Food Runner Job Description Template

 

For restaurant establishments to run smoothly, various roles need to be filled and properly executed by staff members. One of these essential roles would be the food runner position. Food runners keep dining and food service businesses operating effectively by carrying out their vital responsibilities. 

It is essential to hire the right people for each dining establishment position. If you are trying to figure out the best way to bring a food runner onto your restaurant team, you have come to the right place. This resource will teach you everything you require to create a food runner job description that will attract qualified workers to fulfill your food runner restaurant staffing needs.

 

 

What is a Food Runner?

A food runner is a member of the restaurant staff team who is primarily tasked with serving guests their food and beverage orders. To break the role down even further, the food runner generally is the individual responsible for transferring the items that guests have ordered from the kitchen to their tables. In addition, food runners must accurately deliver orders and are often responsible for additional restaurant duties. These can include tasks like maintaining a clean dining environment, addressing guests that require service, organizing order tickets, and assisting other restaurant staff members.

 

 

What You Should Include in a Job Description for a Food Runner

A well-written job description should highlight various components related to the open position. These components include a job summary of the position, its responsibilities, the skills and qualifications necessary for the role, the salary and benefits provided, and the company overview of the hiring organization. Read on to learn about the information included within a restaurant recruiting job description.

 

Job Summary

To introduce your open food runner role, provide a job summary in your job description. This segment should include a brief general overview of the food runner duties that come with the job. You do not need to give too much detail about the job here, as this section should contain just enough information to help the prospective employee figure out straight away whether the position would be suitable for them.

 

Responsibilities

The responsibilities section should provide a more in-depth representation of the food runner’s duties and responsibilities. This should be a truthful depiction of the role and include the primary tasks that food runner jobs would require daily and the duties they must take on less frequently.

 

 

Skills and Qualifications

A job description for a food runner should list the skills and qualifications that the ideal job candidate would possess within their food runner resume. This section can also split these into two lists, featuring “required” and “desired” skills and qualifications, depending on how essential the employer would find them to the position at hand.

 

Salary and Benefits

An informative job description should always include all relevant information about salary and benefits offered with their food runner positions. This can consist of monetary compensation, either hourly or yearly, for full-time jobs and any additional perks or benefits that the reader can expect should they be hired for the position. This subsection should highlight any benefits that would be particularly eye-catching for potential candidates who would match the food runner description. 

 

Company Overview

Finally, the company overview section is where you can include a description of the employer’s organization that is offering the job. This should involve helpful information about the hiring company, its culture and values, and any information relevant to the job location. Information about the company is beneficial to include within the job description, as it enables the potential employee to understand how they would fit into the business and the company’s vision.

Template for a Food Runner Job Description

To help you write your own food runner job description, we have created an example of a job description for this type of role below. This example is a purpose-built template for a food runner job description that should result in the right candidate. To use this template successfully, edit and include the information provided to depict your open food runner role accurately.

 

Job Summary 

Our restaurant is currently hiring for a food runner position. We are looking for a reliable worker who can assist the servers and contribute to the guests’ restaurant experience by maintaining a clean and well-stocked dining environment. This position would be great for anyone who wishes to participate in a positive and respectful work environment where hard work and diversity are valued. Qualified workers should be able to assist the servers as necessary to ensure that the guest has an optimal dining experience and should bring guests’ needs to the attention of the appropriate staff members as necessary.

 

Responsibilities

  • Execute restaurant opening and closing procedures as directed. Assist in assigned opening and closing side work to prepare the dining rooms, kitchen, bar areas, and service stations for efficient operation during meal periods. 
  • Apply knowledge of the entire menu, including specific ingredients and dietary considerations (kosher, vegan, vegetarian, gluten sensitivity, etc.) and other restaurant information such as hours of operation, table numbers, and various payment options. 
  • Read and organize order tickets as they arrive. Communicate with kitchen staff, bar staff, and servers regarding the items required to fill the ticket orders. Inform servers when completed meals are in the window or ready for table delivery. Ensure the quality and accuracy of all completed beverages and assembled meal orders. 
  • Cross-serve and assist other team members on an as-needed basis. Deliver completed meals and beverages to customers from the kitchen, serve water to guests and refill their water glasses as needed. Lift and transport service trays in and out of the kitchen and dining room. 
  • Maintain an appropriate appearance and provide a friendly attitude towards all customers. Report to work as indicated on the work schedule in correct uniform, and practice positive hygiene and cleanliness habits during all work shifts. Adhere to neat and acceptable grooming and uniform standards
  • Practice positive teamwork by assisting fellow team members in enhancing guests’ dining experience. Communicate any, and all guest issues to the Manager on Duty should guests express concerns or dissatisfaction with their orders or dining experience.
  • Prepare restaurant’s inside and outside dining areas by setting tables, centerpieces, candles, napkins, service plates, menus, glassware, and utensils. Set up the front line with the equipment, flatware, and silverware necessary to effectively serve all menu products. Keep service stations restocked throughout the shift. Prepare for the next shift by rolling silverware, folding napkins, polishing glassware, and stocking stations.
  • Coordinate with the pantry stations and broil stations to correctly time and serve all hot and cold menu items to the guests. Tray and deliver food immediately so that it is served hot and sizzling. Track cooking and preparation times on all orders, and check finished products for proper degree of doneness and presentation.
  • Clear off the table as guests complete their meals and ensure that each table is clean between customers to maintain a hygienic dining environment. Replace all silverware, glassware, and linens so that each customer has what they need prior to receiving their meal. 
  • Maintain clean and tidy service areas, including the kitchen, dining room, bar areas, and service stations throughout the entire shift. Maintain stock of the serving stations with napkins, straws, menus, utensils, trays, condiments, and salt and pepper. Deliver used dishes and utensils to appropriate areas of the kitchen for cleaning. Clean trays and tray stands to prepare them for service.
  • Abide by all required company food handler guidelines regarding sanitation, health and safety, cleanliness, and safe handling of food and alcoholic beverages. It is essential for all on-duty team members to perform all assigned responsibilities and maintain knowledge of all standards and procedures as stated in each individual position’s training manual.
  • Attend staff meetings and training as requested, which may include pre-shift meetings. 
  • Assist with training and directing new staff members.
  • Perform job duties in all weather conditions when providing service in outside dining areas
  • Complete all side work within the restaurant as assigned and scheduled by the management team members. Perform other customer service-related duties as required when assigned as directed by the Manager on Duty.

Required Skills 

Qualified applicants must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required skills and qualifications:

  • Nights, weekends, and holidays required
  • Must have a high school diploma or high school diploma equivalent
  • Minimum age 18
  • Must have the ability to bend, stoop and lift at least 30-50 pounds
  • Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time
  • Collaboration and dedication to team goals required
  • Proficient in English

Qualifications

Desired food runner skills and qualifications:

  • Qualified applicants should have one year of prior experience in a full-service restaurant.
  • Excellent Oral and Written Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Ability to complete work tasks quickly and with great accuracy and attention to detail
  • Motivated multi-tasker with a strong work ethic
  • Highly organized and systematic in work tasks and processes
  • Strong Troubleshooting Skills
  • Great Time Management Skills 
  • Adaptability and ability to think on your feet
  • Excellent Customer Service Skills
  • Are a Team Player with a guest first attitude 
  • Strong desire to help and interact with customers in a service setting
  • Have a passion for great food and great fun
  • Ability to speak English and Spanish

Benefits

  • Full & Part-Time Opportunities!
  • $500 Sign On Bonus plus an additional $500 after six months of employment
  • Competitive pay, with paychecks provided every week
  • Tips provided per work in a high-volume setting
  • FREE Education assistance
  • Excellent team member perks like Instapay (early access to your wages) and high-interest savings both through the EVEN app
  • Associate Shopping Program
  • Health and Wellness Program
  • Discount Marketplace
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Anniversary pay
  • Paid sick leave
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage (Benefits including medical, dental, and vision are only available to all eligible 20+ hour per week employees)
  • Multiple insurance options, wealth benefits, and flexible spending accounts
  • Dining and lots of other generous employee perks and discounts
  • Matching 401(k) plan after one year of employment (21 and over)
  • Community volunteer opportunities with Landry’s League 
  • Flexible work schedules 
  • Ongoing staff education and training provided through our training and development programs, and opportunities for career advancement 
  • Referral Bonus (of up to $300)
  • Weekend availability
  • 8-hour shift and 10-hour shift opportunities
  • Overtime ho

Looking to Hire Food Runners? Try Adia!

If you prefer to leave the restaurant onboarding process to the professionals, Adia makes hospitality staffing simple. Adia is an on-demand staffing platform that matches employers with qualified, pre-vetted workers that are perfect for their open positions. For more information about using the Adia platform to hire restaurant employees, visit us online at https://adia.works/.

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