Director of Hospitality & Events
Soul & Smoke
Date: 2 weeks ago
City: Evanston, Illinois
Contract type: Full time
Soul & Smoke is opening its flagship restaurant in Evanston this summer—and we’re looking for a dynamic Director of Hospitality & Events to lead our guest experience, private events, and catering bookings. This full-time leadership role is perfect for someone with a passion for hospitality, proven experience in event coordination and sales, and the ability to inspire a team.
What You’ll Do
We’re not just opening a restaurant—we’re building a community. At Soul & Smoke, we value dedication, collaboration, and pride in every plate and experience we serve. If you’re excited to help shape our flagship location and grow with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Compensation & Benefits
Soul & Smoke (Evanston, Avondale, West Loop) is a collection of restaurants, two food trucks, and catering team that serve barbecue fare and comfort food from the heart. The Black-owned and women-led team at the helm of Soul & Smoke values being part of the community through thoughtful initiatives, like providing customers the option to purchase a meal for a neighbor in need and partnering with nonprofits like World Central Kitchen to feed underserved populations.
What You’ll Do
- Guide catering, events, and front-of-house hospitality.
- Act as the primary point of contact for clients—from initial inquiry through execution.
- Lead FOH training programs at all locations to ensure top-tier service standards.
- Book and coordinate a variety of experiences:
- Food truck events.
- Tray catering.
- Full-service private dining events.
- Restaurant programming.
- Supervise on-site events, coordinate logistics, and occasionally assist with deliveries.
- Monitor event calendars, staffing, and resource needs.
- Capture content at events and engage with customers via social media.
- Based in Evanston restaurant/office, also book events for Avondale location, and off-site.
- 2+ years in restaurant, catering, or event management.
- 1+ year in a leadership or supervisory role.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Excellent prompt communication and customer service mindset.
- Ability to thrive under pressure and solve problems quickly.
- Sense of urgency and teamwork.
- Comfortable with local travel (valid driver’s license required).
- Sales-savvy, with an eye for growth and opportunity.
- Tech-proficient (event management software a plus).
- Evening and weekend availability, scheduling flexibility based on company and event needs.
- Flexible, team-oriented, and ready to grow with a fast-moving company.
We’re not just opening a restaurant—we’re building a community. At Soul & Smoke, we value dedication, collaboration, and pride in every plate and experience we serve. If you’re excited to help shape our flagship location and grow with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Compensation & Benefits
- Full-time, averaging 45 hours per week.
- Salary package starting at $60,000, to include base salary, sales commission, and pooled revenue share.
- Benefits: Paid personal time off. Health/dental insurance, Aflac, and retirement savings plan available. Staff meals, dining and catering discounts.
Soul & Smoke (Evanston, Avondale, West Loop) is a collection of restaurants, two food trucks, and catering team that serve barbecue fare and comfort food from the heart. The Black-owned and women-led team at the helm of Soul & Smoke values being part of the community through thoughtful initiatives, like providing customers the option to purchase a meal for a neighbor in need and partnering with nonprofits like World Central Kitchen to feed underserved populations.
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