Roles and Responsibilities of Food Service Managers

Your restaurant's food quality and presentation rest in the hands of your food service manager. What they bring to the customers' table is what helps create demand for your food and reaps you profits. They're essentially the face of your restaurant; without them, you'd probably be selling fish and chips at a food cart across the street. So, their role and presence are valuable assets for your restaurant business to succeed.

If you're struggling to find out what key skills to look out for and what the roles and responsibilities of food service managers are, then you have come to the right place. Read ahead to find what the perfect checklist is while hiring a food service manager and what the job description should comprise of.

Here are some credentials you should look for in a food service manager before hiring. If you already have a food service manager, look out for these abilities and guide them on how to upgrade their skills to ensure professional and personal growth prospects. 

Now that you know what to look for in a competent food service manager, here are the roles and responsibilities that make them the leading force behind your restaurant businesses' success.

Monitoring Inventory and Placing Orders for Supplies and Restaurant Equipment

An eye for planning ahead and making quick calculations is on the top of the list. Food service managers are responsible for ordering supplies according to the restaurant's needs and budget. They also monitor inventory while making sure there are adequate vendors available be on speed dial (in case one supplier has a delayed shipment) - without this key role, you'll probably run out of essential stock on a busy day.

Not only this, but checking equipment for any wear and tear on a frequent basis is also one of the core responsibilities. For faulty equipment, sending it in for repair or replacing it with an updated version that has come out in the market is on the job description as well. This adds to the quality of your food and brings the customer back for more. 

Scheduling and Supervising Food Prep and Food Presentation

We all know presentation matters, and so does food prep. Foodservice managers ensure both are executed in an efficient manner. They schedule different time slots for food prep. Overseeing and observing that it's done perfectly and keeping the staff on their toes is an important feature of their role. They also check the quality and presentation of the food before the waiter picks it up and places it in front of the customer – it needs to look picture perfect and taste amazing as well.

Managing the Restaurants Employees

Another key task on the list is managing the restaurant's employees and staff. Food service managers give directions on which tasks fit well with each employee along with making sure services are executed promptly and simultaneously.

Hiring and firing are also executed by them as they are the eyes and ears of the restaurant and have a sound idea of what goes on. Not only this but training the staff in areas where they may be lacking and need a little boost is carried out by food service managers as well. This is what ensures growth for your business and well as your employees. 

Ensure Customer Satisfaction

Lastly, and most importantly, food service managers ensure that there are no complaints from the customer – be it the food, ambiance, or overall dining experience. And if there are any, they know how to address the problem and ensure that the customer leaves the restaurant satisfied and happy. This is why people skills and communication is an important characteristic for food service managers.