Hospitality recruiting
The right leader changes the operation.
Restaurant, hotel and club leadership searches, informed by the work the person will actually need to do.
Discuss a searchDefine the job before looking for the person.
A busy opening, a turnaround and a steady operation require different strengths. We help ownership agree on the mandate, decision rights, compensation and first priorities before taking the role to market.
Daniel Levine has led restaurant and hotel operations as Vice President of Operations at Joe’s Stone Crab, Chief Operating Officer at Kiki Group and Vice President of Food and Beverage at Life House Hotels. Those responsibilities inform the questions he asks candidates.
Daniel’s background ↗Roles we help fill
- Restaurant and hotel general managers
- Executive chefs and culinary leaders
- Directors and vice presidents of food and beverage
- Chief operating officers and multi-unit operations leaders
- Opening leadership teams for restaurants, hotels and clubs
The search
Evidence before the offer.
Agree on the mandate
Define what success looks like, what authority comes with the role and the conditions a candidate will inherit.
Source and screen
Combine relevant networks and targeted outreach with a consistent screen for the experience the role requires.
Assess operating judgment
Use structured interviews, realistic work discussions and references to test decisions, leadership and follow-through.
Close and prepare
Align the offer with the brief, then set priorities and reporting for the new leader’s first months.
Leviathan works with the owner and existing leadership team. Search terms, responsibilities and communication are agreed before work begins.
Common questions
Questions about your search.
Which hospitality roles does Leviathan recruit for?
We focus on management and executive roles, including general managers, executive chefs, food and beverage leaders and senior operations executives. The search starts with the responsibilities and operating conditions of the role. A title alone does not tell us who will succeed.
How do you assess a restaurant general manager or executive chef?
We compare relevant operating experience with the decisions the person will own in your business. Structured interviews examine people management, service judgment, financial understanding and examples of work the candidate actually led. References and any practical assessment should test the same requirements.
Can you help with a confidential replacement?
Yes, the search can be structured around a limited group of decision makers and an agreed communication plan. We settle what can be disclosed, when the business is identified and who can contact candidates or references. Confidentiality needs a process throughout the search.
Do you recruit outside Miami?
Leviathan is based in Miami and considers searches across South Florida and other markets when the role fits our experience and network. Location, relocation expectations and the realities of the commute belong in the brief. We agree on the search geography before approaching candidates.
How are recruiting fees and replacement terms handled?
Fees, payment timing, scope and any replacement provisions are agreed in writing before a search begins. They depend on the role and the engagement. Ask for those terms alongside the proposed search process so you can compare the complete commitment.
Where can candidates see open hospitality jobs?
Our Job Opportunities page lists current public searches and the application route for each role. Some confidential searches are not advertised. Candidates should use the published application process so their information reaches the correct search.
Start a conversation
Who does your business need next?
Tell us about the role, location and operating challenge behind the search.
Let’s chat.