Whether you’re hiring a lead server or applying for the role, you need to get specific about the job—that’s how you keep service consistent and guests happy. Lead servers set the tone on the floor: they keep service smooth, coach newer servers, jump on issues before they become complaints, and quietly drive sales with smart pacing and upsells.

This guide breaks down lead server responsibilities, a ready-to-use job description template, resume tips, and the differences between lead server, head server, and server—so you can hire your dream lead server.

TL;DR: A guide to lead server job descriptions

What the role is:

The lead server (aka head server) is a senior front-of-house pro who owns the guest experience, coordinates the team, and supports the manager with training, pacing, and problem-solving.

What they do:

Guest service: Handle VIP/comp issues, tableside standards, recovery.
Team leadership: Coach side-work, sections, and timing; run pre-shift; train new hires.
Ops/Admin: Quality checks, comps/voids per policy, closing counts, shift notes.
Sales: Menu knowledge, suggestive selling, promos, daily targets.

What to include in a lead server job description:

Clear responsibilities, skills & qualifications, schedule expectations, and compensation (hourly + tips, tip-out/tip-pool structure).

For employers:

Start with the template below, post the role where hourly talent actually looks (job boards and local networks)
Keep your hiring flow organized with consistent screening questions, structured interviews, and a simple onboarding checklist so new leads plug into your standards on day one.

For job seekers:

In your lead server resume, show numbers (turn times, check averages, comps recovered), leadership moments, and service wins.

What is a lead server? Role overview and responsibilities

A lead server (or head server) is a senior front-of-house (FOH) teammate who models service standards and provides on-shift leadership, bridging servers, hosts, bar, and back-of-house (BOH). They usually report to the restaurant manager or general manager and often function as the manager’s right hand during service.

Lead servers may handle the usual tasks covered in a server job description, but are especially responsible for:

Keeping the dining room organized, paced, and guest-focused
Anticipating bottlenecks
Coordinating timing with BOH
Stepping into complex tables or recovery moments
Ensuring a clean handoff at close

Where servers own a section, lead servers own the floor rhythm—this includes pre-shift huddles, section balance, on-the-fly coaching, recovery moments, and high-standards consistency. They’re part player, part coach.

You can find lead servers in full-service restaurants, upscale casual, fine dining, hotels, private clubs, and banquets/events, where pacing, floor plans, and guest communication are critical.

Lead server responsibilities and duties (complete list)

Set expectations clearly across these four areas, so everyone knows what “great” looks like for your lead server on shift.

Guest service and dining experience

Own the standard: Greet, touch, and follow up; take over VIP/complex tables; resolve issues within policy and escalate expertly.
Menu mastery: Specials, pairings, allergens, and modifications; guide customer experience and choice without slowing the kitchen.
Pacing and timing: Coordinate courses with BOH, watch turn times, and rebalance sections when another server is too busy.
Service recovery: De-escalate service issues, offer make-rights aligned with restaurant policy, and close the loop with guests and managers.

Team leadership and training

Pre-shift lead: Share 86’d/unavailable items, specials, sections, and goals; remind sequence-of-service and side-work standards.
On-shift coaching: Quiet corrections, public praise; mentor new hires and cross-train when coverage is light.
Training: Shadow days, role-plays, and sign-offs; share concise, actionable notes with managers on each teammate’s next steps.
Communication bridge: Keep hosts, bar, BOH, and servers in sync; log clean shift notes for the next team.

Operational and administrative tasks

Open/close: Check station readiness, counts, and cash-outs; review voids/comps; write succinct shift reports.
Compliance helpers: Age verification, alcohol service, allergen procedures, cleanliness/safety checks.
Tools & tech: Point of Service (POS)/handheld fluency; table status boards; flag pricing or menu data issues.
Event/banquet support: Floor plan execution, timeline pacing, vendor/host liaison (for lead banquet servers).

Sales and upselling

Daily targets: Rally the team around promotions; share quick talk tracks that feel natural.
Suggestive selling: Pairings, add-ons, promotions, desserts; always helpful, never pushy.
Reading the room: Adjust service tone for families, dates, business diners, and large parties.

Lead server job description template (for hiring managers)

Job Title: Lead Server / Head Server

Reports To: Restaurant Manager / General Manager

Job Summary:

We’re hiring a Lead Server to set the floor standard, coordinate sections and pacing, mentor teammates, and deliver consistent guest experiences. You’ll model excellent hospitality, guide service rhythm, support training, and handle recovery moments, keeping busy shifts steady and guests happy.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead pre-shift huddles; communicate specials, 86’s, sections, and service goals.
Model and coach sequence-of-service and menu/allergen fluency on the floor.
Coordinate with expo/BOH on course timing; watch turn times and rebalance sections as needed.
Step into VIP + complex tables; resolve service issues within policy and document cleanly.
Support opening/closing duties, cash-outs, comps/voids per policy, and shift reports.
Drive sales with suggestive selling and pairing recommendations; celebrate team wins.
Maintain compliance with alcohol service, allergen procedures, and safety standards.

Required Qualifications:

2–3+ years of server experience in high-volume or elevated service.
POS/handheld fluency; strong menu/allergen knowledge; confident guest recovery.
Calm leadership and clear communication under pressure.
Nights/weekends/holidays availability.

Preferred Qualifications:

Prior lead/head server or trainer experience.
Wine/beer/cocktail pairing knowledge; ServSafe or local alcohol certifications.
Event/banquet service exposure.

Compensation:

[Hourly rate] + tips
Meal/benefits per company policy.

How to customize this template:

Add concept-specific duties (banquets, tasting menus).
Spell out schedule expectations (doubles, event nights).
Clarify tip-pool rules and any lead differential.

Required skills and qualifications for lead servers

Strong lead servers blend sharp service skills with calm, people-first leadership. Here’s what restaurants should screen for and what aspiring lead servers should showcase.

Essential skills of lead servers

Table management and pacing: Keep courses flowing, sections balanced, and bottlenecks rare.
POS/handheld speed and accuracy: Modifiers, splits, transfers, comps/voids per policy kept quick and clean.
Menu and allergen fluency: Confident guidance and safe handling of restrictions.
Service recovery: De-escalate, make it right, and follow up.

Soft skills that matter for lead servers

Calm leadership: Positive tone under pressure; coaching that builds confidence.
Communication: Clear handoffs across FOH/BOH; concise shift notes that managers can act on.
Teaching mindset: Break down steps, role-play key moments, and reinforce with specific feedback.
Sales touch: Helpful recommendations that lift check averages and guest satisfaction.

Employers should assess with:

Behavioral questions (“Tell me about recovering a near 1-star experience”)
Working interviews (shadow/run a mini-section)
References focused on teamwork and professionalism.

For job seekers: In interviews and your lead server resume, give specific examples tied to results (e.g., +12% check average, −7 minutes turn time, 95% recovery without manager escalation).

Lead server salary and compensation: what to expect

Here’s how lead server compensation typically works and what to spell out, so there are no surprises.

Do lead servers get paid more?

Usually yes—through a slightly higher hourly rate and/or weighting in the tip pool. Many restaurants also reward quality metrics, like mystery shops or guest surveys, and event leadership.

How much should a lead server get per shift?

The average salary a lead server makes shifts by state, type of restaurant/concept, experience and more. When you’re crafting a restaurant job description for a lead server, here’s what you can keep in mind.

Think total compensation: base/tipped base + tips/tip-pool + any lead premium/bonus. Be transparent about:

Base rate
Tip-out/pool rules
When lead differentials apply (banquets, holidays, events)
How performance bonuses work.

How to write lead server experience on your resume

Make your impact easy to spot, so hiring managers can see your leadership and service wins at a glance. Here are some quick examples of what that could look like.

Lead server job description for resume (formatting tips)

Headline: Lead Server (Restaurant, City, Dates).
One-line summary: “Senior FOH lead coordinating sections, training new servers, and owning service recovery.”
3–5 achievement bullets with numbers:
- “Raised check average 12% with pairings and dessert program.”
- “Cut weekend turn time 7 minutes by rebalancing sections and pacing courses.”
- “Resolved 94% of guest issues without manager escalation; 4.7 star internal surveys.”
- “Trained 10+ new servers; built side-work checklists used in pre-shift.”
- “Led banquet service for 120-person events; coordinated timeline with BOH.”

Skills to emphasize

Leadership & training
Service recovery
Sales/suggestive selling
POS/handheld fluency
Menu/allergen knowledge
Event/banquet execution

These help catch common applicant tracking system (ATS) keywords like lead server job description for resume, server role description, and food server duties and responsibilities.

Lead server vs head server vs server: understanding the differences

Lead server vs. head server

In many restaurants, the titles are interchangeable. Where they differ, head server can imply broader responsibility (training program input, event planning), while lead server is the on-shift floor lead.

Lead server vs. regular server

Server: Owns a section, follows sequence-of-service, communicates with BOH, and delivers great hospitality at assigned tables.
Lead server: Does everything a server does plus runs pre-shift, balances sections, coordinates course timing, handles VIP/complex tables and recovery, coaches teammates on the floor, and delivers clean shift handoffs.

Career progression

Career progression isn’t the same in every restaurant, but it will likely look something like this:

Server: Build consistency: service standards, menu/allergen fluency, POS speed, reliable side-work.
Lead Server: Add leadership: pre-shifts, coaching, recovery, pacing, clear shift notes and handoffs.
Assistant Manager: Expand scope: scheduling inputs, training plans, cash control, opening/closing.
Restaurant Manager: Own the operation: hiring, performance, budgets, guest experience, and culture.

Interview questions for hiring a lead server

Use a short, structured set so you can assess every candidate easily and equally.

Leadership and training

“Walk me through a pre-shift you led—what did you cover and why?”
“How do you correct a standard on the floor without embarrassing a teammate?”

Problem-solving and service

“Tell me about a time you turned around a near 1-star table. What did you do and what changed?”
“What’s your approach when kitchen ticket times spike during the rush?”

Technical knowledge

“How do you handle a complex modifier/seat split on our POS?”
“A guest has multiple allergens—how do you guide the order and communicate with BOH?”

Cultural fit

“What does ‘great service’ look like here, and how do you model it?”
“How do you give and receive feedback on a busy night?”

Need more interviewing tips? Check out our Interview Guide for Hiring Managers.

Frequently asked questions about lead server positions

What is the role of a lead server?

The role of a lead server is to run the floor standard: coordinate sections and pacing, mentor teammates in real time, and handle VIP/complex tables and service recovery so guests have a consistent experience.

What is the job description of a lead?

The job description of a lead blends hands-on service with on-shift leadership: lead pre-shift, coach sequence-of-service, communicate with BOH, support opening/closing, and document clean shift handoffs.

How do you become a lead server?

To become a lead server, show consistent results (check averages, turn times), master the menu/POS, practice calm recovery, run pre-shifts, and help train new hires. Bring quantified wins and leadership stories to the interview.

What’s the difference between a lead server and a shift supervisor?

The difference between a lead server and a shift supervisor is scope. Lead servers focus on service leadership on the floor; shift supervisors often add admin duties like cash control, keys, and scheduling decisions.

Final thoughts: Tips for success as a lead server

Here’s what to do now, whether you’re stepping into the role or hiring for it.