General Manager in Waiting

Pizza Ranch - Quincy; Quincy (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company vehicle

Vehicle stipend

Travel support

Job summary

Gravy Train Pizza Ranch is seeking a General Manager in Waiting to support multiple Iowa and Illinois locations. This role involves stepping in to provide temporary GM leadership, training teams, and strengthening daily operations while maintaining our legendary service standards.

The position requires approximately 50 hours per week and regular travel, with a focus on developing leaders, managing store performance, and driving guest satisfaction across markets.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of restaurant management experience.
• Strong business acumen with P&L, labor, and cost controls.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel across IA/IL.

Responsibilities

• Travel to Gravy Train Pizza Ranch locations to provide temporary GM-level leadership and operational support.
• Step in during leadership transitions, growth phases, or performance improvement periods.
• Assess team dynamics and operational opportunities and implement improvements.
• Oversee daily restaurant operations including food quality, guest service, and cleanliness.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and food safety regulations.
• Develop and coach General Managers, Assistant Managers, and shift leads.

Skills

Leadership

Travel

P&L management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma

College degree preferred

Job description

Who We Are

Pizza Ranch began as a single restaurant in Hull, Iowa in 1981 and has grown into a leading fast-casual franchise with more than 200 locations across multiple states. At Gravy Train Restaurant Management, we proudly operate several Pizza Ranch restaurants throughout Iowa and Illinois.

We operate with a people-first mindset — focused on operational excellence, strong leadership, and building restaurants where team members are developed, supported, and set up to succeed. Our goal is simple: deliver a legendary guest experience while building strong leaders across every market we serve.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a General Manager in Waiting — a high-impact, traveling leadership role designed for a future General Manager who is ready to grow into a long-term store leadership position.

This role supports multiple Gravy Train Pizza Ranch locations across Iowa and Illinois. You will step in where needed — supporting leadership transitions, training and developing teams, strengthening operations, and ensuring each restaurant upholds our legendary standards.

If you thrive in dynamic environments, enjoy variety in your work, and are passionate about developing people and driving results, this role was built for you.

This position requires approximately 50 hours per week and regular travel.

What You’ll Do

Lead Where You’re Needed Most

• Travel to various Gravy Train Pizza Ranch locations to provide temporary GM-level leadership and operational support.
• Step in during leadership transitions, growth phases, or performance improvement periods.
• Quickly assess team dynamics and operational opportunities.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Oversee daily operations including food quality, labor management, cleanliness, and guest service standards.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and food safety regulations.
• Support stores in meeting sales, profitability, and performance goals.

Develop Leaders & Teams

• Train and coach General Managers, Assistant Managers, and shift leaders.
• Support onboarding and leadership development initiatives.
• Model accountability, professionalism, and the Pizza Ranch way of leadership.

Elevate the Guest Experience

• Reinforce legendary hospitality standards across all locations.
• Support local teams in community engagement and positive brand presence.
• Ensure consistent execution of service standards and guest recovery processes.

Strengthen Financial Performance

• Analyze store performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Assist with managing food cost, labor cost, and inventory control.
• Provide actionable recommendations to District Managers and leadership.

What You Bring to the Table

• Passion for Leadership & Development – You love coaching others and building strong teams.
• 3–5 Years of Restaurant Management Experience – Multi-unit or traveling leadership experience preferred.
• Adaptability & Problem-Solving Skills – You can walk into a new environment and quickly identify what needs attention.
• Strong Business Acumen – Experience managing P&L, labor, and cost controls.
• Excellent Communication Skills – Able to connect with team members at every level.
• Valid Driver’s License & Willingness to Travel – Regular travel across Iowa and Illinois is required.
• High school diploma required; college degree preferred.

Compensation & Travel Package

• Competitive salary
• Performance-based incentive opportunities
• Benefits package
• Company vehicle OR vehicle stipend package
• Travel support as applicable

Why Join Gravy Train?

• Clear Path to Permanent GM Placement – This role is designed to prepare you for a long-term General Manager position.
• High Visibility Leadership Role – Work directly with District Managers and executive leadership.
• Growth-Focused Organization – We invest in developing strong leaders across our restaurants.
• Supportive, People-First Culture – We believe in doing things the right way and developing leaders who make a lasting impact.

Ready to Lead Across Markets and Prepare for Your Next-Level GM Role?