Opening General Manager (6-Month Contract)

Cutting Edge Recruitment; Manila; On-site; PHP 3,614,457 - 4,819,276; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality group is seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee the opening of a new restaurant in Manila. This role entails hands-on leadership from pre-launch through to stabilisation, focusing on building a top-performing team and establishing operational standards. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in high-volume restaurant settings and will ensure brand consistency while driving financial performance. This is a unique opportunity to shape the operational foundation of a vibrant restaurant concept.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a General Manager in high-volume, premium casual or bar-led restaurant concepts.
• Strong exposure to small plates / sharing-style dining and fast-paced service environments.
• Demonstrated opening experience, ideally across multiple sites.
• Commercially astute, with strong financial and operational understanding.
• Highly hands-on, resilient, and delivery-focused.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to quickly build and stabilise teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of pre-opening planning and execution.
• Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing front-of-house team.
• Establish a strong service culture aligned with the brand.
• Drive consistency and quality in a high-volume service environment.
• Implement operational systems, SOPs, and service standards.
• Manage budgets, cost control, and financial performance.

Job description

Overview:

This is a rare opportunity to lead the launch of a highly regarded, award-winning restaurant concept as it expands into Manila.

The brand is known for its vibrant, high-energy atmosphere, bold yet refined food, and a seamless integration of bar and restaurant culture. With a strong track record and loyal following, this opening represents a key step in its regional growth.

We are seeking an experienced and highly hands-on General Manager to take full ownership of the opening — from pre-launch through to stabilisation — before delivering a structured handover to long-term leadership.

The Role:

This is a build, launch, and deliver role.

You will be responsible for establishing the operation from the ground up — building the team, embedding standards, and driving performance in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

This role requires a visible, floor-led operator. It is not suited to someone who prefers to manage remotely — you will need to be fully engaged in the day-to-day realities of opening and running the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of pre-opening planning and execution.
• Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing front-of-house team.
• Establish a strong service culture aligned with the brand.
• Ensure seamless coordination between kitchen, bar, and floor.
• Drive consistency and quality in a high-volume, high-energy service environment.
• Implement operational systems, SOPs, and service standards.
• Take full ownership of daily operations during the opening phase.
• Manage budgets, cost control, and financial performance.
• Work closely with senior leadership to execute the concept successfully.
• Ensure brand consistency and operational alignment across the group.
• Deliver a clear and effective handover to the long-term General Manager / Regional Manager.

Candidate Profile:

• Proven experience as a General Manager in high-volume, premium casual or bar-led restaurant concepts.
• Strong exposure to small plates / sharing-style dining and fast-paced service environments.
• Demonstrated opening experience, ideally across multiple sites.
• Commercially astute, with strong financial and operational understanding.
• Highly hands‑on, resilient, and delivery‑focused.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to quickly build and stabilise teams.
• Experience in Southeast Asia is advantageous, but not essential.

What We're Looking For:

• A leader who sets the tone through presence, energy, and accountability.
• Someone comfortable operating in a demanding, fast‑moving environment.
• A problem‑solver who takes ownership and drives results.
• A team builder who can quickly establish structure, discipline, and culture.
• A natural host with a strong understanding of guest experience.

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering a high‑profile opening and to leave a lasting operational and cultural foundation within a growing, internationally recognised hospitality group.