General Manager Fast Casual Restaurant

Job Description

Job Description

General Manager (Fast-Casual / SDSU Campus)

• Location: San Diego, CA 92182 (San Diego State University)
• Compensation: $25.00 - $28.00/hr + Overtime & Performance Incentives (Negotiable annual compensation contracts starting at $65,000+ available for highly qualified candidates)
• Job Type: Full-Time, Seasonal / Academic Calendar

## Position Overview

Are you an energetic, ambitious restaurant leader looking for high earning potential without the typical 365-day corporate burnout?

We are seeking a high-energy, hands-on General Manager to oversee our high-volume fast-casual location right on the SDSU campus. This unique management role is perfectly tailored around the academic calendar: you will lead a demanding, high-velocity 32-week peak operational season while the university is in session, paired with a significantly reduced workload and extended off-season during campus breaks to recharge, travel, and spend time with family.

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, love building high-performing teams, and want unprecedented work-life flexibility, this is your next step.

## Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Culture: Recruit, hire, train, and mentor a high-performing front-of-house and back-of-house team. Build an accountable, high-energy culture focused on speed of service and hospitality.
• Daily Operations: Direct all day-to-day operations to ensure maximum efficiency, food safety compliance, and consistent product quality during massive campus rushes.
• Financial Performance: Maintain full Profit & Loss (P&L) accountability. Manage labor budgets, food costs, inventory variance, and supply ordering to hit established profitability goals.
• Guest Experience: Lead by example on the floor, resolving guest concerns quickly and ensuring the brand's standards are executed flawlessly.

## Job Requirements

• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years of restaurant management experience with progressive leadership responsibility, including at least 2 years managing supervisors or large hourly teams.
• High-Volume Capability: Proven ability to thrive and maintain tight cost controls in a fast-paced, high-pressure, or high-volume fast-casual environment.
• Financial Acumen: Strong business acumen with direct experience managing P&L, labor percentages, and food inventory.
• Schedule Flexibility: Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, and dedicate up to 60 hours per week during the 32-week peak academic semesters.
• Physical & Compliance: Must have an active ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification. Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds.

## What We Offer

• Unmatched Work-Life Balance: An extended university off-season providing incredible personal flexibility and time off.
• Competitive Compensation: Hourly pay ranging from $25–$28/hr with heavy overtime potential during peak weeks, or a negotiated guaranteed annual compensation structure for top-tier operators.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Healthcare, Dental, and Vision plans, Paid Time Off (PTO), Sick Time, and a 401(k) plan.
• Career Growth: Direct exposure to business operations with significant decision-making authority and potential for long-term advancement within the organization.

Understanding the Seasonal Workflow: Peak vs. Off-Season

Because this restaurant is located directly on a major university campus, the business volume is tied entirely to the student calendar rather than traditional retail trends.

### The 32-Week Peak Season (High Volume)

• When it happens: Fall Semester (late August to December) and Spring Semester (intermittently January to May) when school is actively in session.
• The Environment: Extremely fast-paced and high-pressure. You will experience massive, highly predictable waves of foot traffic squeezed into tight 30-to-45-minute windows between class blocks.
• The Schedule: Expect to work up to 60 hours per week during these 32 weeks. This is your primary earning period, heavily utilizing overtime pay to maximize your income. Your focus will be on maximum speed of service, high-volume prep, and scheduling tight labor grids to conquer the daily student rushes.

### The 20-Week Off-Season (Low Volume)

• When it happens: Summer Break (late May to August), Winter Break (mid-December to mid-January), and major holiday campus closures.
• The Environment: The campus quiets down significantly. Foot traffic drops to a fraction of normal volume, consisting mostly of campus staff, orientation groups, or summer camp attendees.
• The Schedule: This period offers unprecedented flexibility for a restaurant general manager. Your workload is drastically reduced, giving you an extended window to recharge, take long vacations, or focus on personal interests without sacrificing your career standing. Operational duties shift away from intense floor management toward high-level strategy, deep cleaning, equipment maintenance, and planning your hiring/training strategy for the next academic rush.

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.