Operating Partner/ General Manageer

Job Description

Job Description

Restaurant Operating Partner

Bring the Energy. Lead the Crew. Make Barbecue BOOM!

We’re looking for a GREAT leader to run a GREAT BBQ restaurant!

Since 1941, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has been bringing people together over Legit. Texas. Barbecue. Now we’re looking for a hands-on, business-minded Operating Partner who can bring that tradition to life every single day.

Love BBQ? Love people? Love winning as a team? Know how to turn a busy lunch rush into a well-oiled machine and a great restaurant into a profitable business?

Then pull up a chair — we might have a place for you at our table.

This is more than managing shifts. We're looking for someone who takes ownership, leads from the front, develops a winning crew, protects the bottom line, and makes sure every guest gets the kind of experience that keeps them coming back for more.

THE MISSION: RUN A GREAT RESTAURANT

As our Restaurant Operating Partner, you’ll be the driving force behind the restaurant’s people, performance, and daily operations.

You’ll lead the crew, work alongside the team, protect our BBQ standards, keep operations running smoothly, and make smart business decisions that drive sales and profitability.

Think of yourself as the Pit Boss of the entire operation — setting the pace, bringing the energy, solving problems, and making sure the team delivers GREAT results.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

1. Great BBQ. Every Guest. Every Time.

• Make sure our barbecue meets Dickey’s standards for quality, consistency, freshness, and presentation.
• Keep a close eye on brisket, ribs, pulled pork, smoked turkey, sausage, sides, sauces, and portion sizes.
• Partner with the certified Pit Master to execute production schedules and maintain product availability.
• Make sure the team follows approved recipes, preparation procedures, food safety practices, and quality standards.
• Keep the restaurant clean, organized, stocked, and ready to serve.
• Never sacrifice food quality or guest safety just to move a ticket faster.

2. Build a Crew That Brings the Heat

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop a team that takes pride in what they do.
• Set clear expectations and hold yourself and the team accountable.
• Build a positive culture where teamwork, respect, urgency, and great attitudes are the norm.
• Develop future leaders and help team members grow through the Dickey’s career pathway.
• Recognize great performance, address problems early, and lead by example.
• Be ready to jump in wherever the team needs you — because great leaders don't just point; they participate.

3. Deliver GREAT Hospitality

At Dickey’s, guests come first. Make sure they feel it.

• Create a friendly, welcoming, and efficient guest experience.
• Keep service moving with the right balance of speed, accuracy, and hospitality.
• Turn complaints into opportunities to make things right.
• Make sure the team understands that every interaction matters.
• Build loyal guests who return for the barbecue, the service, and the people.
• Lead with a smile, a sense of urgency, and a genuine passion for serving others.

4. Own the Numbers — Not Just the Shift

Great barbecue is the product. A healthy, profitable restaurant is the goal.

• Own restaurant sales, labor, food costs, inventory, and operating performance.
• Review sales reports and profit-and-loss statements to understand what’s working and what needs attention.
• Control portion sizes, food waste, meat yields, purchasing, and inventory variances.
• Build smart schedules that match staffing to business volume.
• Monitor overtime, discounts, comps, cash controls, and controllable expenses.
• Create action plans to improve performance and achieve agreed financial targets.
• Find opportunities to increase sales, grow catering, improve productivity, and protect profitability.

The goal: great food, happy guests, a strong team, and a healthy bottom line.

5. Keep the Restaurant Running Like a Well-Tuned Smoker

• Oversee daily opening, closing, food preparation, service, cleaning, and maintenance routines.
• Make sure the team follows Dickey’s operating procedures and brand standards.
• Keep equipment, supplies, and inventory ready for the demands of the business.
• Stay calm and organized when the tickets stack up and the restaurant gets rocking.
• Address staffing gaps, guest concerns, product shortages, and equipment issues quickly.
• Maintain required food safety, workplace safety, and regulatory standards.

6. Grow the Business and Your Community

• Look for opportunities to bring more guests through the door.
• Support catering, local promotions, community events, and approved marketing initiatives.
• Build relationships with local businesses, schools, organizations, and community partners.
• Help turn first-time guests into regulars and regulars into Dickey’s fans.
• Bring fresh ideas to ownership while staying true to brand standards.
• Treat the restaurant’s reputation as something worth protecting every day.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

• Competitive compensation based on experience and responsibilities.
• Potential performance-based bonuses tied to agreed business results.
• Opportunities to develop your leadership skills and grow with the business.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the restaurant and its team.
• Potential profit-sharing or ownership participation, if offered under a separate written agreement.

Any ownership interest, investment requirement, profit-sharing arrangement, or additional financial responsibility will be defined separately and clearly.

THE DICKEY’S MINDSET

We want a leader who lives the GREAT values:

• G — Guest First: Put the guest at the heart of every decision.
• R — Results Oriented: Focus on goals, execution, and follow-through.
• E — Enthusiastic: Bring positive energy and pride to the job.
• A — Accountable: Own your decisions, your results, and your opportunities to improve.
• T — Team Spirited: Build a crew that works together and wins together.

Dickey’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our policy of equal employment opportunity applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. We are committed to fostering a fair and merit-based workplace.