General Manager - Chicago

NANDOS' VISION

At Nando's, we want to be the most loved restaurant brand in North America, sharing the spirit of Nando's PERi-PERi with everyone who chooses to access it. We will redesign and build a business that thrives as it answers fully it's consumers' needs - and endures over time through genuinely putting people at the heart of what we do. We will lead with our values and act with care, compassion, and kindness. By doing this, we will Change Lives Together, every day and everywhere.

GENERAL MANAGER (Patrão)

Being a Patrão at Nando's means bringing heat, heart, and soul into the restaurant every single day. You create a place where Nandocas feel safe, inspired, and confident; where customers feel the warmth of hospitality; and where the local community feels the impact of our purpose of Changing Lives. At the center of it all, you nurture a culture rooted in Pride, Passion, Courage, Integrity, and Family - and you lead with the spirit of Ubuntu: 'I am because we are.'

Your Purpose

As the Patrão - the head of the family - you own the full life of the restaurant. You grow people, elevate the brand, strengthen commercial performance, and build partnerships within your community. You don't just run a business; you build futures and change lives.

Scope & Span of Accountability

You lead with an annual business horizon and full unit ownership - people, brand, commercial, and operations. You set the vision and rhythm for 14 Brilliant Shifts, care for the R&M budget, guide local marketing and community partnerships, and turn strategy into daily execution that guests and Nandocas can feel.

Key Focus Areas & Responsibilities

People - Grow, Inspire, and Lead the Restaurant Family

You create an inclusive, values-led environment where everyone is welcome and able to be their best. You lead through connection, curiosity, and empathy - developing your management team, spotting future leaders, and building a strong succession bench. You hold safety, fairness, and belonging as non-negotiables, so Nandocas feel supported on and off shift.

Brand - Fire Up an Unforgettable Nando's Experience

You bring Nando's experience to life at every touchpoint. Through coaching, role-modelling, and keen attention to detail, you ensure hospitality, food quality, consistency, speed, and atmosphere across channels - always protecting the primacy of the eat-in experience.

Commercial - Grow the Business with Balance and Purpose

You manage the full P&L with an owner's mindset: shaping long-term strategy, forecasting, improving GP, controlling costs, and optimizing labor productivity. You balance having fun, making money, and changing lives - and you build commercial acumen in your team while you do it.

Changing Lives - Create Impact Beyond the Restaurant

You honor our responsibility to change lives by growing confidence, capability, and opportunity for Nandocas. You build local community partnerships, champion inclusive hiring, and lead initiatives that reduce waste, improve sustainability, and support those who rely on us.

Decision Authority

You make strategic and operational decisions for the unit, set standards and governance, and approve hiring, performance actions, and spend within guardrails - escalating high-risk issues appropriately.

Risk & Compliance

You own end-to-end food safety and health & safety, licensing, and audit performance. You protect people and financial integrity - from ER escalations and safeguarding daily controls and compliance training - creating a legally safe and beautiful restaurant.

Core Outcomes & Measures

• Happy Nandocas: engagement and growth; a diverse, capable bench of future leaders.
• Happy Customers: consistent brand touchpoints, hospitality excellence, guest advocacy, and shopper outcomes.
• Happy Leadership: P&L delivery, GP improvement, waste reduction, and labor productivity. You ensure invoices are paid on time, credits received, equipment is maintained, and PM's done on time.
• Changing Lives: inclusive hiring, community impact plans, and demonstrable sustainability actions.

Key Interfaces

Assistant Patrão and managers; Area/Managing Director; People Partner/HR; Finance; Facilities; Supply Chain; Marketing; Community partners; local authorities.

Level Differentiators - What makes a Patrão distinct

Translates strategy into an executable plan; builds a resilient, values-led culture; delivers results and improves KPIs year-on-year.


Leading in the Nando's Way

You blend having fun, making money, and changing lives. You put people first. You live Ubuntu with humility and courage. You bring your best self, and you make decisions like an owner - keeping things simple, protecting the guest and the frontline, and building a sustainable future together.

What You Bring

• 4- 6 years of restaurant management experience, including shift and team leadership
• Proven ability to run all aspects of a restaurant (people, food, operations, safety, sales)
• Demonstrated success delivering KPIs (sales growth, labor control, food quality, audits)
• Experience hiring, training, and developing Nandocas and Assistant Patraõ
• Experience managing inventory, ordering, prep, and food safety routines
• Track record of leading peak shifts and resolving guest issues
• Experience executing brand standards and maintaining a safe, compliant Casa
• Education / Certifications: High school diploma or equivalent; SERV Safe Manager required; Allergen Awareness & Alcohol Safety certifications where applicable

Physical Requirements

• Able to independently lift up to 50lbs for an extended period of time
• Must be able to walk and/or stand for 8-10 hours per day
• Hand-eye coordination
• Reaching, bending twisting, stooping
• Pushing and Pulling
• Lifting overhead
• Must be able to climb stairs in restaurants that have multiple levels

Nandos North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.