Restaurant General Manager
Italian Restaurant | Pizza, Pasta & Traditional Italian Cuisine
Location: Clifton, NJ
Position Overview
We are seeking a hands-on, high-energy Restaurant General Manager to lead the daily operations of a growing Italian restaurant specializing in pizza, pasta, and authentic Italian cuisine. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven hospitality leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, leads from the front, and understands the balance between outstanding guest experiences and strong financial performance.
The ideal candidate is a true operator who can hustle during peak service periods, build and develop high-performing teams, maintain exceptional food safety standards, and drive profitability through disciplined cost management. Spanish-speaking candidates are strongly preferred.
This position offers a clear path to promotion into a Director of Operations role before year-end for the right leader who demonstrates strong operational execution and leadership capabilities.
Operations Leadership
- Oversee all day-to-day restaurant operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service.
- Lead from the floor during service periods, providing hands-on support and direction.
- Maintain high standards for food quality, consistency, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
- Ensure operational excellence across front-of-house and back-of-house teams.
- Drive a culture of accountability, urgency, and hospitality.
Team Building & Development
- Recruit, hire, train, coach, and retain top hospitality talent.
- Build a strong management team and create a positive workplace culture.
- Conduct performance evaluations and implement development plans.
- Lead daily shift meetings and ongoing training initiatives.
- Foster teamwork, communication, and employee engagement.
Financial Management
- Analyze and manage labor costs, food costs, and controllable expenses.
- Conduct regular cost analysis and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
- Monitor sales trends, budgets, and key performance indicators.
- Manage inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
- Ensure accurate cash handling and financial reporting.
Food Safety & Compliance
- Maintain strict adherence to all local, state, and federal health regulations.
- Ensure proper food handling, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures.
- Conduct regular audits and inspections to maintain compliance standards.
- Lead by example in maintaining a clean, organized, and safe restaurant environment.
Guest Experience
- Create memorable guest experiences through exceptional service and hospitality.
- Address guest concerns promptly and professionally.
- Build relationships with regular guests and support local community engagement.
- Monitor online reviews and implement service improvement initiatives.
Strategic Growth
- Partner with ownership to drive operational improvements and business growth.
- Assist in developing systems, processes, and best practices that can scale across future locations.
- Prepare for advancement into a Director of Operations role overseeing multiple locations and management teams.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of restaurant management experience, including General Manager experience.
- Strong background in Italian cuisine, pizza concepts, full-service restaurants, or high-volume casual dining.
- Proven success managing labor, food cost, and restaurant profitability.
- Experience recruiting, developing, and retaining restaurant teams.
- Strong knowledge of restaurant financials and operational reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.
- ServSafe Certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
- Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as business demands.
Preferred
- Spanish-speaking proficiency strongly preferred.
- Multi-unit management experience.
- Experience preparing for restaurant growth and expansion.
- Experience implementing systems, processes, and operational controls.
- Ambition and readiness to grow into a Director of Operations position.
Key Traits We Are Looking For
- High-energy leader with a strong work ethic
- Hands-on operator who isn't afraid to jump into any position when needed
- Team builder and culture creator
- Financially disciplined and data-driven
- Strong communicator and problem solver
- Accountable, organized, and results-oriented
- Passionate about hospitality, Italian food, and guest satisfaction
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the desire to grow into senior leadership
Compensation & Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-based bonus opportunity
- Paid time off
- Career advancement opportunity to Director of Operations
- Professional development and leadership growth
- Health and wellness benefits (if applicable)