Restaurant General Manager, Santa Barbara

At Ghirardelli, we honor tradition and drive innovation, aiming to be the top choice for premium chocolate. Our commitment to Making Life A Bite Better inspires both our products and the way we do business. We support personal and professional growth, recognizing that each employee’s contribution directly impacts Ghirardelli’s growth and success. Join our dynamic team and help shape Ghirardelli's future.

About the role

The General Manager is responsible and accountable for all aspects of managing our store and upholding the high standards of the Company and its reputation. The General Manager ensures that the store operates in a way that delivers excellent customer service, maximizes financial return, and fosters an environment that makes Ghirardelli a great place to work for our employees. The General Manager leads a team of store managers, supervisors, and retail associates, which fluctuates between 85-100 employees and swells during peak summer months with overseas students employed seasonally on cultural work visas.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the well-being of the store and its employees through effective management of safety and risk, including prevention, escalation, and response.
• Communicates effectively and timely with all levels of the organization by following company standards of team-building, recognition, and professionalism.
• Works closely with store personnel, store and division management teams, and Ghirardelli corporate liaisons, such as human resources, finance, and payroll.
• Actively operates with excellence, maximizing sales opportunities and planning to increase store effectiveness.
• Establishes and effectively prioritizes daily store activities.
• Upholds the values of exemplary customer service by modeling behavior and leadership.
• Monitors sales and labor cost issues daily to maximize profitability without sacrificing customer service.
• Responds in a timely manner to all escalated customer service issues.
• Maintains high standards of cleanliness, food/product safety, and branding requirements.
• Properly uses the POS system for payroll, inventory management, cost of goods sold, gross profit, and customer service.
• Works with the regional manager to establish attainable and growth-oriented store plans.
• Collaborates with the regional manager and finance department to establish profit and loss for the store.
• Maintains inventory levels at optimum efficiency through order placement via vendors and appropriate corporate personnel.
• Performs payroll, scheduling, interviewing, selection, in-service training, and separation management in conjunction with human resources and payroll departments.
• Develops store personnel, especially the management team, using coaching, mentoring, and empowerment practices.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate or higher degree preferred, especially with culinary or managerial emphasis.
• 3+ years of related experience in the restaurant or retail field at a managerial level.
• Prior experience at a high-volume, casual dining establishment in a general manager or regional manager role preferred.

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Occasional to Constant: Repetitive fine manipulation (keyboarding, ten key, writing).
• Rare to Occasional: Simple grasping.
• Rare to Occasional: Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Occasional to Constant: Sitting, walking, standing.
• Rare to Occasional: Twisting of the neck and waist, reaching at or below shoulder level.
• Ability to travel to various locations across the country.
• Occasional to Frequent: Usage of verbal communication equipment (telephone, radio, cellular).
• Rare to Occasional: Squatting, bending, stooping, stretching.

Pay

Salary Range: $71,000 - $85,000