Career Profile: First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 1,093,100 people employed as first-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers in the United States. The median annual salary is $36,570. Entry level employees earn approximately $24,100 per year and senior employees earn approximately $60,410 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Compile and balance cash receipts at the end of the day or shift.
• Present bills and accept payments.
• Inspect supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure efficient service and conformance to standards.
• Perform food preparation and serving duties, such as carving meat, preparing flambe dishes, or serving wine and liquor.
• Train workers in food preparation, and in service, sanitation, and safety procedures.
• Supervise and participate in kitchen and dining area cleaning activities.
• Perform personnel actions, such as hiring and firing staff, providing employee orientation and training, and conducting supervisory activities, such as creating work schedules or organizing employee time sheets.
• Control inventories of food, equipment, smallware, and liquor, and report shortages to designated personnel.
• Assign duties, responsibilities, and work stations to employees in accordance with work requirements.
• Specify food portions and courses, production and time sequences, and workstation and equipment arrangements.
• Record production, operational, and personnel data on specified forms.
• Greet and seat guests, and present menus and wine lists.
• Purchase or requisition supplies and equipment needed to ensure quality and timely delivery of services.
• Develop departmental objectives, budgets, policies, procedures, and strategies.
• Conduct meetings and collaborate with other personnel for menu planning, serving arrangements, and related details.
• Evaluate new products for usefulness and suitability.
• Schedule parties and take reservations.
• Assess nutritional needs of patients, plan special menus, supervise the assembly of regular and special diet trays, and oversee the delivery of food trolleys to hospital patients.
• Observe and evaluate workers and work procedures to ensure quality standards and service, and complete disciplinary write-ups.
• Estimate ingredients and supplies required to prepare a recipe.
• Analyze operational problems, such as theft and wastage, and establish procedures to alleviate these problems.
• Forecast staff, equipment, and supply requirements, based on a master menu.
• Recommend measures for improving work procedures and worker performance to increase service quality and enhance job safety.
• Develop equipment maintenance schedules and arrange for repairs.
• Perform various financial activities, such as cash handling, deposit preparation, and payroll.
• Resolve customer complaints regarding food service.

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