Restaurant Manager: Lead High-Performance Team & Guest Experience

Portillo's Inc.; Downers Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus program

Monthly technology reimbursement

Free shift meals

Educational benefits

Health insurance (PPO)

Job summary

Portillo’s in Downers Grove, IL is seeking a Restaurant Manager to lead a high-volume team and deliver top-tier guest experiences. You will manage shifts, coaching, scheduling, and cash handling in a fast-paced setting.

The role requires 1–3 years of management experience, strong operations knowledge, and excellent English communication. A 50+ hour work week, weekends, and holidays are expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1–3 years of restaurant management in a high-volume setting.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant operations, scheduling, sanitation, and food quality.
• Ability to lead, coach, and drive excellence.
• Fluent English communication with team and guests.

Responsibilities

• Model operational standards and execute critical behaviors to run great shifts and create lifelong memories for guests and team members.
• Motivate and manage team members to provide the highest level of hospitality.
• Demonstrate leadership with a focus on coaching and achieving excellence.
• Foster team engagement through frequent recognition and communication.
• Ensure compliance with sanitation, food and restaurant safety regulations.
• Train Portillo’s team members on restaurant operations.
• Deliver exceptional guest experiences, making each visit memorable and building connections.
• Execute shift planning, scheduling, training, opening/closing, and cash handling.
• Plan for inventory, budget, and labor decisions.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Customer service

P&L knowledge

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

1500 Butterfield Rd. Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

Do you relish the opportunity to beef up a team of high performers? Can you bring that extra sizzle to the grill while making lifelong memories for our guests and our team members? At Portillo’s, we’re looking for a Restaurant Manager who’s ready to lead team members to deliver satis-frying food and top-notch customer service. If you’ve got what it takes to ketchup with our fun, fast-paced environment and add that extra pickle to everything you do, we want you to join our family!

Our people are the heart of Portillo’s. We pride ourselves on living our core values of Family, Greatness, Energy and Fun while igniting the senses with our unrivaled food and experiences for our Guests and Team Members.

Job Responsibilities

Model operational standards and execute critical behaviors to run great shifts creating lifelong memories for our guests and team members.

Motivate and manage team members to provide highest level of hospitality

Demonstrate leadership with a focus on coaching and achieving excellence

Foster team engagement through frequent recognition and communication.

Ensure compliance with sanitation, food and restaurant safety regulations

Train Portillo’s team members on operations of the restaurant

Deliver exceptional guest experiences, making each visit memorable and fostering connections.

Responsible for executing shift planning, scheduling, training execution, and daily routines, opening and closing the restaurant, managing cash handling

Plan for and make critical business decisions around inventory, budget, and labor

Job Qualifications

Minimum of 1-3 years of Restaurant Management experience in a high-volume, fast-paced restaurant setting preferred

Working knowledge of restaurant operations, recruiting, scheduling, food planning and preparation, sanitation, food quality, and security

Must exhibit an aptitude for leading, coaching, and driving excellence at every level

Understanding of P & L and restaurant operations

Must pass required certified sanitation and responsible alcohol vending courses

Great communication skills. Must be able to read, speak, and understand English to communicate with team members, managers, and guests

High school diploma or equivalent

Flexibility to work 50+ hour weeks, rotating shifts (including nights and weekends), and holidays

What’s in it for you?

Hot dog! The pay range for this role is $55,000 – $60,000. Your actual salary will depend on experience, location, and/or additional skills you bring to the table. This position is also served with:

Participation in a discretionary bonus program based on restaurant performance, among other ingredients

Monthly technology reimbursement

Free shift meals

Educational benefits

Perks and discounts – access to hundreds of discounts from movie tickets to gym memberships and more

Counseling and support resources through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

You’ll also be eligible for a bun-believable benefits package that includes:

Your choice of health insurance from among three medical plans (including a PPO), two dental plans, and a vision plan

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Flexible Spending Accounts – healthcare and dependent care

Financial Security through Voya Financial

Beef Stock – our Employee Stock Purchase Plan*

Voluntary Benefits like pet insurance, critical illness coverage, and identity theft insurance

*Must have worked at Portillo’s for 1 year with an average of at least 20 hours over a 6-month period

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required. The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned. This job may be reviewed as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity.