General Manager

General Manager

Chick-fil-A Parsippany

Relocation Assistance

Candidates relocating for this position may be eligible for up to $2,500 in relocation assistance to help cover moving-related expenses.

Role Overview

The General Manager is the highest-level restaurant leadership position beneath the Operator and Executive Director at Chick-fil-A Parsippany. This individual will oversee all areas of restaurant operations, including front of house, back of house, drive-thru, hospitality, staffing, financial performance, leadership development, and team culture.

This is not simply a shift-management position. The General Manager will be responsible for building and developing a strong leadership team capable of running the restaurant successfully across every daypart.

The right candidate will understand how to balance operational excellence with people development. They will establish clear systems, set high expectations, analyze restaurant performance, hold leaders accountable, and create an environment where Team Members feel valued and motivated to grow.

We strongly prefer a candidate with previous Chick-fil-A leadership experience who understands the expectations, culture, systems, and level of hospitality associated with the Chick-fil-A brand.

The General Manager must embody the Chick-fil-A brand through servant leadership, professionalism, integrity, operational excellence, and genuine care for both guests and Team Members.

Main Responsibilities

Full-Restaurant Operations

• Oversee all front-of-house and back-of-house operations across every daypart
• Ensure food quality, food safety, speed of service, order accuracy, cleanliness, and hospitality standards are consistently achieved
• Maintain a strong presence throughout the restaurant and lead from the front
• Develop systems that improve efficiency, communication, accountability, and the overall guest experience
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable solutions
• Ensure the restaurant is prepared for peak periods, large orders, seasonal changes, and unexpected challenges
• Maintain compliance with Chick-fil-A brand standards and all applicable health, safety, and employment regulations
• Ensure opening, transition, and closing procedures are completed accurately and consistently
• Partner with the Operator and Executive Director to execute the restaurant’s vision and business plan

Leadership-Team Development

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of Directors, Managers, Shift Leaders, Trainers, and Team Members
• Establish clear expectations and areas of ownership for every restaurant leader
• Create individual development plans for leaders and regularly evaluate their progress
• Identify high-potential Team Members and create a pipeline for future leadership positions
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, leadership meetings, performance evaluations, and development conversations
• Coach leaders on communication, decision-making, accountability, conflict resolution, and operational execution
• Develop leaders who can independently run successful shifts and departments
• Ensure the restaurant can operate at a high level without depending on one individual to solve every problem
• Address leadership-performance concerns directly, professionally, and consistently
• Create succession plans for key restaurant positions

Team Development and Training

• Oversee the onboarding, training, certification, and continued development of all Team Members
• Ensure new hires receive a structured and welcoming training experience
• Build and maintain effective training systems for front-of-house and back-of-house positions
• Develop and support a strong team of certified Trainers
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback that is both corrective and encouraging
• Ensure Team Members understand restaurant expectations, Chick-fil-A standards, and opportunities for advancement
• Create a culture of continuous learning, improvement, and personal responsibility
• Measure training effectiveness and address performance gaps quickly

Culture and Team Member Care

• Build a restaurant culture centered on care, respect, accountability, teamwork, and excellence
• Lead with humility and a genuine servant-leadership mindset
• Know the team personally and understand their professional goals
• Ensure Team Members feel seen, respected, supported, and equipped to succeed
• Recognize and celebrate individual and team accomplishments
• Address Team Member concerns with empathy, professionalism, and urgency
• Maintain a workplace where expectations are clear and accountability is consistent
• Model the character, attitude, professionalism, and work ethic expected from the team
• Protect and strengthen the culture of Chick-fil-A Parsippany

Guest Experience and Hospitality

• Ensure every guest receives fast, accurate, attentive, and genuine service
• Establish hospitality expectations for all front-of-house Team Members and leaders
• Respond to guest concerns professionally and use feedback to improve restaurant performance
• Monitor guest-satisfaction trends and develop action plans when improvement is needed
• Maintain a clean, welcoming, and organized restaurant environment
• Ensure dining room, drive-thru, mobile, delivery, catering, and third-party orders are executed successfully
• Build a culture in which Team Members understand that every role affects the guest experience

Financial and Business Performance

• Take ownership of restaurant performance in partnership with the Operator and Executive Director
• Monitor and improve labor percentage, food cost, waste, productivity, sales, and profitability
• Review restaurant reports and identify trends, risks, and opportunities
• Develop measurable action plans to address performance gaps
• Ensure leaders understand how their decisions affect restaurant results
• Manage staffing levels according to projected sales and business needs
• Control unnecessary labor while maintaining strong operational execution
• Oversee inventory controls, ordering practices, portioning standards, and waste procedures
• Assist in establishing annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly restaurant goals
• Communicate restaurant performance clearly to the leadership team

Hiring and Workforce Planning

• Oversee the hiring process for front-of-house, back-of-house, and leadership positions
• Conduct structured, values-based interviews that assess character, leadership ability, work ethic, and cultural alignment
• Maintain a consistent hiring pipeline so the restaurant is appropriately staffed throughout the year
• Ensure candidates receive a professional experience that reflects the Chick-fil-A brand
• Evaluate current and future staffing needs based on sales volume, availability, turnover, and seasonal demand
• Make thoughtful hiring and promotion decisions based on performance, character, and potential
• Improve Team Member retention by strengthening leadership, training, communication, and workplace culture

Scheduling and Labor Management

• Oversee the creation and execution of effective restaurant schedules
• Ensure appropriate leadership and Team Member coverage across all dayparts
• Balance operational needs with labor-efficiency goals
• Review Team Member availability and anticipate seasonal staffing changes
• Ensure leaders are deployed effectively based on business volume and team needs
• Respond quickly to callouts, staffing shortages, and scheduling challenges
• Hold leaders accountable for productivity and proper positioning during their shifts

Communication and Accountability

• Conduct productive leadership meetings, shift huddles, and operational debriefs
• Clearly communicate restaurant goals, expectations, changes, and priorities
• Establish measurable scorecards for restaurant leaders and departments
• Follow up consistently on assigned responsibilities and commitments
• Address performance concerns directly rather than allowing issues to continue
• Encourage open communication while maintaining clear leadership structure
• Create alignment between front-of-house and back-of-house leadership
• Keep the Operator and Executive Director informed of restaurant performance, concerns, and opportunities

Additional Responsibilities

• Support catering, community events, marketing initiatives, and restaurant promotions
• Assist with new menu items, limited-time offers, equipment changes, and operational rollouts
• Maintain accurate operational, training, safety, and compliance records
• Help manage vendor relationships, maintenance needs, and restaurant facilities
• Respond appropriately to emergencies, equipment failures, guest incidents, and Team Member concerns
• Uphold Chick-fil-A policies, brand standards, and the values of Chick-fil-A Parsippany without compromise
• Perform other leadership responsibilities necessary to support the restaurant’s success

About This Role

We are looking for a confident, passionate, and experienced leader who is prepared to take ownership of an entire Chick-fil-A restaurant.

This position is not intended for someone who wants to manage from an office or from the sidelines. The General Manager must be present, engaged, observant, and willing to step into the operation when needed.

At the same time, success in this position is not measured by personally handling every problem. The General Manager must build systems, develop leaders, delegate effectively, and create accountability throughout the organization.

The right candidate will understand that excellent restaurant results begin with excellent leadership. They will be expected to build a team that delivers strong performance consistently—not only when they are physically present.

This individual will have significant responsibility and ownership over the restaurant’s operations, leadership team, Team Member experience, guest experience, and business results.

Position Requirements

Required

• Proven experience leading a team in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
• Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple departments or areas of a business
• Strong ability to coach, motivate, develop, and hold leaders accountable
• Experience establishing systems and improving operational performance
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities
• High integrity, reliability, maturity, and personal accountability
• Genuine commitment to serving guests and developing people
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to remain calm, solutions-oriented, and decisive under pressure
• Ability to work a flexible schedule based on restaurant needs, including mornings, evenings, Saturdays, and holidays as necessary
• Willingness to be actively involved in restaurant operations
• Ability to meet the physical requirements associated with restaurant leadership
• Reliable transportation and the ability to work on-site at Chick-fil-A Parsippany

Strongly Preferred

• Previous Chick-fil-A leadership experience
• Experience serving as a Chick-fil-A Director, Executive Director, General Manager, or in a comparable senior leadership role
• Knowledge of Chick-fil-A operational systems, brand standards, and leadership culture
• Experience overseeing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations
• Experience developing Directors, Managers, Shift Leaders, and Trainers
• Experience managing labor, food cost, waste, scheduling, inventory, and restaurant profitability
• Experience hiring, onboarding, and retaining Team Members
• Experience reviewing operational and financial reports
• ServSafe or another recognized food-safety certification
• Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for:

• A servant leader who leads with humility rather than ego
• A developer of people who finds satisfaction in helping others advance
• An operator who understands how to build repeatable systems
• A leader who takes ownership of results, people, and culture
• A strong communicator who provides clear direction and listens intentionally
• Someone who holds high standards because they care about the team and the guest
• A strategic thinker who can understand both daily operations and long‑term business goals
• A problem solver who responds to challenges with composure and urgency
• A leader who can make difficult decisions while treating people with dignity and respect
• Someone who represents the Chick-fil-A brand professionally inside and outside the restaurant
• A person who wants to build a long‑term career and make a meaningful impact

What Success Looks Like

A successful General Manager will:

• Build a dependable leadership team with clearly defined responsibilities
• Develop leaders who can successfully operate the restaurant independently
• Improve consistency across every shift and daypart
• Maintain strong food quality, hospitality, speed, accuracy, cleanliness and safety
• Achieve restaurant labor, food-cost, sales, and profitability goals
• Strengthen Team Member training, engagement, accountability, and retention
• Create a healthy culture where people are challenged, supported, and developed
• Ensure the restaurant consistently represents the standards and values of Chick-fil-A

Relocation Assistance

We understand that the best candidate may not currently live near Parsippany, New Jersey. A qualified candidate who needs to relocate for this position may receive up to $2,500 in relocation assistance , subject to the terms of the employment offer.

Working at a Chick-fil-A® restaurant is more than a job – it’s an opportunity for teamwork and leadership development in a positive, people-focused environment. Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent, franchised Operators who invest in the future of their Team Members and give back to their communities.