Restaurant General Manager: Drive Profit, People & Service

Color Hospitality Group LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ontario Trillium Foundation is looking for an experienced General Manager to oversee all aspects of our full-service restaurant in Chicago. This role requires a results-driven leader with deep financial acumen and a passion for hospitality.

Responsibilities include managing financial performance, driving guest satisfaction, and building a strong operational team. The ideal candidate will demonstrate solid experience in team development and operational excellence.

Join us in delivering an exceptional dining experience in a vibrant community setting.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a management role within the hospitality industry.
• Strong financial acumen and P&L management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Own the restaurant’s full P&L and manage the annual budget.
• Direct daily restaurant operations to ensure service quality.
• Recruit and develop a high-performing team.

Skills

Financial management

Team leadership

Guest service excellence

Operational efficiency

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking an experienced, results-driven General Manager to lead all aspects of our full-service restaurant. This is a high-ownership role for a hospitality professional who is equally at home on the floor with guests as they are reviewing a P&L or developing a management team.

As General Manager, you will be the single point of accountability for your restaurant’s performance — driving revenue, controlling costs, maintaining the highest standards of food and service quality, and building a team that delivers a consistently exceptional guest experience. You will operate with significant autonomy and will be expected to treat the business as your own.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

Financial Performance & P&L Ownership

•Own the restaurant’s full P&L, including revenue, labor, food and beverage cost, and operating expenses.

•Develop and manage the annual operating budget; monitor performance against targets weekly and monthly.

•Identify opportunities to grow revenue through traffic-driving initiatives, upselling culture, and local marketing support.

•Control costs through disciplined scheduling, purchasing, and waste reduction without compromising guest experience.

•Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting to ownership and senior leadership.

Operations & Service Excellence

•Direct all daily restaurant operations across front-of-house and back-of-house to ensure seamless, high-quality service.

•Establish, communicate, and uphold operational standards and systems that ensure consistency across every shift.

•Maintain rigorous food safety and sanitation standards in full compliance with local health department regulations.

•Conduct regular line checks, pre-shift meetings, and floor presence to drive accountability and guest satisfaction.

•Oversee facilities, equipment maintenance, and vendor relationships to ensure a safe and well-functioning environment.

•Manage and optimize table turns, reservation flow, and labor deployment to maximize efficiency and revenue.

Team Leadership & Development

•Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain high-performing hourly and salaried team members.

•Build a culture of hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement across the entire team.

•Coach, mentor, and develop shift leaders and managers to grow their capabilities and build bench strength.

•Conduct regular performance conversations and formal reviews; address performance issues promptly and constructively.

•Champion a positive, inclusive workplace culture that reduces turnover and drives team engagement.

•Oversee scheduling to ensure appropriate coverage while managing labor cost to target.

Guest Experience

•Set the tone for a consistently exceptional guest experience by modeling and enforcing service standards.

•Actively engage with guests on the floor; resolve complaints professionally and use feedback to drive improvement.

•Monitor online reviews across platforms (Google, Yelp, etc.) and develop response and improvement strategies.

•Drive guest loyalty and repeat visits through community presence, consistency, and relationship building.

Marketing & Community Engagement

•Partner with the company’s Marketing Manager to execute local marketing campaigns, promotions, and events.

•Support social media efforts by providing content, feedback, and alignment on brand messaging.

•Represent the restaurant in the local community; cultivate relationships that support awareness and guest acquisition.

•Identify and coordinate catering, buyout, and private dining opportunities to grow revenue.

Compliance & Safety

•Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws, food safety regulations, and liquor licensing requirements.

•Maintain all required permits, certifications, and documentation; prepare for and manage health inspections.

•Enforce a safe working environment; lead safety training and incident reporting protocols.