Photo of Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton, Des Moines, IA

Front Office Manager

Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

1000 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Hotel with 290 Rooms
Managed By First Hospitality
Lead Hotel Front Desk Team to Success: Director of Front Office role with Day 1 Benefits, Worldwide Discounts, and Growth Opportunities
Compensation: $50,000 to $55,000 per year plus bonus, Full-Time

What's in it for you…

  • Insurance enrollment available from DAY 1!
  • Paid time off available from DAY 1!
  • Holiday pay available from DAY 1!
  • 401(k) enrollment after 30 days!
  • Hotel and travel discounts at worldwide destinations!
  • Professional development and promotion opportunities!

About this job…

The Director of Front Office leads the hotel’s front desk and guest services team. The Director of Front Office must be strong problem-solvers with an unwavering focus on guest satisfaction throughout the hospitality experience.  As the team leader, the Director of Front Office must ensure adequate staffing, promote hotel brand standards, train and coach team members, and model expected behavior.  The primary responsibilities of a Director of Front Office include attracting and retaining top talent on the guest services team, resolving guest challenges, modeling and executing hotel brand service standards, exceeding guest expectations, and maintaining excellent communication with guests, team members, supervisors, and other hotel department teams.

What you’ll be doing…

  • Welcome arriving guests and complete the hotel’s arrival/check-in experience, ensuring special requests are fulfilled and accurate information is received.
  • Play an active, hands-on role at the front desk, stepping in to support daily operations and guest service whenever operational demands require it.
  • Engage in purposeful communication and build rapport with guests, creating an open dialogue to uncover guest expectations and unrealized needs.
  • Effectively engage with guests through phone or electronic communication consistent with hotel brand standards to ensure guest satisfaction.
  • Promote hotel brand loyalty programs, encourage guest participation, and offer special rate packages and upgrades when appropriate.
  • Effectively communicate with hotel departments to ensure timely and accurate delivery of guest expectations, fulfillment of needs, and challenge resolution.
  • Listen to guests and empathize with their challenges.  When necessary, solicit guest feedback and act on guests concerns.
  • Always maintain professionalism consistent with hotel brand and company expectations.
  • Know and communicate hotel emergency procedures; inform and assist guests in emergencies.
  • Use hotel communication log and verbal or electronic means to notify fellow associates and/or supervisors of pertinent information.
  • If applicable, maintain balance and security of house bank and accurately log all transactions.

Success factors…

Experience & Education: 

  • 2+ years of customer service experience, preferably in Hospitality or related industry
  • Previous Hotel Front Desk Experience Required
  • Previous Hotel Management Experience Heavily Preferred 
  • High School diploma or equivalency education certificate required

Availability:

  • Requires full schedule flexibility to support a 24/7 operation, including the ability to cover call-outs, assist with front desk staffing, and maintain a visible leadership presence across all shifts (mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays).

Communication:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Must be able to speak, read, and write in the primary language used in the workplace

Physical:

  • 8+ hours per day at a standing desk/computer; stand and walk frequently throughout the workday
  • Lift, lower, and maneuver up to 30 pounds occasionally

About First Hospitality…

Founded in 1985 and based in Chicago, First Hospitality is a forward-thinking hotel development, investment, and management company.  First Hospitality’s strategic vision is to create value for all through excellence and an openness to doing things differently.

First Hospitality seeks to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employee’s differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the customers we serve.  FH fosters an inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Posted April 8, 2026

About Hotel Fort Des Moines, Curio Collection by Hilton

A historic base where presidents stayed

A favorite among presidents and celebrities including Elvis and Johnny Cash, our restored 1919 hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. We're in the center of downtown Des Moines, a mile from the Wells Fargo Arena. The Iowa State Capitol is less than 10 minutes away, and we're 15 minutes from the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Proudfoot & Bird

Fine Dining in every aspect. Proudfoot & Bird, named after the original Hotel Fort Des Moines architects, pays homage to the glamorous days of years past with every detail. Adorned with stunning marble tables, intricate gold ceiling inlay, plush soft seating, and grand circular bar we have recreated a time that was filled with elegance, extravagance, and indulgence. Housed in the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines, we have taken every step possible to protect a valued piece of Des Moines’ cherished history. Two semi-private dining rooms are available, seating eight and 10 guests, respectively. Comprised of handmade pastas, humanely raised poultry, waterfowl, prime cuts of beef, sustainably caught seafood and locally sourced produce, Proudfoot & Bird’s menu consists of world class fare. Timeless cocktails, local/regional beer selections, and a carefully curated list of award-winning wines have been chosen to pair perfectly with our culinary vision. We look forward to serving you

About First Hospitality

ABOUT FIRST HOSPITALITY 

At First Hospitality, our mission is to care for you on our journey together.

Founded in 1985, First Hospitality has curated a forward-thinking reputation. Successfully investing and managing hotels throughout the country, our passion for harnessing data to plan ahead means we don’t just follow industry trends, we create them.  This means creating value for our investors, opportunity for our employees, comfort for our guests, and trust for our partners.

First Hospitality is focused on achieving together through integrity, caring service, leadership, ownership, teamwork, full living, and inclusivity and social good.  We're thrilled for all we've achieved and believe we're still building our legacy of success.

JOIN THE TEAM!

First Hospitality believes we do better when you do better.  That's why we're committed to helping you build a future through comprehensive training and extensive career development opportunities.  We provide all employees with competitive wages, benefit enrollment options from the first day of employment, paid time off from the first hour worked, holiday pay, 401(k) retirement savings, and more!

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