Dining Room Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Mavericks Performance & Training Center serves as the primary training, practice, performance, and hospitality facility for the Dallas Mavericks NBA organization. Designed to support elite athletic performance and world-class hospitality operations, the facility combines premium amenities, elevated food and beverage experiences, and a culture centered on professionalism, teamwork, discipline, and excellence.

The hospitality operation supports players, coaches, executives, corporate partners, VIP guests, and special events throughout the year. Operating in a dynamic, high-performance environment, the Mavericks Performance & Training Center seeks hospitality professionals who are passionate about service excellence, operational execution, and creating exceptional guest experiences within a professional sports environment.

This is a unique opportunity to join one of the most respected organizations in professional basketball and contribute to a hospitality operation designed to reflect the same standards of preparation, consistency, and excellence that define the Dallas Mavericks organization.

Position Summary

The Dining Room Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily execution of hospitality and dining room operations while ensuring exceptional guest experiences, service consistency, and operational excellence throughout the Mavericks Performance & Training Center.

This role is highly visible and requires a hands-on leader who thrives in guest-facing environments, leads from the floor, develops hospitality professionals, and consistently maintains elevated service standards. The Dining Room Manager serves as a key operational leader supporting executive dining, player hospitality, VIP functions, corporate meetings, special events, and daily food and beverage operations.

The ideal candidate possesses strong hospitality instincts, exceptional organizational skills, leadership capabilities, and a passion for creating memorable experiences through service excellence.

Core Responsibilities: Guest Experience & Hospitality Excellence

• Lead daily dining room operations with a relentless focus on hospitality and guest satisfaction.
• Maintain a highly visible presence in guest-facing areas throughout service periods.
• Ensure all guests receive attentive, professional, and personalized service.
• Build relationships with players, coaches, executives, VIP guests, corporate partners, and facility visitors.
• Address guest concerns promptly and professionally while implementing effective service recovery strategies.
• Continuously evaluate and improve the guest experience across all hospitality touchpoints.
• Support hospitality operations for executive dining, VIP functions, corporate events, and special activations.

Dining Room Operations Leadership

• Oversee daily dining room operations and service execution.
• Manage dining room flow, seating strategies, reservations, and service pacing.
• Ensure proper staffing deployment and operational readiness throughout each shift.
• Maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness, organization, and presentation throughout all guest-facing areas.
• Collaborate closely with culinary and beverage leadership to ensure seamless execution.
• Ensure all opening, closing, and side-work procedures are completed according to standards.
• Monitor service standards and guest interactions to ensure consistency and professionalism.

Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop front-of-house team members.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings, service briefings, and ongoing hospitality training.
• Provide real-time coaching and constructive feedback to team members.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor employee performance and support corrective coaching initiatives when necessary.
• Ensure team members consistently adhere to appearance, grooming, punctuality, and service standards.

Operational Excellence & Financial Performance

• Support labor management initiatives and staffing efficiency.
• Monitor service metrics, guest satisfaction scores, and operational KPIs.
• Assist in managing operating expenses and cost-control initiatives.
• Support inventory controls and beverage management programs.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.
• Assist hospitality leadership with special projects and operational initiatives.

Compliance, Safety & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, alcohol service, workplace safety, and sanitation standards.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and organized environment for guests and team members.
• Support incident reporting, risk mitigation, and safety initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and operational standards.

Qualifications & Experience Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of hospitality management experience in high-volume operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing front-of-house teams.
• Strong knowledge of hospitality operations, guest service, and dining room management.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in fast-paced environments.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in professional sports, hospitality, luxury hotels, private clubs, or premium venues.
• Fine dining or elevated hospitality experience.
• Experience supporting executive, VIP, and corporate clientele.
• Wine, spirits, or beverage knowledge.
• Experience with reservation systems, POS systems, and hospitality technology platforms.

Leadership Competencies

• Guest-Centric Leadership
• Hospitality Excellence
• Team Development & Coaching
• Communication Excellence
• Accountability
• Operational Discipline
• Emotional Intelligence
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability & Resilience
• Conflict Resolution
• Attention to Detail
• Professionalism

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Fast-paced hospitality and professional sports environment.
• Extended periods of standing and walking throughout the facility.
• Frequent interaction with guests, executives, players, corporate partners, and team members.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as business needs require.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform essential job functions.

Why Join Mavericks Performance & Training Center

The Dining Room Manager role offers the opportunity to lead hospitality operations within one of the most unique and dynamic environments in professional sports. This position provides direct interaction with elite athletes, executives, VIP guests, and corporate partners while helping shape the hospitality culture of the Dallas Mavericks organization.

The successful candidate will join a culture committed to excellence, professionalism, teamwork, and continuous improvement, while contributing to world-class hospitality experiences that reflect the Dallas Mavericks' standards and values.