Director of Front Office - Sable Hotel, Navy Pier

NFM & J LP•Chicago, IL

10h•$0 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are hiring a Director of Front Office to lead the front of house operation at Sable Hotel at Chicago, a 223-room Curio Collection by Hilton hotel managed by Maverick Hotels and Restaurants. This is a department head role reporting directly to the Hotel Manager / General Manager. This is not a shift-coverage job. You will own the budget, the labor model, the guest experience results and the labor relations for Front Desk, Night Audit, Bell and Door, and Valet. You will lead that operation through an Assistant Front Office Manager and a supervisory team — not from behind the desk. If you are a strong Front Office Manager who has outgrown the title, or a Director who wants full ownership of a department rather than a piece of one, this is the step.

Requirements

Five or more years of progressive front office leadership in a full-service or large-box hotel.
At least two years of experience leading through subordinate managers or supervisors.
Prior department head or assistant department head experience in a hotel of comparable size and complexity.
Demonstrated budget ownership, including building forecasts, explaining variances, and defending assumptions.
Experience operating under a collective bargaining agreement, including seniority scheduling, just-cause discipline, and first-step grievances.
Working knowledge of a major hotel property management system and related front office, loyalty, and guest experience platforms.
Strong written communication skills for guest, team, arbitrator, and ownership correspondence.
Availability to work varied hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and peak periods, and to serve in the Manager on Duty rotation.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business or a related field.
Hilton experience, including OnQ, Hilton Honors, SALT, and the QA evaluation process.
Soft brand, lifestyle, or independent hotel background.
Experience in a hotel within a high-traffic destination or attraction.
Experience presenting departmental results to ownership or asset management.
A second language.

Responsibilities

Manage the departmental operating and payroll budget, including forecasting labor, managing to productivity standards, writing variance commentary, and presenting it in the P&L review.
Oversee upsell program performance, room type inventory, and overbooking position in conjunction with Revenue Management, walk prevention, and fee capture at the desk.
Ensure exceptional guest experience, including SALT overall experience, arrival and departure scores, problem resolution, Hilton Honors enrollment and elite recognition, and daily QA readiness.
Manage the front drive operations, including bell and door response, luggage handling, and the valet and parking operation through a third-party operator, focusing on scope, service levels, peak throughput, revenue capture, and claims.
Lead the selection, development, succession, and retention of the front office team, including developing the Assistant Front Office Manager into a successor.
Administer the collective bargaining agreement for front office classifications, including seniority scheduling, overtime distribution, just-cause discipline, first-step grievance responses, and probationary decisions, and train supervisors on consistent application.

Benefits

A department you actually own.
A General Manager who will teach you the financial side of the business.
A track record that travels, leading to Director of Rooms, Hotel Manager, and General Manager roles.
Equal opportunity employer status.
Consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Reasonable accommodations available on request for candidates taking part in any aspect of the selection process.
Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.
Equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
An environment where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are valued.
Reasonable accommodation for qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, unless it causes undue hardship.
Reasonable accommodations as required under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) for limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.