questions, and other calls.

· Support the host team with reservations, seating flow, wait times, guest communication, and managing the overall pace of the restaurant. Opentable experience is a plus!

· Monitor the dining room throughout the shift to ensure tables are properly set, clean, maintained, and ready for guests.

· Assist servers, bartenders, hosts, bussers, and other team members as needed to maintain an efficient and cohesive operation.

· Communicate clearly with managers and staff regarding daily business needs, staffing concerns, guest issues, reservations, events, and operational priorities.

· Assist management with delegating tasks and managing break schedules to ensure proper coverage throughout the shift.

· Monitor ticket times, table flow, service pacing, and overall guest experience, communicating concerns to the appropriate manager or kitchen leadership.

· Maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, temperature, cleanliness, and consistency in accordance with Malibu Farm standards and applicable food safety regulations.

· Complete and maintain required food safety, temperature, cleaning, and operational logs accurately and consistently.

· Ensure proper food handling, dating, labeling, storage, and rotation procedures are followed.

· Conduct regular checks of the dining room, bar, service areas, restrooms, host stand, and other guest-facing areas throughout the shift.

· Maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards throughout the restaurant and ensure team members are completing their assigned side work.

· Take initiative to clean, organize, and address operational needs rather than waiting to be directed.

· Assist with opening and closing procedures, including cash handling, side work, cleaning, stocking, securing the restaurant, and completion of required closing documentation.

· Handle cash responsibly and follow all company procedures regarding registers, payments, comps, voids, discounts, and cash reconciliation.

· Support the management team with nightly documentation and ensuring all required paperwork and checklists are completed accurately.

· Be knowledgeable about Malibu Farm's policies and procedures and confidently communicate them to staff and guests when appropriate.

· Help resolve guest concerns professionally and promptly, involving a manager when necessary.

· Maintain awareness of the restaurant at all times and proactively respond to spills, safety concerns, special requests, service issues, and other unexpected situations.

· Ensure proper stocking of service stations, beverage areas, dining room supplies, and other operational necessities throughout the shift.

· Assist with event execution, large parties, private dining, and special events as assigned.

· Communicate effectively with the kitchen and bar teams to ensure strong coordination between front and back of house.

· Help maintain a positive, respectful, and team-oriented work environment while holding staff accountable to Malibu Farm standards.

· Lead by example through professionalism, urgency, organization, hospitality, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed.

· Support the training and development of newer team members by reinforcing proper procedures, service standards, menu knowledge, and restaurant policies.

· Be able to confidently answer team questions and know when to escalate an issue to management.

· Maintain a sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment while remaining calm, organized, and solution-oriented.

· Respect the restaurant and its facilities by reporting maintenance concerns, damaged equipment, safety hazards, or other issues to management promptly.

· Complete all assigned opening, closing, cleaning, and deep-cleaning responsibilities according to established checklists and procedures.

· Maintain clear and professional communication with the management team regarding daily operations, staffing, guest feedback, and any incidents that occur during the shift.

· Consistently represent the Malibu Farm brand and its commitment to quality, hospitality, sustainability, and exceptional guest experiences.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

Must have experience in management setting

Toast + Opentable background is a plus

Customer Service Skills

Attention to Detail

Time Management

Problem Solving Skills

Adaptability

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Initiative