Job Descriptions
A job description isn't just a recruitment document. It's the reference point for every performance conversation you'll have with that team member — from their first one-to-one through to formal reviews.
When expectations are vague, performance conversations become subjective and uncomfortable. When expectations are documented clearly, both manager and team member know what "good" looks like. Each template below provides a comprehensive, customisable job description for a specific role, covering core responsibilities, key skills and behaviours, and the success criteria that make performance measurable. The roles shown here are the ones we currently cover, with more industries and roles being added.
Key Takeaways
- Foundation of performance management: If someone doesn't know what's expected, you can't hold them accountable — job descriptions are the shared baseline for every performance conversation
- Outcomes over tasks: Effective job descriptions focus on what success looks like, not just a list of duties — making it clear how performance will be measured
- Living documents: Roles change — job descriptions reviewed and updated regularly stay useful; outdated ones create confusion and unfair expectations
- Role-specific templates: A growing library of ready-to-customise descriptions covering responsibilities, skills, behaviours, and success criteria
Article Content
Why job descriptions matter for performance
A job description isn't just for recruitment. It's the foundation of performance management. If someone doesn't know what's expected of them, how can you hold them accountable?
Shared understanding — Good job descriptions make performance conversations easier because everyone starts from the same understanding. The manager knows what they're assessing. The team member knows what they're being assessed against. No ambiguity, no surprises.
Recruitment alignment — When you hire against a clear job description, candidates arrive knowing what the role involves. This reduces early turnover caused by mismatched expectations.
Legal clarity — If you ever need to address underperformance formally, a documented job description that the team member has seen is your starting point. Without one, any process is harder to defend.
Development direction — Job descriptions show people where they are now and what skills they'd need to develop for the next role up. They're a map, not just a list.
What to include
Core responsibilities — The main things this person does day-to-day. Be specific, not generic. "Ensures all stock is received, checked against the purchase order, and stored correctly within 30 minutes of delivery" is better than "responsible for stock."
Key skills and behaviours — What does "good" look like? Include both technical skills (equipment operation, systems proficiency, process knowledge) and soft skills (communication, teamwork, composure under pressure).
Reporting lines — Who do they report to? Who reports to them? Where do they sit in the team structure?
Working patterns — Hours, shifts, flexibility expectations. Be honest about weekend work, unsociable hours, and variable schedules.
Success criteria — How will you know they're doing a good job? What does success look like in this role? These are the measurable outcomes you'll reference in performance reviews.
Writing tips
Use plain language — Avoid jargon and corporate speak. Write like you'd actually talk to someone explaining the role.
Be honest about the role — Don't oversell or undersell. Accuracy prevents disappointment later and builds trust from the start.
Focus on outcomes — Instead of "responsible for cleaning" write "work area is clean and ready at the start of every shift." Outcomes are measurable; tasks are just activities.
Keep it updated — Roles change. Review job descriptions at least annually, and update them whenever responsibilities shift significantly. An outdated job description is worse than none — it creates unfair expectations.
Using Pilla for job descriptions
Record a short video walkthrough of each role — the manager explaining what the job actually involves, what a typical day looks like, and what success means. Upload to Pilla alongside the written description. New starters can watch the video during onboarding for context that text alone can't provide, and the written description remains the formal reference for performance conversations.
Kitchen
Kitchen roles vary enormously in scope and seniority. Each description is calibrated to the specific responsibilities, skills, and success criteria for that level.
How to write a kitchen porter job description: kitchen porter job description template included.
Core responsibilities, physical requirements, cleaning standards, and success criteria for KP roles. Ready to customise for your kitchen.
How to write a commis chef job description: commis chef job description template included.
Trainee chef responsibilities, required skills, learning expectations, and development milestones. Covers food safety, prep standards, and brigade integration.
How to write a line cook job description: line cook job description template included.
Station responsibilities, speed and quality standards, recipe execution expectations, and service readiness criteria for experienced cooks.
How to record a chef de partie video job description
Section leadership responsibilities, menu execution standards, stock management duties, and mentoring expectations for section chefs.
How to write a sous chef job description: sous chef job description template included.
Second-in-command responsibilities covering kitchen operations, staff management, quality systems, and the head chef partnership.
How to write a head chef job description: head chef job description template included.
Kitchen leadership responsibilities including menu development, team management, cost control, supplier relationships, and food safety oversight.
How to write a executive chef job description: executive chef job description template included.
Strategic kitchen leadership across multiple outlets. Covers brand standards, commercial performance, supplier strategy, and senior team integration.
How to write a baker job description: baker job description template included.
Production responsibilities, recipe precision standards, equipment operation, quality control, and the early-start schedule that defines bakery roles.
Front of House
Front-of-house descriptions balance technical service skills with the interpersonal qualities that define guest experience. Each template covers both.
How to write a waiter job description: waiter job description template included.
Table service responsibilities, menu knowledge expectations, guest interaction standards, and the sales and service balance that defines the role.
How to write a restaurant host job description: restaurant host job description template included.
First-impression responsibilities, reservation management, seating coordination, and the communication skills that make hosting effective.
How to write a aboyeur job description: aboyeur job description template included.
Expediting responsibilities, kitchen-floor coordination, timing management, and quality checking standards for this critical bridge role.
How to write a sommelier job description: sommelier job description template included.
Wine service responsibilities, programme management, guest recommendation standards, and the knowledge development expected at each level.
How to write a maitre d job description: maitre d job description template included.
Front-of-house leadership responsibilities, guest experience oversight, team coordination, and the service standards that define your venue.
Bar
Bar descriptions cover drink knowledge, service speed, and operational responsibilities. Each is tailored to the specific demands and progression of the role.
How to record a barback video job description
Bar support responsibilities, restocking standards, glassware management, and the physical and pace demands that define this entry-level role.
How to write a bartender job description: bartender job description template included.
Drink preparation responsibilities, customer engagement expectations, till operation, and the speed-quality balance during high-volume service.
How to record a barista video job description
Coffee preparation responsibilities, extraction and milk standards, equipment maintenance, and customer service expectations for specialist baristas.
How to record a bar manager video job description
Full bar operations leadership including P&L responsibility, team development, menu creation, stock management, and compliance oversight.
Management
Management descriptions define scope, authority, and accountability clearly — essential for roles where expectations can easily become ambiguous.
How to write a restaurant supervisor job description: restaurant supervisor job description template included.
Floor leadership responsibilities, shift coordination, team management, and the standards enforcement expected of supervisors stepping into management.
How to write a restaurant assistant manager job description: restaurant assistant manager job description template included.
Operational deputy responsibilities, manager support duties, team development, and the progression pathway from assistant to full manager.
How to write a restaurant duty manager job description: restaurant duty manager job description template included.
Shift ownership responsibilities, incident management authority, compliance duties, and reporting expectations for duty managers.
How to write a restaurant manager job description: restaurant manager job description template included.
Full operational leadership covering P&L management, team development, guest experience standards, and strategic planning responsibilities.
How to write a food beverage manager job description: food beverage manager job description template included.
Multi-outlet F&B leadership covering commercial performance, quality standards, cost management, and stakeholder relationships.
Hotel
Hotel descriptions reflect the structured environment and career pathways that hotel roles offer. Each covers both technical and guest-facing expectations.
How to write a bellhop job description: bellhop job description template included.
Guest arrival responsibilities, luggage handling, local knowledge expectations, and the presentation standards that define bellhop roles.
How to write a hotel receptionist job description: hotel receptionist job description template included.
Front desk responsibilities, reservation system operation, guest service standards, and the admin-accuracy balance during busy periods.
How to write a concierge job description: concierge job description template included.
Guest services responsibilities, local expertise expectations, booking management, and the problem-solving autonomy that distinguishes concierge roles.
How to write a hotel assistant manager job description: hotel assistant manager job description template included.
Departmental coordination responsibilities, guest recovery authority, team management, and the operational scope of assistant hotel managers.
How to write a hotel revenue manager job description: hotel revenue manager job description template included.
Revenue optimisation responsibilities, pricing authority, forecasting duties, distribution channel management, and commercial reporting.
How to record a hotel general manager video job description
Full hotel leadership covering strategic planning, stakeholder management, team oversight, financial performance, and guest experience standards.
Events & Catering
Events and catering descriptions emphasise adaptability and coordination alongside core skills — reflecting the varied environments these roles operate in.
How to record a catering assistant video job description
Food preparation and service responsibilities, setup and teardown duties, health and safety requirements, and the flexibility expected across event types.
How to write a banquet server job description: banquet server job description template included.
Large-event service responsibilities, course timing coordination, presentation standards, and the teamwork that distinguishes banquet from restaurant service.
How to write an AV technician job description: AV technician job description template included.
Technical setup responsibilities, equipment maintenance, sound and lighting operation, and the event coordination skills that support successful productions.
Common mistakes
Generic descriptions — "Team player with good communication skills" could describe any role in any organisation. Be specific about what this role in your business actually requires.
Listing tasks not outcomes — "Responsible for cleaning" tells someone what to do but not what success looks like. "Work area is clean and ready at the start of every shift" is measurable.
Never updating — A job description written three years ago for a role that's changed significantly creates unfair expectations. Review annually at minimum.
Overselling — Describing the role as more exciting or senior than it is leads to disappointment and early leaving. Honesty builds trust.
Missing success criteria — Without clear measures of success, performance conversations become subjective. Define what "good" looks like so both parties can agree.
Forgetting behaviours — Technical skills matter, but so do reliability, communication, and teamwork. Include the behaviours that make someone effective in the role, not just the tasks they perform.
Using job descriptions in performance management
The job description is your shared baseline for every performance conversation. Reference it in one-to-ones to check whether someone is meeting expectations, and use it as the foundation for performance reviews where you assess competency against the documented criteria. When everyone starts from the same written expectations, performance management becomes evidence-based rather than opinion-based.