Restaurant General Manager

We are seeking an accomplished and polished General Manager to lead the operations of a prestigious fine dining restaurant located within a luxury hotel. The General Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the restaurant's daily operation, including guest experience, team leadership, financial performance, service excellence, and business development. This individual will work closely with the Executive Chef, Sommelier, Beverage leadership, and hotel executive team to create an exceptional dining experience that reflects the highest standards of luxury hospitality. The ideal candidate is a sophisticated hospitality professional with extensive experience in fine dining and luxury hotels, exceptional knowledge of wine and beverage programs, and a passion for delivering highly personalized service. Sommelier certification or formal wine education is strongly preferred. Key Responsibilities Fine Dining Operations Provide overall leadership and operational oversight for the restaurant. Ensure flawless execution of daily service while maintaining exceptional standards for quality, timing, and hospitality. Establish and maintain operating procedures that support efficiency, consistency, and profitability. Maintain a highly visible presence during service and actively engage with guests. Oversee reservations, table management, pacing, service flow, and coordination between front and back of house. Partner with hotel leadership to ensure seamless integration between the restaurant and overall luxury guest experience. Guest Experience & Luxury Service Create an environment that delivers highly personalized and anticipatory service. Maintain service standards consistent with luxury hospitality and Forbes Five-Star or AAA Five Diamond expectations. Develop strong relationships with VIPs, repeat guests, hotel guests, and influential local clientele. Personally address guest feedback and service recovery opportunities. Monitor guest satisfaction, reviews, and feedback to identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Ensure every guest interaction reflects the restaurant's commitment to excellence and genuine hospitality. Demonstrate exceptional knowledge of wine, spirits, cocktails, and beverage service. Partner closely with the Sommelier or Beverage Director to develop and maintain an elevated wine and beverage program. Ensure the service team possesses strong knowledge of the wine list and can confidently guide guests through selections and pairings. Support wine dinners, tasting events, private dining experiences, and special beverage programming. Assist in driving beverage revenue through thoughtful recommendations, wine pairings, and elevated guest engagement. Maintain appropriate controls over beverage inventory, purchasing, storage, and cost management. Recruit, train, coach, and develop a high-performing front-of-house team. Create a culture of professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning. Lead pre-shift meetings and ongoing training focused on service, wine, food, and hospitality standards. Develop managers and emerging hospitality leaders through coaching and mentorship. Establish clear performance expectations and manage performance effectively. Foster strong communication and collaboration between the front-of-house and culinary teams. Manage restaurant revenue, labor costs, operating expenses, and profitability. Develop and monitor annual budgets and financial forecasts. Analyze financial statements and key performance indicators to identify opportunities for improvement. Drive revenue through increased covers, average check, wine sales, private dining, special events, and guest retention. Manage labor through effective forecasting, scheduling, and productivity strategies. Maintain strong controls over cash handling, purchasing, inventory, and operating expenses. Culinary Collaboration Work closely with the Executive Chef to ensure seamless execution of the restaurant's culinary vision. Maintain strong communication between culinary and service teams. Support menu launches, seasonal programming, chef's tables, tasting menus, and special events. Ensure service teams maintain exceptional knowledge of ingredients, preparation techniques, and menu offerings. Collaborate on food and wine pairing experiences. Business Development Partner with Hotel Sales, Marketing, and Food & Beverage leadership to increase restaurant visibility and revenue. Build relationships with luxury travel advisors, local businesses, corporate clients, and community influencers. Develop opportunities to attract both hotel guests and local clientele. Support private dining, VIP events, wine dinners, and high-profile culinary programming. Identify opportunities to strengthen the restaurant's reputation as a destination dining experience. Compliance & Operational Excellence Ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol service regulations. Maintain exceptional standards for restaurant cleanliness, organization, and presentation. Ensure accurate POS, cash handling, inventory, and daily reporting procedures. Maintain compliance with hotel policies and luxury brand standards. Qualifications Required Minimum 7 years of progressive restaurant management experience, including significant leadership experience in fine dining. Previous experience as a General Manager, Restaurant Manager, Director of Restaurants, or equivalent leadership role. Luxury hotel, resort, private club, or highly acclaimed fine dining experience strongly preferred. Exceptional knowledge of wine, spirits, and beverage service. Proven success leading high-performing teams in a sophisticated dining environment. Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, labor, inventory, and profitability. Exceptional communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Preferred Sommelier certification or formal wine education strongly preferred. Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET, or equivalent certification is highly desirable. Experience with Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond, Michelin-recognized, or similarly acclaimed dining environments. Strong understanding of fine dining wine service and cellar management. Experience overseeing a significant wine program or working closely with a Sommelier. Experience in a luxury hotel or resort with high-profile clientele. Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field preferred. Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a sophisticated and highly polished hospitality leader who understands the art of fine dining and the importance of exceptional wine service. They possess the confidence and knowledge to engage with discerning guests, guide sophisticated dining experiences, and lead a team committed to delivering flawless service. This individual is equally comfortable discussing a premium wine selection with a guest, coaching a server through a complex service standard, reviewing financial performance, or partnering with the Executive Chef on a new culinary experience. The successful candidate will have a genuine passion for wine, food, and hospitality, with the ability to create a culture of excellence while driving strong financial and operational results. Candidates with experience in luxury hotels, Forbes-rated properties, Michelin-recognized restaurants, prestigious private clubs, or acclaimed fine dining establishments are strongly encouraged to apply. Performance-based bonus opportunity 401(k) with company match Paid time off and holidays Professional development and wine education opportunities Career advancement within a luxury hospitality organization #J-18808-Ljbffr