Restaurant General Manager, Santa Barbara

Lindt & Sprüngli; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Lindt & Sprüngli is hiring for a General Manager to lead our Santa Barbara store, overseeing 85-100 staff seasonally. This role ensures top customer service, drives sales, and maintains brand integrity in a high-volume environment.

The General Manager will supervise store managers, supervisors and retail associates, coordinate with regional management and finance, and drive profitability while maintaining safety and product standards.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required, Associate or higher degree preferred, especially with culinary or managerial emphasis
• 3+ years of related experience in the restaurant or retail field at a managerial level
• Prior experience at a high-volume, casual dining establishment in a general manager or regional manager role preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintains safety and risk management for store and staff
• Communicates effectively with all levels of the organization
• Works with store personnel, store and division management, and corporate liaisons
• Maximizes sales opportunities and plans for greater store effectiveness
• Establishes daily store activities and maintains brand/customer service standards
• Monitors sales and labor costs to maximize profitability without compromising service
• Responds promptly to escalated customer service issues
• Maintains inventory and coordinates with vendors and corporate for store planning and P&L

Skills

People management

Leadership

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate or higher degree (preferred)

Job description

WHO WE ARE

At Ghirardelli, we honor tradition and drive innovation, aiming to be the top choice for premium chocolate. Our commitment to Making Life A Bite Better inspires both our products and the way we do business. We support personal and professional growth, recognizing that each employee’s contribution directly impacts Ghirardelli’s growth and success. Join our dynamic team and help shape Ghirardelli's future.

Job Summary

The General Manager is most directly responsible and accountable for all aspects of managing our store and upholding the high standards of the Company and its reputation. The General Manager ensures that the store operates in a way that delivers excellent customer service, maximizes financial return, and fosters an environment that makes Ghirardelli a great place to work for our employees. The General Manager is the leader of store managers, supervisors, and retail associates who fluctuate between 85-100 employees and swell during the peak summer months with overseas students employed seasonally on cultural work visas.

General Management

• Ensures the well-being of store and its employees through effective management of safety and risk, including prevention, escalation, and response
• Effectively and timely communicates with all levels of the organization by following company standards of team-building, recognition, and professionalism
• Works closely with store personnel, store and division management teams, and Ghirardelli corporate liaisons, such as human resources, finance, and payroll
• Actively operates with excellence, maximizing sales driving opportunities and actively planning to increase effectiveness within the store

Restaurant and Retail Operations

• Establishes and effectively prioritizes daily store activities
• Upholds the values of exemplary customer service by modeling behavior and leadership
• Monitors sales and labor cost issues on a daily basis with a goal to maximize profitability without sacrificing customer service
• Responds in a timely manner to all escalated customer service issues
• Maintains high standards of cleanliness, food/product safety, and branding requirements
• Properly uses POS system in all its functionality, including payroll, inventory management, cost of goods sold, gross profit, and customer service
• Works in tandem with regional manager to establish store plans that are attainable and growth-oriented
• Works in conjunction with regional manager and finance department to establish profit and loss for the store
• Maintains inventory levels at optimum efficiency through order placement via vendors and appropriate corporate personnel

People Management

• Performs payroll, scheduling, interviewing, selection, in-service training, and separation management in conjunction with the human resources and payroll departments
• Develops store personnel, especially the management team, using coaching, mentoring, and empowerment practices

Minimum Education & Experience Required

• High school diploma or GED required, Associate or higher degree preferred, especially with culinary or managerial emphasis
• 3+years of related experience in the restaurant or retail field at a managerial level
• Prior experience at a high-volume, casual dining establishment in a general manager or regional manager role preferred

Physical, Mental, & Environmental Requirements

• Occasional to Constant Repetitive Fine Manipulation (keyboarding, ten key, writing)
• Rare to Occasional Simple Grasping
• Rare to Occasional ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Occasional to Constant Sitting
• Occasional to Constant Walking
• Occasional to Constant Standing
• Rare to Occasional twisting of the neck and waist
• Rare to Occasional Reaching at or below the Shoulder level
• Ability to travel to various locations across the country
• Occasional to Frequent usage of verbal communication equipment (telephone, radio, cellular)
• Rare to Occasional Squatting/Bending/Stooping/Stretching

Salary Range: $71k - $85k

Looking to grow your career in a dynamic, international setting? Join the Lindt & Sprüngli Group! Together, we thrive to achieve our bold ambitions, powered by our purpose and unique culture of community and mutual support - rooted in a proud tradition, yet always evolving to stay ahead and set new standards. Across our diverse local teams, we think globally and act locally - empowering people to grow, take ownership and shape a sustainable future together. We are a responsible "employer of choice" who provides an inspiring people experience. Together, we build trust, drive innovation, and grow - as individuals and as a business.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 180 years. The long-established Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate category. Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 41 subsidiaries and branch offices in around 620 of its own stores as well as via a network of around 100 distributors around the globe. With around 15,500 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 5.92 billion in 2025. Our commitment to contributing to a sustainable tomorrow is a key element driving the company’s actions and ambitions. Since 2008, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program has been our Responsible Sourcing Standard for cocoa.