General Manager: Lead Guest Experience & Profitability

Upward Projects; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Vision & Dental

401K match

Paid time off

Meal discounts

Parental leave

Life insurance

Wellness programs

Job summary

Upward Projects is seeking a General Manager to lead one of our hospitality concepts, driving guest satisfaction and financial performance through strong leadership and brand standards.

You will coach and develop store leadership, attract and retain talent, and collaborate with regional teams to implement change, local marketing, and community partnerships that strengthen our restaurants and the guest experience.

Qualifications

• 1 year of full-service restaurant GM experience or 3-5 years of service industry management experience.
• Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree in Hospitality, Management, or Business preferred.
• Servsafe and Responsible Alcohol Service Certifications are required.
• Internal candidates must be in good standing and free of performance issues within a 1-year time-period.

Responsibilities

• Coach, develop, and engineer high-performing store leadership teams.
• Attract, retain, and grow talent across all levels, conducting performance reviews and assessing hourly team potential.
• Foster engagement through open communication, cultural alignment, recognition, and team-building initiatives.
• Lead effective store communication and ensure smooth adoption of change initiatives.
• Uphold and coach teams to consistently deliver an exceptional guest experience.
• Drive operational excellence by holding teams accountable to brand standards, systems, and execution.
• Strategically identify and resolve store-specific challenges through cross-functional partnerships.
• Own full P&L accountability — analyze results, build action plans, and drive sustained profitability.
• Utilize scorecards and business insights to identify trends, opportunities, and improve performance.
• Collaborate with ADs and the Lab to address local store needs and optimize operations.
• Promote the brand through local marketing, community presence, and targeted partnerships.

Skills

Store leadership

Talent development

Operations management

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

P&L accountability

Guest experience

Education

Hospitality degree

Management degree

Business degree

Job description

Upward Projects is seeking a General Manager to lead one of our hospitality concepts, driving guest satisfaction and financial performance through strong leadership and brand standards.

You will coach and develop store leadership, attract and retain talent, and collaborate with regional teams to implement change, local marketing, and community partnerships that strengthen our restaurants and the guest experience.