Host job description.
A host greets and seats guests at a restaurant or hospitality venue, setting the tone for the customer experience from arrival. They manage waitlists and reservations, coordinate seating with server sections, and communicate with the front-of-house team to keep service running smoothly.
The Host job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Host Reports to: Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Supervisor
A host greets and seats guests at a restaurant or hospitality venue, setting the tone for the customer experience from arrival. They manage waitlists and reservations, coordinate seating with server sections, and communicate with the front-of-house team to keep service running smoothly.
- Greet guests warmly upon arrival and manage the waitlist
- Seat guests according to server rotation and table availability
- Manage reservations and phone or online booking systems
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Supervisor
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Greet guests warmly upon arrival and manage the waitlist
- Seat guests according to server rotation and table availability
- Manage reservations and phone or online booking systems
- Communicate wait times accurately and proactively to guests
- Maintain a clean and organized host stand and entrance area
- Coordinate with servers and management on table turnover and pacing
- Answer phone calls and respond to guest inquiries
- Assist with light cleaning and setup/closing duties as needed
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- No formal education required; high school enrollment acceptable
- Friendly, customer-focused demeanor
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods
- Basic organizational and multitasking skills
- Prior customer service or restaurant experience
- Familiarity with reservation or POS systems
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Host job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Host job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Restaurant Manager or Front-of-House Supervisor) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Is restaurant experience required to hire a host?
- No, this is typically an entry-level role well suited to first-time job seekers; prior customer service experience is a plus but not usually required.
- What hours does this role typically require?
- Host roles commonly require evening, weekend, and holiday availability aligned with peak dining hours; specify shift expectations in the posting.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Hostess
A hostess greets guests, manages seating and reservations, and sets the tone for a restaurant's dining experience.
Server
A server (waiter/waitress) provides front-of-house service in a restaurant or hospitality setting, taking orders, delivering food and drink, and ensuring guests have an excellent experience..
Restaurant Manager
A Restaurant Manager oversees daily operations of a restaurant, including staffing, customer service, and financial performance.
This Host job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.