General Manager – Upscale Restaurant

General Manager – Upscale Restaurant (Santa Cruz, CA)

An established restaurant in Santa Cruz is looking for an experienced General Manager to lead our team, oversee operations, and deliver an exceptional dining experience. We are seeking a passionate hospitality leader with at least 2-3 years of Management experience in a full-service, hospitality driven restaurant—someone who thrives on team development. guest satisfaction and has passion for food, wine, and hospitality while maintaining a positive and respectful work environment.

Compensation & Benefits:

-Salary: $90,000+

-Bonus Structure: Performance-based incentives tied to key goals

-Health Insurance: $450 monthly reimbursement for a health plan

-Staff Meal: Every shift

-Monthly Dining Incentive

Paid Time Off:

-Two weeks of paid vacation

-96 hours of sick pay per year

Who We’re Looking For:

-Minimum 2-3 years of General Manager experience in a full-service restaurant

-Passion for food, wine, craft cocktails, and hospitality

-Strong leadership and team-building skills, fostering a positive and respectful workplace

-Ability to balance floor presence with administrative responsibilities

-Experience with cost control, labor management, and FOH/BOH collaboration

Bonus: Open to improving business operations (e.g., financial tracking, reporting, and analytics)

Schedule & Expectations:

-Full-time (45-50 hours per week)

-Five-day workweek (Thursday–Monday)

-Schedule: Starting around 2 pm/3 pm and finishing around 10 pm/11pm

-A mix of working on the floor, touching tables and completing administrative work is required

-Work-Life Balance: Requests to work beyond 50 hours are infrequent and only as needed by business demands

Main Responsibilities:

-Daily Operations & Leadership

-Oversee day-to-day restaurant operations, ensuring smooth service and efficiency

-Manage FOH labor, scheduling, and cost control, keeping staffing aligned with revenue goals

-Recruit, train, and develop employees to maintain high standards and employee retention

-Implement and improve systems, standards, and processes to optimize workflow

-Lead with kindness, respect, and positivity, fostering a strong team culture

Guest Relations

-Ensure consistent and outstanding guest experiences by being present on the floor

-Handle guest concerns promptly and professionally, always aiming for a positive resolution

-Knowledge of food and beverage menu and ingredients

Financial & Administrative Responsibilities:

-Maintain accountability for FOH labor costs, aligning hours with sales

-Prepare weekly labor reports and financial reviews

-Oversee bar inventory, ordering, and cost control management

-Monitor budgets, payroll records, and financial transactions to ensure alignment with business objectives

Team Collaboration:

-Maintain clear communication with all departments, from Chef/ BOH team, and FOH team, to ownership team.

-Work with ownership to enhance service standards and improve operational efficiency

Position Type & Work Hours:

-This is a full-time, exempt position with expected work hours of 45-50 hours per week, with occasional peaks above 50 hours when required by business demands. Evenings, weekends, and holidays are required.

-While we value a strong work ethic, we also prioritize work-life balance—extended workweeks are the exception, not the norm.

Physical Requirements:

-Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and 35 pounds regularly

-Ability to stand for extended periods during shifts

Other Duties

-This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve based on business needs. Responsibilities, duties, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Why Join Us?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a dedicated hospitality professional to take ownership of your role and impact as a General Manager for a high-quality restaurant with quality local ingredients, a great wine and cocktail program, and a positive company culture If you’re looking for a long-term leadership role with room for growth, we’d love to hear from you!

How to Apply: Send your resume and a brief introduction on why you're the right fit for this role to AmandaSheaConsulting@gmail.com

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.