designate general manager

wagamama; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£8,000 annual bonus

£200 a month to spend at wagamama

50% off for friends + family

Free meals on shift

Private medical insurance

Earned pay access

Family friendly policies

30% off at group brands

Job summary

wagamama is seeking a designate general manager to lead a restaurant and help steer teams across nearby sites. You’ll drive exceptional service, build a strong culture, and ensure operations feel like the business is your own.

As a leader, you’ll coach and develop your team, manage tasting menus and guest flow, and maintain a calm, upbeat pace during peak service. This role blends leadership with hands-on restaurant operation.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a high-volume restaurant.
• Proven ability to coach and develop a team.
• Strong leadership under pressure with calm demeanor.

Responsibilities

• creating a place where your team feels safe, seen, and proud to show up
• turning first-timers into regulars with unforgettable guest experiences
• coaching, growing and celebrating your team
• staying calm under pressure and keeping everything running smoothly, even when things get spicy
• thinking with a kaizen mindset, and constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching and development

Guest experience focus

People management

Calm under pressure

Job description

full time

designate general manager | full time at wagamama, food is life. we care about where it comes from, how it's made and the people who make it happen. as general manager, you'll be the beating heart of your restaurant. your vibe sets the tone. your energy brings the buzz. your leadership shapes the culture

we're looking for a designate general manager who's ready to step up. someone on the rise who leads from the front, keeps their cool and brings people together. you'll run the restaurant like it's your own. driving great service, building a strong team and making sure every guest leaves feeling good

you'll work across a few nearby restaurants, stepping in where you're needed most. learning each team, finding your rhythm in different spaces and growing into full general manager leadership with a real feel for how it all comes together

What You'll Be Doing

• creating a place where your team feels safe, seen, and proud to show up
• turning first-timers into regulars with unforgettable guest experiences
• coaching, growing and celebrating your team
• staying calm under pressure and keeping everything running smoothly, even when things get spicy
• thinking with a kaizen mindset, and constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you'll love this role if you...

• lead with kindness, but know how to make impact
• believe great food brings people together
• care just as much about your team as your p+l
• want to grow a team, not just manage one
• love the rhythm of a busy service + keep everything upbeat even when it's full-on

What You’ll Get

• a culture that backs your growth, wellbeing and individuality
• up to £8,000 annual bonus
• £200 a month to spend at wagamama outside of work
• 50% off for friends + family
• free meals on shift
• private medical insurance
• early access to earned pay with wagesstream
• industry leading family friendly policies
• 30% off at our group brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito + more)

in addition to this, we offer benefits such as: pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail + leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships + long service awards

we're proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you're from or who you are, you've got a seat at our bench

#ext