General Manager (DC - Bench)

Nando's PERi-PERi North America; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Nando's PERi-PERi North America in Washington, DC is seeking a General Manager to lead restaurant operations. This role requires 4-6 years of restaurant management experience, proven leadership skills, and a commitment to developing staff and community partnerships. Responsibilities include managing all aspects of the restaurant, ensuring hospitality excellence, and driving commercial performance. The ideal candidate will have certification as a ServSafe Manager and a track record in achieving sales growth and controlling labor costs.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years of restaurant management experience, including shift and team leadership.
• Proven ability to run all aspects of a restaurant including people and operations.
• Experience hiring, training, and developing staff.

Responsibilities

• Drive vision and culture of the restaurant for staff and guests.
• Manage P&L with an owner's mindset, controlling costs and improving productivity.
• Build community partnerships and champion inclusive hiring.

Skills

Restaurant management experience

Leadership

Hospitality

Budget management

Staff development

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ServSafe Manager certification

Job description

At Nando’s, we aim to be the most loved restaurant brand in North America, sharing Nando’s PERi-PERi spirit and placing people at the heart of everything we do.

GENERAL MANAGER (Patrão)

As the head of the family, you own the full life of the restaurant: people, brand, commerce, operations. You drive the vision, culture and daily execution that guests and staff experience.

Your Purpose

You grow people, elevate the brand, strengthen commercial performance, and build community partnerships. You do more than run a business; you build futures and change lives.

Scope & Span of Accountability

Lead with an annual business horizon and full unit ownership—people, brand, commercial, and operations. Set the vision and rhythm for 14 shifts, care for budget, guide local marketing, and translate strategy into daily execution.

Key Focus Areas & Responsibilities

• People – create an inclusive, values‑led environment; develop staff, spot talent, build succession bench; uphold safety and fairness.
• Brand – bring the Nando’s experience to every touchpoint; coach, role‑model, ensure hospitality, quality, consistency.
• Commercial – manage the P&L with an owner’s mindset; forecast, improve gross profit, control costs, optimize labor productivity.
• Changing Lives – build community partnerships, champion inclusive hiring, lead sustainability and waste‑reduction initiatives.
• Decision Authority – make strategic and operational decisions, set standards, approve hiring and spend, handle escalations.
• Risk & Compliance – own food safety, health & safety, licensing, audit performance, and training.

Core Outcomes & Measures

• Happy Nandocas: engagement, growth, diverse bench.
• Happy Customers: consistent brand touchpoints, hospitality excellence.
• Happy Leadership: P&L delivery, GP improvement, waste reduction, labor productivity.
• Changing Lives: inclusive hiring, community impact, sustainability actions.

Key Interfaces

Assistant Patrão and Managers; Area/Managing Director; People Partner/HR; Finance; Facilities; Supply Chain; Marketing; Community partners; local authorities.

What You Bring

• 4‑6 years of restaurant management experience, including shift and team leadership.
• Proven ability to run all aspects of a restaurant (people, food, operations, safety, sales).
• Success delivering KPIs (sales growth, labor control, food quality, audits).
• Experience hiring, training, and developing staff.
• Experience managing inventory, ordering, prep, and food safety routines.
• Track record of leading peak shifts and resolving guest issues.
• Experience executing brand standards and maintaining a safe, compliant facility.
• Education / Certifications: high school diploma or equivalent; ServSafe Manager required; Allergen Awareness & Alcohol Safety certifications where applicable.

Physical Requirements

• Able to lift up to 50 lbs for an extended period.
• Must walk or stand 8‑10 hours per day.
• Hand‑eye coordination; reach, bend, twist, stoop; push and pull; lift overhead.
• Must climb stairs in multi‑level restaurants.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Nandos North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.