Photo of The Historian Hotel, Madison, A Tribute Portfolio, Madison, WI

Food & Beverage Director

The Historian Hotel, Madison, A Tribute Portfolio

16 N Carroll Street
Madison, WI 53703

Hotel with 81 Rooms
Managed By First Hospitality
Lead Two Iconic Dining Concepts as Director of Food & Beverage
Compensation: $65,000 to $75,000 per year,
Director of Food & BeverageWhat'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!

The impact you'll make...

We believe that exceptional food and beverage experiences are about more than what is served. They are about the people, the atmosphere, the storytelling, and the moments that stay with guests long after they leave.

As our Director of Food & Beverage, you will have the unique opportunity to lead two distinctive culinary experiences, each with its own identity, ambition, and approach to hospitality.

The Gallery is a supper club concept by celebrity Chef Dan Jacobs, bringing together culinary creativity, the spirit of gathering, and the timeless appeal of a great supper club.

The Quorum aspires to deliver the highest level of culinary and hospitality excellence, where exceptional cuisine, thoughtful service, and meticulous attention to detail come together to create a truly memorable dining experience.

As the leader of these experiences, you will be responsible for bringing their individual visions to life while building a unified team committed to excellence, creativity, accountability, and genuine hospitality.

This is an opportunity for an operationally driven, entrepreneurial leader who understands that great restaurants are built through both inspired experiences and disciplined execution. You will lead the financial performance, service culture, associate development, and daily operations of our food and beverage offerings while collaborating with culinary leadership, hotel operations, and key partners to continually elevate the guest experience.

Success in this role is not measured solely by revenue or profitability, but also by the strength of the team you build, the consistency of the experiences you deliver, and the reputation these culinary destinations establish within the community and beyond.

You'll enjoy this job because...
  • You're passionate about creating distinctive culinary and hospitality experiences that guests remember and return for.

  • You're excited by the opportunity to lead two unique concepts, each with its own personality, service standards, and guest expectations.

  • You believe exceptional hospitality comes from genuine connections, thoughtful details, and a team that takes pride in its work.

  • You're an operational leader who enjoys being present, working alongside your team, and turning ambitious ideas into consistent execution.

  • You thrive in an environment that balances creativity, collaboration, financial discipline, and high standards.

  • You're passionate about coaching, mentoring, and developing people, both professionally and personally.

  • You embrace accountability, continuous improvement, and the opportunity to build something truly special.

What you'll be doing...

Bring Two Distinct Culinary Experiences to Life

  • Lead the overall strategy, operations, service execution, and financial performance of The Gallery and The Quorum while preserving the unique identity and vision of each concept.

  • Collaborate with culinary leadership, Chef Dan Jacobs and relevant partners to support the creative direction, culinary identity, and guest experience of The Gallery.

  • Help establish The Quorum as a destination for exceptional culinary experiences through elevated service, thoughtful details, and uncompromising standards.

  • Develop distinct service philosophies, operating standards, and guest experiences appropriate to each concept.

  • Ensure the food, beverage, service, atmosphere, and overall experience work together to deliver a cohesive and memorable expression of each venue.

  • Identify opportunities for innovation, programming, special events, and unique guest experiences that strengthen each concept's identity and reputation.

Lead a Culture of Hospitality and Excellence

  • Build and inspire a high-performing food and beverage team grounded in genuine hospitality, mutual respect, collaboration, and shared accountability.

  • Establish a culture where every associate understands their role in creating exceptional guest experiences and takes personal ownership of the quality of their work.

  • Lead by example through a visible, hands-on presence during key service periods, special events, and critical operational moments.

  • Develop leaders and associates through ongoing coaching, meaningful feedback, recognition, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

  • Create an environment where associates support one another, communicate openly, and hold themselves and their teammates accountable to the highest standards.

  • Promote a diverse and inclusive workplace where different perspectives, experiences, and talents contribute to the success of the team.

  • Foster strong relationships between front-of-house, culinary, and hotel teams to ensure a seamless and collaborative approach to hospitality.

Deliver Exceptional Guest Experiences

  • Establish and maintain elevated service standards that reflect the distinct character and expectations of each culinary experience.

  • Be an active presence in the dining rooms, engaging with guests, supporting associates, and ensuring the highest levels of hospitality and service execution.

  • Anticipate guest needs, recognize opportunities to personalize experiences, and empower associates to create meaningful moments.

  • Respond thoughtfully and proactively to guest feedback, concerns, and opportunities for service recovery.

  • Develop systems for consistently evaluating and improving guest satisfaction, service quality, and the overall dining experience.

  • Build relationships with guests, community members, and local partners to cultivate loyalty and establish both concepts as sought-after dining destinations.

Drive Operational and Financial Performance

  • Oversee daily food and beverage operations, ensuring consistency, efficiency, quality, and alignment with established standards.

  • Develop and execute strategies to achieve revenue, profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational performance goals.

  • Partner with culinary leadership to manage food and beverage costs, labor productivity, purchasing, inventory, and controllable expenses.

  • Participate in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and strategic planning for all food and beverage operations.

  • Monitor financial and operational performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement thoughtful, sustainable solutions.

  • Collaborate on menu development, beverage programming, pricing strategies, and revenue-generating initiatives that support each concept's positioning and business objectives.

  • Ensure proper staffing, scheduling, training, and resource allocation to support service excellence and operational efficiency.

  • Maintain rigorous standards for cleanliness, food safety, sanitation, responsible alcohol service, and regulatory compliance.

  • Oversee applicable private dining, banquet, and special event operations to ensure seamless planning, preparation, and execution.

Collaborate, Innovate, and Grow

  • Serve as a key member of the hotel's leadership team, contributing to property-wide strategy, culture, and operational success.

  • Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Rooms, and other hotel departments to create meaningful connections between the culinary experiences and the overall guest journey.

  • Support the development and execution of marketing initiatives, culinary events, community partnerships, and programming that elevate awareness and drive business.

  • Build a culture of continuous improvement where new ideas are encouraged, challenges are approached collaboratively, and excellence is never considered finished.

  • Balance the individuality of each concept with the efficiencies and strengths of a unified food and beverage operation.

Requirements...

Experience & Education:

  • Previous food and beverage leadership experience in upscale, luxury, fine dining, or chef-driven restaurant environments strongly preferred.

  • Demonstrated experience managing restaurant operations, financial performance, and high-performing hospitality teams.

  • Experience leading multiple outlets or distinct food and beverage concepts preferred.

  • College education or advanced training in hospitality management, food and beverage operations, or a related field preferred.

  • Strong understanding of elevated dining service, beverage programming, culinary operations, and restaurant financial management.

  • Experience collaborating with executive chefs, culinary partners, or concept-driven restaurant teams preferred.

Leadership & Operational Skills:

  • A hands-on, operationally focused leadership style with a passion for delivering exceptional hospitality.

  • Proven ability to build cohesive teams, develop future leaders, and create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

  • Strong business acumen with experience in budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, labor management, and revenue optimization.

  • Ability to balance creative vision with practical execution and financial responsibility.

  • Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality, service, and presentation.

  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

  • A collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with the confidence to lead, the humility to listen, and the curiosity to keep learning.

Communication:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including strong interpersonal, diplomacy, and problem-solving abilities.

  • Ability to build productive relationships with guests, associates, culinary partners, and hotel leadership.

  • Strong administrative skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, point-of-sale systems, and financial reporting tools.

  • Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand the primary language used in the workplace.

  • Ability to remain calm, professional, and solutions-oriented under pressure.

Physical:

  • Ability to stand, sit, and walk frequently throughout the workday.

  • Ability to lift, lower, push, pull, and maneuver up to 30 pounds occasionally.

  • Ability to maintain an active presence throughout restaurant, bar, and event operations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.

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 employees' differences are respected and valued to better meet the varying needs of the customers we serve. First Hospitality fosters an inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fairness.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Posted October 23, 2026

About The Historian Hotel, Madison, A Tribute Portfolio


Welcome To Historian Hotel, Madison, A Tribute Portfolio

A HISTORIC BUILDING WITH NEW PURPOSEOriginally built in 1915 as Madison’s first skyscraper, the Churchill Building has stood at the center of the city’s civic, cultural and architectural growth for more than a century. A COVETED CAPITOL SQUARE LOCATIONHistorian Hotel places Madison’s most important destinations just steps away. From Capitol meetings to curtain calls, market mornings to game-day weekends, guests are perfectly positioned to make the most of the city.A SOPHISTICATED BOUTIQUE EXPERIENCEDesigned for seasoned travelers and independent hotel lovers, the property pairs elevated comfort with classic modern design — proving that in Madison, character still has the best address.A SOCIAL ANCHOR FOR DOWNTOWN MADISONThe Gallery Lobby Bar & Restaurant will create a welcoming place to gather before a meeting, after a show, following a game day or over a nightcap on Capitol Square.

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!

Other Job Openings