General Manager

Potbelly Corporate•Park Ridge, IL

20d

About The Position

The General Manager leads a Potbelly shop, creating an environment of belonging, teamwork, and positive energy for team members and customers. The role oversees shop staffing and development, daily operations, customer service, food safety, marketing, sales, and assigned profit-and-loss responsibilities. The General Manager is expected to spend 80–90% of their time on the shop floor in the Front of the House and work at least 45 hours per week. The position offers a base salary range of $60,000–$65,000 plus bonus potential. Applications must be submitted by December 3, 2026, though the posting may close earlier if a suitable candidate is selected. If hired, the candidate must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements to qualify for the listed benefits.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
At least 2 years as a General Manager in a restaurant or retail environment with P&L responsibility is preferred.
Meet state food safety requirements and pass and obtain a Food Safety Certification. After two unsuccessful attempts, the candidate will no longer be eligible for a Leader role.
Friendly, customer-first mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, energetic environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Problem-solving ability.
Open availability.
Ability to maintain deadlines and prioritize while running an effective shift.
Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask.
Comfort working in a bustling kitchen environment; knife skills are a plus.
Ability to manage potential allergens, including peanut products, egg, dairy, gluten, soy, seafood, and shellfish.
Ability to build and develop strong teams and handle conflict resolution.
Strong interviewing skills.
Ability to write effective schedules and maintain labor goals.
Microsoft Office skills.
Strong business acumen and ability to understand and interpret financial reports.
Ability to stand or walk for 8–9 hours or as needed.
Stamina and ability to work a minimum of 45 hours per week.
Ability to lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally.
Illinois employees are required to become food safety certified within 30 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years as a General Manager in a restaurant or retail environment with P&L responsibility.
Knife skills.
Involvement in community, school, local business, social, and not-for-profit activities.

Responsibilities

Train, coach, and develop shop team members and create development plans based on staff abilities.
Interview, select, and hire employees who represent Potbelly values.
Build and maintain a positive shop culture that supports attraction and retention.
Schedule Associates, Certified Trainers, and Shift Leaders effectively, and maintain labor goals.
Update the communication board with critical shop information and hold regular meetings with key shop staff.
Delegate tasks and ensure high standards of execution.
Ensure security procedures and back-of-the-house procedural standards are followed.
Count drawers and follow daily cash-handling procedures.
Drive neighborhood marketing and promotions, including sourcing and blitzing outside the shop for recruiting and marketing.
Control cost of goods, variances, and inventories within the shop.
Create a marketing plan and lead local shop marketing to increase sales, ideally engaging with community, school, local business, social, and not-for-profit activities.
Control assigned profit-and-loss line items.
Spend 80–90% of work time on the shop floor in the Front of the House.
Maintain deadlines and priorities while running an effective shift.
Comply with food, cleanliness, and safety standards.
Handle customer complaints and issues effectively.
Perform other duties as assigned.