From creating work schedules and managing restaurant costs to ensuring a positive dining experience and beyond, a restaurant manager is a critical position in any dining establishment, to ensure that business operations run smoothly.
Here’s everything you need to know about a restaurant manager job description, from responsibilities to skills and qualifications.
Restaurant Manager Job Overview
A restaurant manager or general manager is responsible for a restaurant’s overall operation and success.
This includes tasks such as hiring and training staff, managing inventory costs and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
In addition, this type of manager is in charge of scheduling and overseeing employees, and maintaining and promoting a positive image for the restaurant.
A general manager typically reports to the restaurant owner, a district manager or a regional manager.
Higher-Level Restaurant Manager Positions
While a restaurant manager typically refers to a general manager who directly oversees the daily operations of a restaurant, there are several other types of managers within the hospitality industry.
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1. District Manager Job Description
A restaurant district manager is responsible for overseeing multiple restaurant operations within a certain location.
Typically, a district manager travels to different restaurant locations within their district to monitor restaurant operations, provide guidance and support to restaurant managers and ensure that each location is meeting company standards and expectations.
A district manager reports to the regional manager or corporate manager.
2. Regional Manager Job Description
A restaurant regional manager is responsible for overseeing multiple restaurant operations within a region.
This type of manager acts as a bridge between the corporate office and the individual restaurants in their region, while providing support, guidance and direction to the general managers at each restaurant location.
A regional manager directly reports to the corporate manager.
3. Corporate Manager Job Description
A restaurant corporate manager is responsible for overseeing the operations and management of all the restaurants within a restaurant chain or franchise.
Corporate managers review and analyze data from all restaurant locations to make strategic decisions that will benefit the company as a whole, such as identifying new opportunities in the market, opening new locations or closing locations that aren’t generating revenue.
In addition, a corporate manager works with district and regional managers to ensure consistency and compliance with company standards across all restaurants.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a restaurant manager include:
- Hiring, training and overseeing restaurant servers and other staff
- Creating and managing staff schedules
- Evaluating staff performance
- Processing payroll
- Managing front-of-house and back-of-house teams
- Supervising food preparation and service
- Ensuring the restaurant adheres to health, safety and sanitation regulations
- Ensuring all registers and end-of-shift closeouts are properly balanced
- Monitoring the restaurant’s expenses
- Monitoring the restaurant’s income
- Addressing customer needs
- Managing customer complaints
- Overseeing the upkeep and maintenance of the restaurant’s facilities and equipment
Skills & Qualifications
Some of the most common skills and qualifications needed include:
- Previous experience in the food and beverage service industry
- Knowledge of general restaurant operations, including food planning and preparation, purchasing, personnel management and sanitation and health codes
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Exceptional leadership skills
- Excellent customer service and financial management skills
- Ability to delegate and prioritize tasks
- Attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to manage operating costs in accordance with the restaurant’s budget
- Friendly and positive attitude
- Physical strength to stand for long hours from opening to closing shop
- Strong work ethic
Related Restaurant Manager Career Advice
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