Seasonal Restaurant Host
Position Title: Seasonal Host
Supervisor: Farm Food and Beverage Services Manager
Employee Status: Seasonal, Full-Time hours
Exemption: Hourly, Non-Exempt
Location: On-site (99 Inn Road, Shelburne, VT 05482)
Start & End Date: April 28 -October 31, 2025 (required onboarding & training in late April and early May)
Pay Rate: $15/hour + tip
Work Schedule: 3-5 shifts/week including at least one weekend shift/week. Holiday availability required. Breakfast (7:00am - 1:00 pm) and dinner shifts (3:30 pm - 10:00 pm) available.
Who We Are
Shelburne Farms is an education nonprofit on a mission to inspire and cultivate learning for a sustainable future. We believe that transformative learning experiences sow the seeds for a thriving and more just world. Our work seeks to create the space, spark the conversations, and share the stories to inspire educators, students, and learners of all ages to build a better future for everyone.
We realize our mission by integrating three key areas of activity: our programs, place, and products.
Who We’re Looking for
You are passionate about working for a restaurant that is an integral part of the Farm’s mission by providing a space where the community can come together to enjoy delicious and thoughtfully sourced meals. You have strong communication skills and enjoy interacting with and welcoming a diverse range of guests, visitors and community members. You thrive in a team environment, collaborating effectively with kitchen and front of house staff to ensure a seamless dining experience.
What You’ll Do
Guest Experience:
- You are the first point of contact for guests, responsible for greeting them warmly and managing seating arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of guests in the dining area.
- Answer the restaurant phone and assist guests with reservations as needed.
- Have knowledge of the menu and specials for the evening.
- Efficiently manage reservations and waitlists.
Operational Excellence & Sustainability Practices:
- Maintain a clean and organized host stand.
- Complete side work as able throughout the shift
- Support the serving staff by running hot food, bussing tables and alerting them when tables are seated in their station
- Assist team members with the set up and breakdown of the dining room daily, setting the tables for the next service.
- Understanding and promoting sustainable practices throughout the restaurant with practices such as accurate order taking to minimize food waste, separate food waste for compost, and highlight the farm’s local and seasonal ingredients to guests.
Communication and Collaboration:
- Alert the Floor Manager with issues that may arise with seating guests.
- Address and resolve any guest concerns or complaints effectively.
- Clearly communicate seating arrangements and wait times to guests.
Core Qualifications
- Prior guest service experience.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Additional Valued Qualifications
- Familiarity with a point of sales (POS) system.
- A passion for farm to table food and hospitality.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
- Being active for extended periods of time and working in settings with limited air conditioned work environments depending on the location.
- Fast-paced work environment.
- Carrying and moving items up/down stairs and over uneven terrain, weighing up to 40 lbs.
- Indoor and outdoor work environment.
- Moving over uneven terrain.
- Maintaining a tidy shared workspace.
Benefits
- Seasonal staff benefit summary here for 2025 benefits.
To Apply
If our vision and mission excite you, we hope you will share with us your experience and skill set that you feel would qualify you to make a contribution to the Farm.
Click here to submit an application and please include responses to the following questions. These are not meant to be a writing exercise but to introduce yourself in a meaningful way.
In your application, please include a response to the following:
- Tell us about your unique characteristics and life experience that will help you thrive in this role.
- How did you hear about this role?
Shelburne Farms is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and we strongly stand against discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
If you need accommodations throughout the application process or have general questions, please contact us at jobs@shelburnefarms.org or 802-985-8686.