Assistant restaurant manager

Job Ref: DAK1256 Branch: Dakota Edinburgh Location: Dakota Edinburgh, South Queensferry Salary/Benefits: The gross annual salary is up to £34,500, including anticipated Tronc and Shared Success Bonus. Contract type: Permanent Hours: Full Time Shift pattern: Usually shifts will be working any 5 days out of 7, including evenings and weekends. Hours per week: The role carries a permanent contract of a minimum of 40 hours per week Posted date: 19/06/2026 Closing date: 21/07/2026 PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES Communicate closely with the Restuarant Manager and wider team to deliver a seamless and high-quality restaurant service in line with brand standards. Lead by example during service, ensuring guests receive attentive, confident, and personalised experiences from arrival to departure. Collaborate effectively with chefs, bartenders, hosts, and team members to ensure smooth and efficient service across all areas. Take ownership of restaurant sections, maintaining strong awareness of table management, guest needs, and service flow. Demonstrate excellent menu knowledge, confidently advising on food, drinks, and upselling opportunities to enhance the guest experience. Lead and support the team on shift by mentoring, coaching, and motivating colleagues to deliver excellent service. Assist with operational leadership tasks such as briefings, shift planning, stock control, and ensuring adherence to SOPs. APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS The successful applicant will have/be: Previous experience in a Supervisory or Assistant Management role within a restaurant or hospitality environment. A strong passion for delivering exceptional guest service and creating memorable dining experiences. Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a team. Confident knowledge of food, beverages, and service standards within a high-quality dining environment. Highly organised with the ability to multitask and perform well under pressure during busy service periods. A proactive, hands-on approach with strong attention to detail and pride in your work. Ability to handle guest concerns professionally and deliver effective service recovery. Flexible with shift patterns, including evenings, weekends, and peak business periods. A positive and enthusiastic individual who embodies company values and promotes a supportive team culture. A genuine interest in the brand and a desire to contribute to the ongoing success of the restaurant. Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team. WHAT WE OFFER In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include: FINANCIAL Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment Meals on duty and uniforming WELLBEING Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions Family-friendly flexible working options Participation in meaningful initiatives such as Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning and the Walk for Wellbeing, Supporting causes that matter while connecting with colleagues CAREER DEVELOPMENT Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook. ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS? Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and?Newcastle?with more?in our pipeline.? Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last five years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK, as well as being awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA employees. ? As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’,?we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for four consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by?The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’?in the industry,?demonstrating?our success in developing talent.? APPLY Please send us your up to date CV. Our location, Ferrymuir, Queensferry, South Queensferry EH30 9QZ is easliy accessible by train (15min walk frim Dalmeny Train Station) and bus (frequent stops at Ferrymuir Retail Park) We also offer complimentary parking for both team and guests. We are a 130-bedroom botique hotel with a destination cocktail Bar and brasserie-style Grill, as well as three events spaces.