Restaurant General Manager Job Description Overview

A restaurant can be an extremely chaotic environment made up of multiple moving parts. In order to help oversee the ins and outs of day-to-day operations, a general manager plays a key role in ensuring everything runs smoothly. A general manager is typically the backbone of a restaurant’s operations, so if you’re looking to hire one, the decision on who you hire should not be taken lightly. And the very first part of finding the right person for the job is to craft a solid restaurant general manager job description.

To help you attract the right applicants and find the perfect candidate, we will walk you through the following:

• What a restaurant general manager is
• Duties and responsibilities of a restaurant general manager
• How much does a general manager make
• A sample of a general manager restaurant job description
• Tips for hiring a great restaurant general manager

What is a Restaurant General Manager?

A general manager, or restaurant GM, is someone that keeps a restaurant’s operations running smoothly at all times. They are the go-to person to keep the front of house and back of house areas of your restaurant in check. General managers also ensure guests are satisfied with their experience, and that your staff are both motivated and equipped with all the tools needed to put their best foot forward.

What Does a Restaurant General Manager Do?

Now you know what a restaurant general manager is, but what does a restaurant general manager do? A general manager is tasked with handling various responsibilities, all of which play an important role in the success of the restaurant’s operations. These include:

Coordinating Front and Back of House Operations

A general manager of a restaurant helps coordinate the front and back of house operations, acting as the individual responsible for managing and leading both areas. Whether there is an unhappy customer in the front of the house or a health and safety compliance issue in the back of house, the general manager oversees it all.

Managing Staff

Managing a team of restaurant staff can be a difficult task given that the person responsible will have to manage both the front of house and back of house, and ensure all staff members are prepared to execute their tasks successfully. Fortunately, general managers are equipped with the leadership, organizational, and communication skills that make them well suited to lead, mentor, and motivate staff day to day, while also addressing any issues that may arise. A general manager also helps set expectations for staff and conduct performance evaluations. As a restaurateur, you can save your time and energy by trusting your general manager to manage the floor of your restaurant, including your staff.

Engaging with Guests

A general manager is your “eyes and ears on the floor,” which includes keeping an eye on your guests. The role of a restaurant GM is to ultimately ensure your guests have a positive dining experience at your restaurant. This can include paying extra attention to VIP guests and adding a personal touch during their meal. However, it’s not always smooth sailing, as there’s bound to be complaints from guests. That’s where your general manager comes to the rescue, acting as your go-to person for mitigating and resolving any issues. For example, if a guest complains about their order being wrong or if there is an issue with the bill, the general manager is there to rectify matters.

Managing Back Office Duties

A general manager’s responsibilities don’t end with managing staff and engaging with guests. As part of the typical general manager job description, there are also back office tasks that fall under their responsibility. Some of these duties can include, but are not limited to, conducting payroll for staff, budgeting inventory, setting financial benchmarks, controlling costs, and figuring out ways to minimize waste with the help of restaurant back office software.

How Much Does a Restaurant General Manager Make?

So, how much does a restaurant general manager make? According to Glassdoor, a general manager in the food and restaurant industry in the United States earns an average salary of $64,492.

If you’re looking to hire a general manager, like any job you’re hiring for, it’s important to ensure you’re offering a salary or hourly rate that is not only within your budget, but also competitive based on what your competitors are offering for the same position. By doing so, you’ll be attracting the top talent in the industry and ensuring your employees feel valued from the get-go, and ultimately reducing potential turnover. 

Restaurant General Manager Job Description Sample

Now that you’re familiar with what the general manager role entails, let’s create a job description for one. Crafting restaurant job descriptions can be time-consuming, so we’ve done the work for you.

Here is a sample of what your general manager restaurant job description can look like and what to include.

Job Title: Restaurant General Manager

Salary: $50,000 – $70,000

Our restaurant opened in 2021 and is looking to hire a restaurant general manager for our recently opened restaurant. As the general manager, you will be responsible for overseeing all restaurant operations, including staff and engaging with customers. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, have previous management experience, and always put the customer first, we want to hear from you!

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage the daily operations of the restaurant, including front of house and back of house areas
• Provide exceptional customer service and ensure guests are satisfied with their experience
• Handle any issues and concerns that may arise from unsatisfied guests, and do so diligently and effectively
• Conduct administrative duties, such as payroll, inventory management, and financial reporting
• Ensure all food health and safety protocols are in place and are being followed by every team member
• Play an active role in the restaurant’s marketing campaign efforts and promote the brand within the local community
• Provide education and training to new hires and current employees
• Conduct human resources tasks, such as recruiting and hiring, to fill restaurant staff positions

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management 
• “X” number of years of experience in the restaurant and food service industry
• Experience in a fast-paced environment 
• Able to solve problems efficiently
• Strong leadership and people skills to manage a team of staff
• Knowledge of how to use restaurant technology, including point of sale systems

Additional Information:

• Hours of work
• The type of restaurant (bar, fine dining, or fast food)
• Benefits and perks of the position (discounted or free meals)
• Health and dental insurance if applicable

Remember, as you’re crafting your restaurant general manager job description, make sure you’re answering the question that’s on all job seeker’s minds, “why would I want to work here?”

Tips for Hiring a Restaurant General Manager

Now that you have seen a sample of a restaurant general manager job description, the next order of business is crafting one yourself and selecting your top candidates from those who applied. From there, the next step is to start the interview process for hiring a general manager.

As a restaurant owner, there are many restaurant interview questions you can ask during the hiring process to find your ideal candidate. We have a few tips while interviewing for the restaurant general manager position.

Previous Experience

When you’re interviewing for a new restaurant GM, it’s important to look for someone with a few years of experience. This is so you’re not teaching someone from the ground up how to do the job – you want someone who can dive right in.

You also want to search for someone with the right type of experience. For example, whether they have worked at a fast casual or fine dining restaurant, or whether their background includes management experience or not. These are all important factors to consider throughout the hiring process.

Education and Training

Since every restaurant operates differently, you should consider a formal training program for the general manager. This can help them better understand the ins and outs of your restaurant, and be more prepared to tackle any challenges that will come up on the job. How well your general manager performs can play a crucial role in the success of your restaurant’s operation, so it’s best to set them up for success right off the bat!

Soft Skills

As much as you should evaluate a candidate’s technical skills and experience, their soft skills are equally important to consider when filling a general manager position. This is because their responsibility includes delegating and motivating staff – both of which are tasks that involve empathy, clear communication, and the ability to keep a level head. Here are a few soft skills that a great general manager should possess:

• Must be comfortable talking to people and resolving conflict since, as a general manager, they will need to deal with unsatisfied guests from time to time
• Should be a strong leader with the ability to lead large teams in a fast-paced environment
• Must be able to hold their composure, while being under pressure – especially during busy times

Your restaurant general manager job description is the first step in attracting top talent, so take the time to craft one that works specifically for your restaurant and outlines exactly what you’re looking for. You’re now better equipped to take on the challenge of hiring a general manager. Best of luck in your search!

by Megan Lee

Megan is the Content Marketing Specialist at TouchBistro, where she uses her passion for food to write about the restaurant industry. She’s a big “foodie” at heart, and you can always find her enjoying a delicious meal at a restaurant with friends and family, or cooking one up at home. She also loves relaxing with a good book and making progress at the gym.

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Labor