Assistant General Manager -- High-Volume Upscale Sports & Restaurant

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

A high-volume, upscale sports and entertainment restaurant in Columbus is seeking an experienced Assistant General Manager to join its leadership team and help drive the continued growth of a thriving $6M+ operation.

This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on hospitality leader who understands elevated comfort food, high-volume full-service operations, nightlife, and sports-driven business .

Located in a highly active dining and entertainment district, the concept attracts a diverse customer base looking for a polished alternative to traditional fine dining, combining chef-driven American comfort food, craft cocktails, live sports, entertainment, private events, and late-night hospitality.

The ideal candidate will be energetic, polished, operationally strong, and passionate about developing people. This is a growth-oriented opportunity with the potential to play a significant role as the concept expands into 3–4 additional locations .

About the Concept

• Established high-volume restaurant generating approximately $6M in annual revenue
• Upscale sports and entertainment concept
• Elevated comfort food and chef-driven American classics
• Full-service restaurant and bar operation
• 100+ TVs and premium sports-viewing experience
• Private dining and event spaces
• Heated patio and game room
• Sports betting component
• Live entertainment and nightlife programming
• Bottle service and late-night business
• Strong local customer base with significant repeat business
• Opportunity for continued growth and expansion into multiple locations

The concept combines food, sports, entertainment, and nightlife, creating a dynamic environment that operates well beyond traditional restaurant service.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Leadership

• Support the General Manager in leading all daily restaurant operations.
• Serve as a hands-on leader during peak lunch, dinner, game-day, late-night, and event periods.
• Maintain exceptional standards for hospitality, food quality, service, cleanliness, and guest experience.
• Help manage a high-volume operation generating approximately $6M in annual revenue.
• Ensure consistent execution of operational standards across all shifts.
• Partner closely with the General Manager and ownership/leadership team on operational initiatives and growth strategies.
• Step into the GM's responsibilities when needed and provide strong leadership across the operation.

Team Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop managers and hourly team members.
• Build a positive, accountable, and high-performance culture.
• Lead by example and maintain a strong presence on the floor.
• Provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback.
• Help identify and develop future leaders within the organization.
• Work closely with the BOH leadership team to promote strong communication and collaboration between front and back of house.
• Help maintain appropriate staffing levels and maximize team productivity.

Guest Experience

• Deliver an elevated hospitality experience while maintaining the energy and approachability of a sports and entertainment concept.
• Build relationships with regular guests, VIPs, event guests, and local customers.
• Ensure service standards remain consistent during extremely high-volume periods.
• Help oversee special events, private parties, game-day activations, and nightlife programming.
• Resolve guest concerns professionally and effectively.
• Maintain the restaurant's reputation as a premier destination for food, sports, and entertainment.

Financial & Business Performance

• Assist with managing restaurant P&L performance and controllable expenses.
• Monitor labor, food, beverage, and operating costs.
• Help drive sales through exceptional execution, events, promotions, and guest retention.
• Analyze business trends and identify opportunities to increase revenue and profitability.
• Support inventory management, purchasing, waste control, and cost-management initiatives.
• Work with leadership to develop strategies that support continued growth.

Culinary & Menu Collaboration

• Partner closely with the Executive Chef and BOH leadership to ensure consistent food execution.
• Support a culture of creativity and innovation around elevated comfort food.
• Help identify opportunities for menu development, specials, seasonal offerings, and guest-driven culinary initiatives.
• Maintain strong communication between FOH and BOH during service.
• Ensure food quality and presentation consistently meet the concept's standards.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a high-energy, polished, hands-on restaurant operator who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building teams and driving results.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive restaurant management experience , preferably at the AGM or GM level.
• Proven experience in high-volume, full-service restaurant operations .
• Experience managing or supporting restaurants with $5M+ annual revenue strongly preferred .
• Background in upscale casual, polished casual, sports entertainment, nightlife, or high-volume restaurant concepts .
• Strong understanding of restaurant P&L, labor, food cost, inventory, and operational controls.
• Proven ability to lead and develop large teams.
• Strong front-of-house and back-of-house collaboration skills.
• Excellent guest service and hospitality instincts.
• Comfortable managing high-volume game days, events, nightlife, and late-night operations.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Energetic, confident, and highly visible leadership style.
• Experience with restaurant technology and POS systems preferred.
• Must be willing to relocate to Columbus, OH.

Leadership Style

This is a hands-on Assistant General Manager position for someone who enjoys being in the operation and leading from the floor.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead by example.
• Be highly visible during service.
• Build strong relationships with team members and guests.
• Know how to balance accountability with a positive team culture.
• Remain calm and organized during high-volume periods.
• Be comfortable working in a restaurant that transitions from daytime dining and sports into late-night entertainment.
• Bring creativity and new ideas to the operation.
• Work collaboratively with both FOH and BOH leadership.
• Think like a future multi-unit leader rather than simply managing one shift at a time.

Growth Opportunity

This is an especially attractive opportunity for an ambitious hospitality professional looking for long-term career growth .

The ownership/leadership team has plans to expand the concept into 3–4 additional locations , creating potential opportunities for advancement into General Manager, Multi-Unit, or Operations leadership as the organization grows.

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.

Company Description

The Restaurant Zone is a leading hospitality recruitment agency specializing in connecting top-tier talent with restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups across the United States. We partner with growing brands and established operators to deliver high-quality candidates for management, executive, and specialized roles. Our team combines industry expertise, a vast candidate network, and a results-driven approach to help businesses build strong, reliable teams. At The Restaurant Zone, we focus on speed, quality, and long-term fit—ensuring both clients and candidates succeed.