Restaurant Manager

Restaurant Manager at Makina Cafe - Long Island City Makina Café is a woman‑owned Ethiopian‑Eritrean hospitality company with a food truck, catering kitchen, and a seasonal food stall on Governors Island. In spring 2025 we will open our first full‑service restaurant in Sunnyside/Long Island City – the first Ethiopian‑Eritrean restaurant in Queens. Mission: share the flavours of East Africa while honoring tradition and embracing creativity, and to create a welcoming, hospitable environment for every guest. The Opportunity We are seeking a dedicated Restaurant Manager to lead the opening and day‑to‑day operations of this exciting new location. This role offers the chance to work closely with ownership and play a key part in shaping a unique addition to Queens’ restaurant landscape. Key Responsibilities Hire, train, and manage all front‑of‑house staff Oversee daily service and ensure smooth operations during peak hours Create and manage weekly staff schedules, maintaining labor budgets Implement and uphold company policies, procedures, and service standards Foster a collaborative, professional, and positive work environment Educate staff and patrons about East African cuisine and the Makina story Provide coaching and performance feedback; lead by example Serve as liaison between front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house teams Manage POS and reservations systems; troubleshoot and update as needed Coordinate with vendors, manage ordering, and oversee inventory control Prepare monthly inventory reports and recommend adjustments to ownership Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and sanitation regulations Prepare the restaurant for NYC Department of Health inspections Act as first point of contact for restaurant repairs and maintenance Oversee payroll, cash handling, and invoice tracking/submission Share customer feedback with staff and ownership to enhance service Work in partnership with ownership to achieve operational and financial goals Qualifications 2+ years of management experience in a full‑service restaurant Proficiency with POS systems, reservations platforms, 3rd‑party delivery apps, and Google Suite Knowledge of wine, beer, and cocktails Strong organizational and multitasking skills with attention to detail Excellent verbal and written communication skills Passion for warm, professional customer service Positive, team‑oriented leadership style Availability to work nights and weekends Valid NYC Food Handler’s Certification Knowledge of MarginEdge is a plus Why Join Makina Café? Be part of the launch of the first Ethiopian‑Eritrean restaurant in Queens Join a mission‑driven, woman‑owned company with deep cultural roots Opportunity to grow professionally alongside an expanding hospitality group Play an essential role in shaping a vibrant new dining destination Job Information Company: Makina Café - Long Island City Position: Restaurant Manager Work Location: New York Country: US #J-18808-Ljbffr