General Manager

Food For Thought Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Health, Dental and Vision Insurance –

401K Retirement Plan

Employee Discounts

Job summary

Food For Thought Inc. in Chicago is seeking a General Manager to lead daily café operations, manage a team, drive guest satisfaction, and control inventory and costs.

You will partner with the Chef Manager to implement menu initiatives and promotions while monitoring expenses, sales growth, and margins. As a hands-on leader, you will oversee Front and Back of House, develop career paths, and ensure 100% compliance with SOPs, HACCP, and budgets, delivering exceptional service and measurable

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience of Food Service Management in mid to high volume establishments.
• Financial accountability in managing Food, Labor and Direct costs against budgets and forecasts.
• Must provide valid Food Service Manager Certificate and Food Allergen Certification.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Measuring customer satisfaction levels through feedback and resolving any issues immediately.
• Managing a team to ensure continuous client and customer satisfaction and employee retention.
• Developing career paths including training schedules and timeframes.
• Working with the Chef Manager to maintain 100% compliance with the new menu and promo rollouts from chef’s committee.
• Acting as the liaison with the client to ensure expectations are met.
• Managing and maintaining all SOPs (Café, Toast & 365) and HACCP standards.
• Demonstrating financial expertise and accountability in managing Food, Labor and Direct costs against budgets and forecasts.
• Manage all operations during hours of operation of café.
• Other duties as required or assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Financial literacy

Fast-paced environment

Communication

Education

Food Service Manager Certificate

Food Allergen Certification

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

General Manager

Full Time Chicago, IL, US

7 days ago Requisition ID: 1397

Salary Range: $75,000.00 To $85,000.00 Annually

Job Title: General Manager

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 annually

Location: Downtown

Bonus Potential: 5% of their salary broken into 4 quarters. The following measurables will be reviewed at the end of every quarter to determine payment. (25% for each category).

1. Sales vs budget
2. COGS vs. budget (1% or lower)
3. Labor vs. budget (1% or lower)
4. Staff retention – Turnover rate below 25%.

Role Overview

As a Food for Thought General Manager, you are the driving force behind the overall success of the café. You are a dynamic food and beverage leader responsible for overseeing daily operations, managing and developing your team, ordering and controlling inventory, and delivering an exceptional guest experience every day.

You will partner closely with the Chef Manager to ensure 100% execution and compliance of all new menu initiatives and promotional rollouts from the Chef’s Committee, while actively monitoring financial performance including expenses, sales growth, and profit margins.

In collaboration with the Catering Manager, you will ensure seamless daily conference center operations and flawless event execution, maintaining complete client and guest satisfaction.

You will stay ahead of industry trends, bringing fresh ideas and creative inspiration to the café by leveraging social media, culinary innovation, and industry resources to keep the concept relevant and competitive.

As a hands‑on leader, you will oversee both Front of House and Back of House teams, fostering a culture centered on accountability, engagement, and service excellence. You will prioritize employee retention by developing clear career paths, structured training programs, and defined growth timelines for your team.

Responsibilities

• Measuring customer satisfaction levels through feedback and resolving any issues immediately.
• Managing a team to ensure continuous client and customer satisfaction and employee retention.
• Developing career paths including training schedules and timeframes.
• Working with the Chef Manager to maintain 100% compliance with the new menu and promo rollouts from chef’s committee.
• Acting as the liaison with the client to ensure expectations are met.
• Managing and maintaining all SOPs (Café, Toast & 365) and HACCP standards.
• Demonstrating financial expertise and accountability in managing Food, Labor and Direct costs against budgets and forecasts.
• Manage all operations during hours of operation of café.
• Other duties as required or assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience of Food Service Management in mid to high volume establishments.
• Financial expertise and accountability in managing Food, Labor and Direct costs against budgets and forecasts.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Must provide valid Food Service Manager Certificate and Food Allergen Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledgeable of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and management of people and resources.
• Outgoing, dependable, and able to deliver top notch customer service.
• Supporting client relations and leadership skills.
• Well‑versed leader who understands all aspects of food service management.

Why We’re the Leaders

• Excellent training
• Competitive Pay
• Anniversary Milestone Incentives

Company Benefits & Perks

• Paid Time Off
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance – Includes Spouse and Domestic Partner Coverage
• Health Provider - Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Vision Provider: VSP
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) & Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Mental Health, Relationship Conflicts, Child and Eldercare, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss
• Assistance for you and household members
• (3) In Person Sessions
• Unlimited phone access
• Parental Leave – Equal benefits to Mothers and Fathers
• 401K Retirement Plan
• FFT University - Over 70 courses designed to enhance your skills in life and on the job to help your career growth.
• Employee Meal Plan
• Employee Discounts (Pet Insurance, Entertainment, Travel, Company Discounts, and much more).

Company Values & Culture

• Diverse, Inclusive, Safe, and Motivating
• Our Triple Bottom Line – People, Product and Planet

Grow with us! At Food For Thought, instruction, advice, and assistance are always readily available, which is why our average tenure is 6 years. The U.S. average is 4.2 years, while the Hospitality industry average is only 2.1 years!

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, move, reach, grab, and stand for long periods of time. As well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be required to lift and carry items of 40+ pounds for a moderate distance.

EEO Statement

Food For Thought provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

Food For Thought participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.

Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.

For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.