General Manager

Color Hospitality Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is looking for an experienced General Manager to oversee all aspects of our full-service restaurant in Chicago. This role requires a results-driven leader with deep financial acumen and a passion for hospitality.

Responsibilities include managing financial performance, driving guest satisfaction, and building a strong operational team. The ideal candidate will demonstrate solid experience in team development and operational excellence.

Join us in delivering an exceptional dining experience in a vibrant community setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a management role within the hospitality industry.
• Strong financial acumen and P&L management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own the restaurant’s full P&L and manage the annual budget.
• Direct daily restaurant operations to ensure service quality.
• Recruit and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

Financial management

Team leadership

Guest service excellence

Operational efficiency

Local Marketing

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, results-driven General Manager to lead all aspects of our full-service restaurant. This is a high-ownership role for a hospitality professional who is equally at home on the floor with guests as they are reviewing a P&L or developing a management team.

As General Manager, you will be the single point of accountability for your restaurant’s performance — driving revenue, controlling costs, maintaining the highest standards of food and service quality, and building a team that delivers a consistently exceptional guest experience. You will operate with significant autonomy and will be expected to treat the business as your own.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

Financial Performance & P&L Ownership

• Own the restaurant’s full P&L, including revenue, labor, food and beverage cost, and operating expenses.
• Develop and manage the annual operating budget; monitor performance against targets weekly and monthly.
• Identify opportunities to grow revenue through traffic-driving initiatives, upselling culture, and local marketing support.
• Control costs through disciplined scheduling, purchasing, and waste reduction without compromising guest experience.
• Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting to ownership and senior leadership.

Operations & Service Excellence

• Direct all daily restaurant operations across front-of-house and back-of-house to ensure seamless, high-quality service.
• Establish, communicate, and uphold operational standards and systems that ensure consistency across every shift.
• Maintain rigorous food safety and sanitation standards in full compliance with local health department regulations.
• Conduct regular line checks, pre-shift meetings, and floor presence to drive accountability and guest satisfaction.
• Oversee facilities, equipment maintenance, and vendor relationships to ensure a safe and well-functioning environment.
• Manage and optimize table turns, reservation flow, and labor deployment to maximize efficiency and revenue.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain high-performing hourly and salaried team members.
• Build a culture of hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire team.
• Coach, mentor, and develop shift leaders and managers to grow their capabilities and build bench strength.
• Conduct regular performance conversations and formal reviews; address performance issues promptly and constructively.
• Champion a positive, inclusive workplace culture that reduces turnover and drives team engagement.
• Oversee scheduling to ensure appropriate coverage while managing labor cost to target.

Guest Experience

• Set the tone for a consistently exceptional guest experience by modeling and enforcing service standards.
• Actively engage with guests on the floor; resolve complaints professionally and use feedback to drive improvement.
• Monitor online reviews across platforms (Google, Yelp, etc.) and develop response and improvement strategies.
• Drive guest loyalty and repeat visits through community presence, consistency, and relationship building.

Marketing & Community Engagement

• Partner with the company’s Marketing Manager to execute local marketing campaigns, promotions, and events.
• Support social media efforts by providing content, feedback, and alignment on brand messaging.
• Represent the restaurant in the local community; cultivate relationships that support awareness and guest acquisition.
• Identify and coordinate catering, buyout, and private dining opportunities to grow revenue.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, food safety regulations, and liquor licensing requirements.
• Maintain all required permits, certifications, and documentation; prepare for and manage health inspections.
• Enforce a safe working environment; lead safety training and incident reporting protocols.