A Restaurant Manager for Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, a Forbes Five-Star luxury property, is responsible for leading all aspects of the restaurant’s lunch & dinner operations, commercial performance, management and reputation to deliver exceptional, refined and personalized guest experiences. As the hotel’s signature steakhouse, Bull & Bear is committed to the highest standards of service excellence, team engagement, operational efficiency and financial performance. Working closely with the Director of Food & Drinks, the Restaurant Manager drives guest satisfaction, revenue growth and brand excellence through effective leadership and innovation, while ensuring compliance with Waldorf Astoria and Forbes Travel Guide Standards.
What will I be doing?
As a Restaurant Manager, the primary purpose of this role is to lead and oversee the day-to-day lunch & dinner operations of Bull & Bear, ensuring the delivery of exceptional food, drinks, and service experiences while maximizing guest satisfaction, team performance, and profitability. Specifically, you will be responsible for:
1. Commercial Performance
- Achieve the restaurant’s business plan, considering financials, market strategy, team member and guest experience.
- Partner with the Commercial team on marketing and social media plans for the restaurant to drive visibility and reputation.
- Manage the restaurant budget and forecast effectively. Review business results - including sales, costs, profit margins, covers, guest satisfaction - and take action to improve performance.
- Optimise covers using good revenue management and reservations processes.
2. Excellent Food & Drinks
- Partner with the Executive Chef and Food & Drinks Leadership Team to create innovative steakhouse menus, drink offerings and promotional activities that drive guest engagement and profitability.
- Ensure food and drinks offerings are consistently delivered to luxury standards of quality, presentation, freshness, and service excellence.
- Maintain a strong knowledge of food, wine, spirits and specialty drinks.
- Continuously evaluate market trends and guest preferences to enhance menus and experiences.
- Champion Hilton's sustainability initiatives through responsible sourcing, waste reduction, and environmentally conscious operating practices.
- Drive product knowledge and service excellence through ongoing team coaching and training.
- Deliver high-quality, well-presented food and drinks to meet customers’ needs - and Instagram feeds!
3. Exceptional Guest Experiences
- Lead the team in delivering Forbes Five-Star and Waldorf Astoria luxury service standards.
- Ensure Team Members provide personalised, intuitive, anticipated and memorable guest experiences at every interaction.
- Develop strong relationships with regular guests, VIPs, residents, and corporate clients to increase guest loyalty and repeat business.
- Review and act on guest feedback, satisfaction scores, and online reviews, implementing improvements where required (e.g. TripAdvisor, Google Reviews).
- Resolve guest concerns promptly and professionally, ensuring service recovery exceeds expectations.
- Maintain the highest standards in managing food allergies, dietary requirements, and special requests.
- Enhance the reputation of the restaurant through quality service, consistency and exceptional hospitality.
4. Great Working Environment
- Lead, develop, coach, and inspire a high-performing team across Bull & Bear.
- Foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment where Team Members can thrive and achieve their professional goals.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, training, succession planning, performance management, and recognition initiatives.
- Schedule Team Members efficiently based on forecasted business levels while effectively managing labour costs.
- Conduct regular team briefings, coaching sessions, and performance discussions.
- Build strong working relationships with Culinary, Commercial, Housekeeping, Engineering, Finance, and other hotel departments.
- Maintain high standards of grooming, professionalism, and workplace conduct.
5. Day-To-Day Essentials
- Ensure operations comply with health, safety, hygiene, food safety, licensing, and company policies.
- Conduct regular inspections and audits to ensure operational excellence and compliance with luxury brand standards.
- Oversee all opening and closing procedures, including cash handling, financial controls, daily reports, and reconciliations.
- Manage inventory, purchasing, stock control, and cost management in accordance with company guidelines.
- Ensure operational efficiency through effective service delivery, workflow management, and resource allocation.
- Support and coordinate VIP visits, hotel events, promotions, and special activations.
- Monitor competitor activity, industry trends, and market developments to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation.
- Perform any additional duties assigned by the Director of Food & Drinks or Hotel Management.
What are we looking for?
A Restaurant Manager serving Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre is always working on behalf of our Guests and working with other Team Members. To successfully fill this role, you should possess the following skills and characteristics:
- Previous leadership experience in luxury food & drinks venues and operations.
- Strong beverage knowledge, with a particular emphasis on wine, including wine varieties, regions, food and wine pairing, and premium wine service, alongside premium spirits and cocktails.
- Impeccable grooming and professional presentation.
- Commercial focus, with a demonstrated ability to achieve revenue growth, manage costs, and deliver business results.
- Inspirational leadership and people management skills, with experience coaching, developing, and motivating high-performing teams.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, able to engage effectively with guests, team members, and senior leadership.
- Customer focus, maintaining the highest standards of luxury hospitality and service excellence.
- Effective relationship management skills to build strong partnerships with internal stakeholders, suppliers, and external partners.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, able to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment while remaining calm and focused under pressure.
- Strong knowledge of luxury food and beverage operations, financial management, service standards, and operational controls.
It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities:
- Previous experience in a premium steakhouse or upscale, wine-focused food and drinks venue is an advantage.
- Solid knowledge of luxury and Forbes Five-Star service standards.
- Degree or diploma in Hotel Management or related field.
What will it be like to work for Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts?
Waldorf Astoria provides guests the exceptional environment and the personalised attention of True Waldorf Service that creates a singular experience. If you understand the value of personalised attention and know how to treat even the most extraordinarily different experiences with the same rich level of customer service, you may just be the person we are looking for!
