Restaurant General Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking an accomplished, polished, and service-driven Restaurant General Manager to lead the daily operations of a premier restaurant within a luxury resort in Ketchum, Idaho.

This is an exciting opportunity for a hospitality professional to lead a high-end dining operation in one of the country's premier mountain resort destinations. The Restaurant General Manager will have full operational responsibility for the restaurant, including guest experience, team leadership, financial performance, service standards, and overall business development.

The ideal candidate is a highly visible and hands-on leader with a passion for luxury hospitality, a strong understanding of upscale dining, and a proven ability to build and develop high-performing teams while achieving financial and operational goals.

Key Responsibilities

Restaurant Operations

• Oversee all daily restaurant operations, ensuring seamless execution and exceptional service.
• Maintain a strong leadership presence during peak service periods, weekends, holidays, and high-demand resort seasons.
• Establish and maintain operational standards, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure the restaurant consistently delivers an elevated and memorable guest experience.
• Collaborate closely with Culinary and Resort leadership to ensure seamless coordination between front and back of house.
• Manage reservations, seating flow, table turns, and overall service pacing.
• Ensure operational readiness for seasonal fluctuations and peak resort periods.

Guest Experience & Luxury Service

• Deliver service standards consistent with a luxury resort and Forbes Five-Star or AAA Five Diamond philosophy.
• Create a culture of anticipatory service and personalized guest engagement.
• Build relationships with resort guests, local clientele, repeat guests, and VIPs.
• Respond to guest feedback and resolve service concerns quickly and professionally.
• Monitor guest satisfaction and online reviews to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Develop relationships with key guests and local community members to drive repeat business.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop restaurant management and service teams.
• Establish clear performance expectations and hold team members accountable.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings and ongoing training on service standards, menu knowledge, and beverage offerings.
• Create a positive and collaborative culture focused on teamwork, recognition, and professional development.
• Manage performance evaluations, coaching, and corrective action when necessary.
• Support succession planning and development of future hospitality leaders.
• Effectively manage seasonal staffing and workforce fluctuations common to mountain resort operations.

Financial Management

• Manage restaurant revenue, labor costs, operating expenses, and overall profitability.
• Develop and monitor annual budgets and financial forecasts.
• Analyze financial reports and implement strategies to improve restaurant performance.
• Drive revenue through increased covers, average check, special events, private dining, and guest retention.
• Manage labor through effective forecasting, scheduling, and productivity strategies.
• Control operating expenses and maintain appropriate inventory levels.
• Partner with leadership to maximize revenue during peak ski and summer resort seasons.

Sales & Business Development

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Resort leadership to increase restaurant awareness and revenue.
• Develop relationships with local businesses, luxury travel partners, event planners, and community organizations.
• Support special events, private dining, wine dinners, and resort-wide culinary programming.
• Identify opportunities to increase local and destination guest visitation.
• Develop strategies to balance resort guest business with local clientele and year-round revenue.

Beverage & Culinary Collaboration

• Partner with the Executive Chef and Beverage leadership to maintain exceptional menu and beverage knowledge throughout the team.
• Support wine, cocktail, and specialty beverage programs.
• Ensure staff are confident in presenting menu items, wine pairings, and culinary offerings.
• Collaborate on seasonal menu launches, promotions, and culinary events.
• Promote strong relationships between front-of-house and culinary teams.

Compliance & Operational Excellence

• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, sanitation, and alcohol service regulations.
• Maintain exceptional standards for restaurant cleanliness, organization, and presentation.
• Oversee cash handling, POS procedures, opening and closing processes, and daily reporting.
• Ensure compliance with resort policies and luxury hospitality standards.
• Maintain operational excellence throughout high-volume seasonal periods.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive restaurant management experience, with at least 2 years in a General Manager or equivalent leadership role.
• Proven experience in upscale, fine dining, luxury hotel, resort, or high-end restaurant environments.
• Demonstrated success managing restaurant financial performance, labor, and operating costs.
• Strong knowledge of luxury service standards and high-end dining operations.
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak resort seasons.

Preferred

• Luxury resort or hotel experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in a mountain resort or seasonal destination market preferred.
• Experience with Forbes Five-Star or AAA Four/Five Diamond service standards.
• Background in fine dining, destination restaurants, or acclaimed hospitality groups.
• Strong wine and beverage knowledge.
• Experience with private dining, VIP events, and high-profile clientele.
• Experience managing seasonal staffing models.
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field preferred.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a polished and highly visible hospitality leader who understands that luxury service is defined by the details. They are equally comfortable managing a busy dinner service, reviewing financial results, coaching a manager, and personally engaging with VIP guests.

This individual leads by example, creates a culture of genuine hospitality, and understands how to balance exceptional guest experiences with strong financial performance.

The successful candidate will embrace the unique lifestyle and seasonal dynamics of Ketchum and the surrounding Sun Valley area, building strong relationships with both resort guests and the local community.

Candidates with experience in luxury mountain resorts, Forbes-rated hotels, destination dining concepts, fine dining restaurants, or nationally recognized hospitality groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Performance-based annual bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Resort and hotel discounts
• Dining privileges
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Relocation assistance, where applicable
• Potential employee housing or housing assistance, where applicable