Director of Restaurants

Director of Restaurants

Founded in 2005 as Hudson Yards Catering, Union Square Events is a culinary and operations leader in the hospitality industry, partnering with a diverse portfolio of best-in-class clients. We produce one-of-a-kind catered events and unparalleled dining experiences in a variety of cultural, corporate, entertainment, and private venues throughout New York City and beyond.

The Director of Restaurants at JW Marriott DC serves as the primary operational leader responsible for the successful opening and ongoing operation of two new restaurant concepts. This position will be the on-site client representative for Union Square Events and will be responsible under the supervision of the Director of Food and Beverage for all facets of the restaurant business. This role will lead all aspects of operational readiness, staffing, training, service execution, and financial performance while delivering exceptional guest experiences and maintaining luxury hospitality standards. This leader is expected to be highly service-oriented, passionate about hospitality, and committed to creating exceptional guest experiences through elevated service standards, operational excellence, and meticulous attention to detail. The Director of Restaurants leads the management team and line staff to ensure that the highest standards are upheld to ensure operational areas of their business are aligned with the core values of Union Square Events.

Top Key Responsibilities

• Lead the successful launch and day-to-day operation of two restaurant concepts, ensuring operational excellence from opening through ongoing service.
• Recruit, coach, mentor, and develop management and front-of-house teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and hospitality.
• Deliver exceptional guest experiences by maintaining luxury service standards and creating memorable dining experiences.
• Drive financial performance by managing labor, budgets, forecasting, P&L performance, and operational efficiencies.
• Partner closely with culinary leadership, hotel executives, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless operations and alignment across departments.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, sanitation, operational readiness, and regulatory compliance while continuously improving service quality.

Top Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of restaurant management experience in a casual fine dining environment.
• Luxury hotel or upscale hospitality experience strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing high-performing restaurant teams.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, labor, forecasting, and P&L performance.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a hands-on leadership style.
• Proficiency with restaurant POS systems and Microsoft Office; DC Food Handler Certification and CPR/First Aid certification are preferred.

If you're an inspiring hospitality leader who thrives in a fast-paced luxury environment and is excited to help launch two exceptional dining experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

Union Square Events maintains a drug-free workplace.

Req ID: 1557469