Assistant Manager

Denny's (Feast Enterprise LLC)•Jacksonville, FL

About The Position

The Assistant Manager reports to the General Manager and supervises approximately 15–20 crew members during assigned shifts. The role supports the Restaurant Manager and General Manager in executing restaurant operations, delivering a great guest dining experience, and maintaining service, food quality, sanitation, and brand standards. Assistant Managers work alongside 1–2 peer Assistant Managers and/or Hourly Supervisors and share responsibility for the restaurant’s operational success. The position supports employee selection, development, coaching, and retention; continuous operational improvement; interpretation of financial and operational reports; and achievement of controllable profit goals. It also contributes to sales and guest-count growth, community relationships, security, asset protection, regulatory compliance, and resolution of guest, employee, facility, and security issues. The Assistant Manager is expected to demonstrate Denny’s Guiding Principles and a strong commitment to guest satisfaction. Work schedules rotate across day and night shifts, weekends, and holidays. The role involves working inside and outside, standing and walking during 8–10-hour shifts (with occasional shifts exceeding 10 hours), and meeting the physical and operational demands of a restaurant environment. Periodic travel, including occasional overnight and airline travel when applicable, may be required.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience in restaurant, hospitality, or retail management.
Food Safety Manager certification required.
Strong organizational skills and excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with all levels of the organization.
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Ability to interpret financial statements and understand contributing factors.
Proven problem-solving skills and ability to handle high-stress situations.
Ability to identify and anticipate opportunities and implement corrective action steps.
Must be able to perform the duties of every position and multitask in line with business demands.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and both day and night shifts as schedules rotate.
Licensed to operate an automobile without hours-of-operation restrictions and able to provide reliable transportation for banking obligations.
Must meet applicable state, county, or municipal regulations concerning food-handling health risks.
Must be able to lift a tray weighing up to 25 pounds and lift and carry supplies and equipment weighing up to 60 pounds, including placing items on high and low shelves.
Must be able to bend, stoop, reach, lift, and grasp; stand and walk during an 8–10-hour shift, with occasional shifts exceeding 10 hours.
Must be able to hear in a loud environment, observe staff and restaurant operations, and move and work in confined areas.
Must tolerate extreme temperature changes in kitchen and freezer areas and work around potentially hazardous chemicals.
Must be able to work inside and outside.

Nice To Haves

Additional operations and/or leadership experience is strongly preferred.
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise approximately 15–20 crew members and oversee assigned restaurant shifts.
Ensure employees put guests first and provide a respectful, enjoyable environment that supports guest satisfaction and repeat business.
Work with the General Manager to attract, hire, develop, coach, and retain hourly employees.
Assist with recruiting and selecting employees, use training programs and development plans, and provide timely, constructive feedback.
Ensure Denny’s food, service, food preparation, handling, and storage standards are consistently followed.
Enforce sanitary practices and maintain the general cleanliness and upkeep of the restaurant.
Interpret financial and operational reports and schedules with the General Manager, identify performance gaps, and develop solutions to achieve controllable profit goals.
Help drive restaurant sales, guest count, and profit by developing relationships with community, civic, business, school, and professional organizations.
Monitor security procedures to protect guests, employees, and company assets.
Monitor cash-handling and inventory-management procedures to protect and conserve company assets.
Maintain compliance with Denny’s employment policies and state, local, and federal regulations.
Proactively address and resolve guest complaints, employee relations matters, facility issues, and security issues; bring appropriate matters to the General Manager and participate in solutions.
Perform other duties as needed or assigned and willingly assist others.
Operate the point-of-sale system and work with all Denny’s menu products.
Perform the job duties of every position and multitask according to business demands.
Travel periodically, including occasional overnight and airline travel when applicable, and meet banking obligations using reliable transportation.