General Manager - Fine Dining Italian | $110K-$120K + Equity Path

Job Description

Job Description

Location: Boulder, CO area
Compensation: $110,000–$120,000 base + potential equity opportunity

A rare opportunity for an experienced hospitality leader who wants more than a traditional General Manager position.

We are seeking a polished, hands-on General Manager to lead the daily operation of an established, independently owned Italian fine-dining restaurant in the Boulder area. This is a high-touch leadership position for someone who understands elevated service, Italian cuisine, wine, hospitality culture, and the financial discipline required to operate a $3M+ restaurant.

For the right person, there is also the potential for an ownership/equity path down the road.

THE CONCEPT

This is an intimate, upscale Italian restaurant featuring handmade pasta, a strong Italian culinary identity, elevated hospitality, and a sophisticated food and wine experience.

The restaurant features approximately 110 dining seats plus 20 bar seats and generates approximately $3M in annual revenue.

Dinner service is the focus, with approximately 80–200+ covers depending on the night. The restaurant also features live music and DJs on most evenings following dinner, creating an additional late-night component with food service continuing into the evening.

The operation has approximately 40 employees and utilizes Toast/R365.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The owners are looking for a strong, polished operator who can take ownership of the day-to-day business and become a true leader within the restaurant.

This is a hands-on GM position. You will be highly visible on the floor, leading the team, maintaining service standards, developing people, working closely with the culinary team, and ensuring the restaurant consistently delivers the level of hospitality expected from a fine-dining environment.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact rather than simply manage an existing playbook.

WHAT YOU'LL LEAD

• Oversee all daily restaurant operations
• Lead and develop a team of approximately 40 employees
• Establish and maintain exceptional service standards
• Partner closely with the Executive Chef and culinary leadership
• Drive food, beverage, labor and operating performance
• Maintain strong guest relationships and ensure a consistently elevated experience
• Lead front-of-house execution during high-volume dinner service
• Oversee wine and beverage service standards
• Recruit, train, coach and retain hospitality professionals
• Build a strong, accountable restaurant culture
• Manage scheduling, labor and operational controls
• Utilize Toast and R365 to monitor and improve business performance
• Help maximize revenue and profitability
• Lead the restaurant through dinner service and its late-night music/entertainment component
• Serve as a key leadership partner to the ownership team

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong General Manager experience in fine dining, upscale dining or a high-end Italian restaurant
• A sophisticated understanding of food, wine and elevated hospitality
• Experience leading a high-volume restaurant with meaningful annual revenue
• Strong floor presence and hands-on leadership style
• Proven ability to build, coach and retain strong teams
• Excellent understanding of restaurant financials, labor and cost controls
• Experience working closely with an Executive Chef
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Professional presence with the ability to represent the restaurant exceptionally well
• Experience with Toast, R365 or similar restaurant technology is a plus
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences

ITALIAN EXPERIENCE IS HIGHLY VALUED

We are particularly interested in leaders who have worked in Italian restaurants or concepts where handmade pasta, Italian cuisine, wine and elevated service are central to the guest experience.

RELOCATION

Relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.

WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY

This is not simply a GM job.

You will work directly with ownership and have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the restaurant's culture, team and financial performance.

For an exceptional operator who demonstrates strong leadership, business acumen and long-term commitment, there is potential for an ownership/equity path in the future.

If you are an experienced fine-dining leader who is ready to take the next step and potentially build toward something bigger, this could be an exceptional opportunity.

COMPENSATION

$110,000–$120,000 base salary, with potential equity/ownership opportunity for the right individual.

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.