Restaurant General Manager

San Diego International Airport (SAN) hosts a vibrant and dynamic dining venue operated by Panda Express, one of the leading quick-service Asian-inspired restaurants in the United States. As a major gateway to the San Diego region, SAN Airport experiences high passenger volumes daily, making it an exciting and fast-paced environment for food service and hospitality professionals. Panda Express at SAN is part of SSP America, a renowned company dedicated to delivering exceptional food travel experiences across North America’s busiest airports. SSP America partners with popular local and international brands to offer diverse culinary options, catering to the needs of travelers from all walks of life.

This opportunity is for a Restaurant General Manager position at the Panda Express location within San Diego International Airport. The role offers an attractive salary range of $70,000 to $75,000 per year, with additional potential quarterly bonuses based on performance metrics. This full-time, leadership role is ideal for individuals passionate about hospitality management, team development, and operational excellence in an environment where no two days are the same. As the General Manager, you will be instrumental in representing the Panda Express brand and SSP America’s quality standards at one of the most bustling travel hubs in Southern California.

The Restaurant General Manager’s responsibilities extend across all operational facets including guest service, food quality, financial management, staff leadership, and regulatory compliance. In this demanding role, you will lead by example, working alongside your management team and hourly staff to maintain high service standards and create a welcoming, guest-focused atmosphere. Your leadership will directly influence the quality and consistency of food offerings and service execution, ensuring adherence to brand recipes, wok-cooking standards, and portion control.

Your strategic oversight will cover labor management, food cost control, inventory accuracy, and maintaining sanitation and safety standards critical in an airport setting. Handling fluctuating passenger traffic requires agility and operational readiness to manage peak hours while sustaining speed and quality of service. Your role also includes recruiting, training, coaching, and mentoring management personnel and frontline team members to foster a culture of accountability, energy, and growth opportunities. Furthermore, you will interface with guests to professionally handle concerns and feedback, enhancing overall customer satisfaction.

SSP America empowers its restaurant managers by providing robust support for career development, encouraging the upward mobility of internal candidates through coaching and succession planning. The role also requires flexibility to work varied shifts including weekends and holidays, typical of the food service industry within an airport environment.

Working at Panda Express within San Diego International Airport means joining a company committed to diversity, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation compliance. SSP America values employees' wellbeing, offering a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans with company match, and paid time off and holidays. Employee assistance programs and voluntary benefits such as pet insurance and critical illness coverage add further value to the employment experience. Overall, this role offers a challenging yet rewarding career path for highly motivated leaders ready to thrive in a unique food service context at one of the country’s busiest airports.