General Manager - New Restaurant Opening | $85K-$100K + Bonus

Job Description

Job Description

General Manager – New Restaurant & Hospitality Opening
New York, NY
Salary: $85,000–$100,000 + Monthly Bonus Opportunity

A growing hospitality concept is seeking an experienced General Manager to lead an exciting new opening in New York City. This is an excellent opportunity for a hospitality professional who enjoys building teams, creating service standards, and being part of launching a unique guest experience from the ground up.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on, hospitality-driven leader with experience managing high-energy restaurant, bar, nightlife, entertainment, or experiential dining environments. This role will play a key part in preparing for opening, developing the team, establishing operational standards, and ensuring an exceptional experience for every guest.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of restaurant operations, including daily service, team performance, and guest satisfaction
• Support pre-opening activities, including hiring, training, operational planning, vendor coordination, and establishing procedures
• Build and develop a strong hospitality culture focused on service excellence
• Recruit, coach, and retain a high-performing FOH and BOH team
• Partner with leadership on menu execution, beverage initiatives, and overall guest experience
• Manage labor, inventory, ordering, and operational costs
• Maintain high standards for quality, cleanliness, safety, and hospitality
• Create an engaging environment that encourages repeat guests and team success

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of restaurant/hospitality leadership experience
• Previous General Manager or senior management experience required
• Experience with restaurant openings or pre-opening operations strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of service standards, team development, and operational execution
• Experience in restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, nightlife, hotels, or experiential hospitality concepts is a plus
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced opening environment

Ideal Backgrounds:

• Upscale casual restaurants
• High-volume restaurants
• Cocktail bars and lounges
• Entertainment venues
• Hospitality-driven concepts
• Boutique hotels or lifestyle hospitality

This is an opportunity for a leader who enjoys creating something special, building a team from the beginning, and having a direct impact on the culture and success of a new hospitality destination.

Compensation:
$85,000–$100,000 base salary + monthly bonus opportunity, based on experience.

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.