General Manager - Upscale Chef-Driven Restaurant - $100K-$120K

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated General Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of a well-established, high-end restaurant in San Diego. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for a hospitality professional who understands that exceptional guest experiences, strong team culture, operational discipline, and financial performance must work together.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all aspects of daily restaurant operations, including front-of-house and back-of-house execution.
• Create an exceptional guest experience through consistent, friendly, professional service.
• Lead, coach, develop, and inspire the management and restaurant teams.
• Build a positive, accountable, and professional culture focused on hospitality and teamwork.
• Drive sales, service, food quality, cleanliness, and overall operational excellence.
• Manage labor scheduling and staffing levels based on business volume while maintaining labor-cost objectives.
• Own restaurant-level financial performance and work toward established budgets and financial goals.
• Monitor cash handling, daily reconciliation, purchasing, receiving, and inventory-related procedures.
• Partner with ownership and operations leadership on business performance, opportunities, and challenges.
• Oversee restaurant maintenance, repairs, equipment, and overall facility standards.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, labor, and regulatory requirements.
• Recruit, interview, hire, train, evaluate, coach, and discipline team members as appropriate.
• Ensure performance reviews and employee development initiatives are completed consistently and on time.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, service, sanitation, cleanliness, and restaurant appearance.
• Support marketing, promotional, and guest-engagement initiatives designed to grow the business.
• Prepare and maintain required schedules, reports, and operational documentation.
• Step into service and operational positions when necessary to ensure the restaurant continues to run efficiently.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a General Manager, Restaurant Manager, or senior restaurant leader.
• Strong background in full-service restaurant operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a large or diverse restaurant team.
• Strong understanding of both front-of-house and back-of-house operations.
• Experience managing labor, budgets, financial goals, and restaurant performance.
• Strong knowledge of guest service, food and beverage operations, and hospitality standards.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• A high level of professionalism, accountability, energy, and motivation.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-expectation restaurant environment.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, but strong restaurant leadership experience will be considered.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Ability to work approximately 50–55 hours per week, with flexibility based on business needs.
• Must be comfortable being hands-on and actively engaged in restaurant operations.

The Ideal Leader

The successful candidate will be more than an administrator. We are looking for a true hospitality leader who can set the tone for the restaurant, develop people, protect the guest experience, and drive results. You should be comfortable leading from the floor, making decisions in real time, holding teams accountable, and partnering with senior leadership to continuously improve the business.

Pay

$100,000–$120,000 annual base salary

Schedule

Full-time, exempt position
Nights, weekends, and holidays required
Approximately 50–55 hours per week, depending on business needs

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a major restaurant operation in one of San Diego's most dynamic hospitality markets. You'll have the opportunity to influence culture, develop a strong team, drive financial and operational performance, and make a meaningful impact on the restaurant's continued success. If you're an accomplished restaurant leader ready for a high-impact General Manager opportunity, we'd like to hear from you.

Company Description

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.