Restaurant General Manager

Potbelly•Bellevue, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The General Manager leads a Potbelly shop, inspires and develops the team, and creates a positive experience for customers. The role oversees shop operations, product quality, customer service, sales growth, cost control, and compliance with company policies and procedures. The General Manager spends 80–90% of their time on the shop floor in the Front of the House and must be available to work at least 45 hours per week, with open availability. The position is full-time and nonexempt, works in-shop, and rarely requires travel. It reports to the District Manager. The General Manager hires, trains, coaches, and holds employees accountable; manages employee benefits and payroll procedures; and ensures compliance with personnel policies, labor laws, and safety and security procedures. The role also maintains cleanliness, service, food quality, sanitation, and customer satisfaction standards; handles customer issues; develops local marketing and shop improvement plans; and manages sales, labor, inventory, cash handling, and other financial results. Candidates must have at least two years of General Manager experience in a restaurant or retail environment with P&L responsibility. A high school degree is required, while a bachelor’s degree and restaurant-industry experience are preferred. Managers must complete and pass the applicable food safety certification course. The role requires strong leadership, communication, business, organizational, and customer-service capabilities, along with the physical ability to meet the demands of shop work.

Requirements

At least two years of experience as a General Manager in a restaurant or retail environment with P&L responsibility.
High school degree.
Open availability.
Ability to work a minimum of 45 hours per week.
Must complete and pass a food safety certification course required for managers; certification requirements vary by state. Failure to pass after two attempts disqualifies the employee from continuing in a management capacity.
Ability to comprehend and communicate in English verbally and in writing to perform job responsibilities.
Financial literacy and ability to understand financial reports, set budgets, and maintain food and beverage costs.
Strong business acumen and ability to understand the big picture of shop operations.
Strong leadership skills, including the ability to select, develop, inspire, and manage teams and grow other leaders.
Excellent written and verbal communication, active listening, and interpersonal skills.
Exceptional customer service skills.
Strong time-management, multitasking, prioritization, and organizational skills.
Ability to delegate, follow up, and hold team members accountable.
Initiative to solve problems and complete work correctly and on time.
Strong work ethic, humility, self-confidence, and willingness to learn.
Microsoft Office skills.
Ability to stand and walk for 9–10 hours per day and maintain frequent, well-paced mobility for periods of up to five hours.
Ability to lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally.
Ability to reach, feel, bend, stoop, carry, finely manipulate, and enter data using a keyboard frequently.
Ability to work in warm and cool environments, both indoors and outdoors, and tolerate elevated noise levels.
Ability to tolerate potential allergens including peanuts, eggs, dairy, gluten, soy, seafood, and shellfish.

Nice To Haves

Restaurant-industry experience.
Bachelor’s degree.
Ideally lives in the neighborhood and participates in community, school, local business, social, and not-for-profit activities.

Responsibilities

Select and hire employees who represent Potbelly values.
Train, develop, assess, and coach employees; create development plans and plans to reduce turnover.
Delegate work, follow up, hold the team accountable, foster team relationships, communicate goals, and recognize contributions.
Provide timely performance appraisals based on shop goals and objectives.
Educate employees about and enforce personnel policies, labor laws, and security and safety procedures.
Administer in-shop employee benefits and payroll procedures.
Handle customer complaints and issues, measure customer satisfaction, and implement improvements to satisfaction and loyalty.
Maintain a clean and inviting shop and ensure cleanliness, maintenance, security, product quality, food safety, and sanitation standards.
Deliver fast, friendly, and accurate service and improve customer feedback scores.
Increase comparable sales, meet budgeted sales, create marketing plans, and lead local shop marketing.
Build relationships with the community, including local schools, businesses, social organizations, and not-for-profits.
Create shop plans to continuously improve the business.
Control cost of goods, variances, inventory, and labor costs; staff and schedule appropriately.
Ensure proper cash handling, deposits, inventory, and ordering systems.
Understand financial reports and work to increase business flow-through and profitability.
Spend 80–90% of work time on the shop floor in the Front of the House.
Follow Potbelly operating policies and procedures.