General Manager

Zizzi; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Wages access via Stream

Free meals on shift

50% off meals off shift

Virtual GP

Employee Assistance Program

Discounts on travel, cinema, brands

Job summary

Zizzi is seeking a General Manager in Manchester to lead restaurant operations with energy and a passion for Italian hospitality. You will direct management and kitchen teams, uphold brand standards, and ensure a memorable guest experience every day.

You’ll recruit, coach, and develop your team, manage costs and labour to KPI targets, and lead during peak times, including evenings, weekends and holidays. The role offers development opportunities and performance-based rewards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading diverse teams in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to deliver business growth and meet KPIs.
• Experience managing costs, stock control, and labour budgets.
• Ability to lead from the front during busy times, including evenings, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, build, and retain a brilliant team that reflects Zizzi culture.
• Lead your entire team to deliver standout hospitality and memorable guest experiences daily.
• Maintain a clean, high-standard restaurant with strong kerb appeal.
• Be a menu expert with a passion for quality dishes and strong food standards.
• Drive performance, focusing on labour and stock control to improve performance.

Skills

Brand standards

Team leadership

People development

Business growth

Costs & budgets

Peak-time leadership

Job description

Our story:

Zizzi started in 1999 with a little wine, a big oven, and an even bigger dream to serve Italian, our way. You'll know us for good times, bubbly pizza, and fresh pasta. We don’t do bland food, people or restaurants.

About the role:

As General Manager, you are responsible for your restaurant’s successes.Leading your management and kitchen teams, you’ll bring our values to life through high-energy leadership.We're looking for a leader who demands the best for our guests while keeping a sharp eye on standards and performance.You’ll lead by example, ensuring every guest has a feel-good experience.

What you’ll do:

• Recruit, build, and retain a brilliant team that gets the Zizzi culture.
• Lead your entire team to deliver standout hospitality and memorable customer experiences every day.
• Maintain a clean, high-standard restaurant with great kerb appeal.
• Be a menu expert with a passion for picture-perfect dishes and top-tier food quality.
• Drive performance, focusing on labour and stock control to be better than yesterday.
• Lead with high standards, keeping everyone safe by following all health, safety, and food safety policies.

What’s in it for you:

• Performance bonus up to 30% of your salary.
• Clear development opportunities. Over 90% of our Ops Managers and Central Support Teams started as Zizzi restaurant GMs.
• Regular events, GM roadshows, and team incentives.
• Access your earned wages whenever you need them with Stream.
• Free meals when you're on shift, and 50% off when you aren't.
• 24/7 Virtual GP and Employee Assistance Program.
• Discounts on travel, cinema, and top brands.

What we're looking for:

• An obsession with maintaining high brand standards
• Proven experience leading diverse teams in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• A people person who can motivate, coach, and develop their team to deliver exceptional food and service.
• Proven experience in delivering business growth and meeting KPIs.
• Experience managing costs, stock control, and labour budgets.
• The ability to lead from the front during our busiest times, including evenings, weekends and holiday periods.

Why you’ll fit right in:

We want you leading the restaurant, as you are, from day 1. We love individuality - bold tattoos, bad singing, big laugh, brave choices.

We're a Times Top 500 Employer because we celebrate everyone's differences. While we're on that, we're also the only Italian restaurant in the FT's UK’s Best Employers 2026 Special Report (all about working conditions, salary, potential for development and company image).