Restaurant GM — Fast-Paced Italian, Path to Ops Director

GoodwinRecruiting; New City (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits (if/app.)

Paid time off

Bonus opportunity

Career advancement to Director of Ops

Professional development

Job summary

GoodwinRecruiting seeks an energetic Restaurant General Manager to lead an Italian restaurant in Clifton, NJ. The role requires hands-on leadership, exceptional guest service, and strong financial oversight to drive profitability.

The ideal candidate will bustle during peak service, develop a high-performing team, and maintain food safety standards. Bilingual with Spanish preferred. Growth path toward a Director of Operations position is available for the right leader.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of restaurant management experience, including General Manager experience.
• Strong background in Italian cuisine, pizza concepts, full-service restaurants, or high-volume casual dining.
• Proven success managing labor, food cost, and restaurant profitability.
• Experience recruiting, developing, and retaining restaurant teams.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant financials and operational reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams in fast-paced environments.
• ServSafe Certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays as business demands.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all day-to-day restaurant operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service.
• Lead from the floor during service periods, providing hands-on support and direction.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, consistency, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
• Ensure operational excellence across front-of-house and back-of-house teams.
• Drive a culture of accountability, urgency, and hospitality.
• Recruit, hire, train, coach, and retain top hospitality talent.
• Build a strong management team and create a positive workplace culture.
• Conduct performance evaluations and implement development plans.
• Lead daily shift meetings and ongoing training initiatives.
• Foster teamwork, communication, and employee engagement.
• Analyze and manage labor costs, food costs, and controllable expenses.
• Conduct regular cost analysis and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Monitor sales trends, budgets, and key performance indicators.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure accurate cash handling and financial reporting.
• Maintain strict adherence to all local, state, and federal health regulations.
• Ensure proper food handling, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures.
• Conduct regular audits and inspections to maintain compliance standards.
• Lead by example in maintaining a clean, organized, and safe restaurant environment.
• Create memorable guest experiences through exceptional service and hospitality.
• Address guest concerns promptly and professionally.
• Build relationships with regular guests and support local community engagement.
• Monitor online reviews and implement service improvement initiatives.
• Partner with ownership to drive operational improvements and business growth.
• Assist in developing systems, processes, and best practices that can scale across future locations.
• Prepare for advancement into a Director of Operations role overseeing multiple locations and management teams.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Operations

Financial discipline

Job description

GoodwinRecruiting seeks an energetic Restaurant General Manager to lead an Italian restaurant in Clifton, NJ. The role requires hands-on leadership, exceptional guest service, and strong financial oversight to drive profitability.

The ideal candidate will bustle during peak service, develop a high-performing team, and maintain food safety standards. Bilingual with Spanish preferred. Growth path toward a Director of Operations position is available for the right leader.