FOH Lead

Front of House (FOH) Lead

The Spoke & Bird — South Loop and Pilsen, Chicago, IL

Full-Time • Hourly / Salary (based on experience)
Experience: Prior FOH leadership required

Before we go too far:
If your plan is to submit a resume with no context, no note, and no sense of why you’re applying—this probably isn’t the right role for you. Hospitality starts with communication, and we take that seriously.

If, however, you enjoy leading people, setting standards, and creating an environment guests want to come back to (and staff want to stay in), read on.

Spoke & Bird is a WBE-owned, farm-to-table hospitality group built around scratch cooking, locally sourced ingredients, and transparent operations. We’re intentional about how we run our kitchens and our dining rooms, and we believe strong leadership up front makes everything work better behind the scenes.

We’re a small, growing team currently hiring for our Pilsen and South Loop locations .

We started Spoke & Bird with three guiding principles:

• Source responsibly — local, sustainable, and supportive of urban farmers

• Operate transparently — open kitchens, open books, open conversations

• Value our staff — fair pay, real expectations, flexibility, and long-term opportunity
  (including working toward shared equity and ownership for those who invest with us)

This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who can balance warmth with structure and hospitality with accountability.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Training, developing, and leading the FOH team

• Setting and maintaining clear standards of hospitality and service

• Coaching, motivating, and mentoring staff growth and knowledge

• Creating a guest experience that feels personal, upbeat, and intentional

• Ensuring compliance with all safety, health, and beverage regulations

• Enforcing proper food handling, sanitation, and cleanliness standards

• Overseeing daily cleanliness, organization, and maintenance of the café and equipment

• Proven FOH leadership experience in hospitality

• Strong communication skills and emotional intelligence

• A calm, confident presence during both busy and quiet moments

• Someone who leads by example and earns respect through consistency

• An appreciation for systems, details, and well-run spaces

• A genuine interest in food, beverage, and people

• You’re joining a growing group , not a static operation

• Leadership has a real voice in how things evolve

• Expectations are clear, support is real, and micromanagement isn’t the culture

• We trust adults to act like adults—and we support them when they do

• Competitive pay (based on experience)

• Health insurance

• Commuter benefits

• Potential bonuses

• Dining discounts

• Wellness program

We keep things intentional.

Please apply here:

Include your work history and a short introduction telling us why this role interests you and what kind of leader you strive to be.

If you care deeply about hospitality, enjoy developing teams, and want to help shape the guest experience at a growing, values-driven restaurant group, we’d love to hear from you.