Restaurants need trustworthy and skilled managers to oversee food establishments. There’s estimated job growth of 8.97% for restaurant managers over the next 10 years. As states continue easing dining restrictions again, we expect hiring for restaurant managers to continue picking up and get even more competitive.

But how do you find a restaurant manager that fills all your requirements? Simple! Write a job description so you can post it online or as a newspaper ad. Below is a sample job description and a template you can use to hire a restaurant manager. Jump straight to the sample job description template if you’re ready to hire now.

Introduction

Restaurant managers oversee the business operations for you.

Restaurant managers ensure your business runs smoothly while you’re away. Managers set the tone of your restaurant and one bad hire can literally wreck years of work establishing a food brand.

Restaurant managers are tasked with a variety of tasks including staff training, serving customers, quality assurance with kitchen dishes, ensure processes are followed by staff, interact with customers, oversee sales, keep down costs, and report to the business owners of the restaurant.

Related Reading: Best Restaurant Hostess Job Description Example Template (Download Free)

In essence, this person is tasked with watching over your restaurant’s operations. This role must be filled with someone you can also trust to not steal and set a good example for other employers.

Restaurant Manager: Job Description Summary

Restaurant Managers must be able to multitask.

Start your job description with a summary of what your restaurant the role your recruiting. You should also add details of what the job responsibilities are. Keep things short in this section. You’ll have your chance to write down specifics later on. Here’s an example job description for a restaurant manager:

The Spice Point is a restaurant that’s all about serving flavorful eats from around the globe. We elevate the dining experience by offering sweet, sour, tangy, zesty, and spicy dishes that are now considered every local’s favorite. For five years we have served our customers with delicious cuisines and we aim to continue serving them for many years more.

We are in need of a Restaurant Manager to help oversee The Spice Point. They must have the passion to lead and train staff in providing the best quality of service. They must know how to multitask, delegate, and oversee the restaurant’s operations. Most importantly, they must be a team player, willing to work with everyone around them in providing the best dining experience for our customers.

Putting up a summary early on helps the applicant get a quick view of the restaurant they might apply for. The applicant reading the summary will be able to size up the responsibilities needed of them and can then proceed to read through the rest of the job description.

Primary Responsibilities of a Restaurant Manager

Once you’ve gotten the summary out of the way, it’s time to list down the primary responsibilities your restaurant manager will be doing. This section is extremely important. Everything you need your restaurant manager to do will be written down in this list so there’s no misunderstanding between you and the applicant. Below is a sample list of the the primary responsibilities of a restaurant manager.

  • Oversee and manage the restaurant’s operations.
  • Respond to customers’ complaints and inquiries.
  • Supervise the restaurant team and plan their weekly schedule.
  • Hire and train staff.
  • Evaluate the performance of the staff on a regular basis to maintain the restaurant’s service standards.
  • Ensure health and safety standards are met.
  • Know the menu and be able to recite ingredients to customers.
  • Monitor inventory of food, equipment, and forecast the supplies needed. You will also order supplies from our vendors.
  • (Ideal) Suggest marketing strategies and promotions to increase sales.
  • Encourage a positive working environment.
  • Manage the payroll and budget. Understand basic accounting concepts.

You may add more duties to this list depending on the requirements of your restaurant.

Desired Skills / Role Requirements

Listing the skills required by a desirable applicants is the next section to add to the job description. Like the responsibilities above, being specific in this section. Below are the basic skills expected of a restaurant manager.

  • Has at least a year of experience of being a Restaurant Manager or in a similar role.
  • Has a degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or has a diploma in a Culinary school.
  • Has extensive knowledge in food and beverage.
  • Has strong leadership skills.
  • Has good customer service and communication skills.
  • Can multitask and possess problem-solving skills.
  • Must be computer literate and able to run basic business software like email, spreadsheets, and word processor.
  • Must have event planning skills and good time management.
  • Must be able to work on your feet for 8 hours or longer.
  • Must be a team player.

These skills are necessary in a restaurant manager and your applicant must possess them in order to get hired.

Sample Job Description Template for Restaurant Manager

Put everything you’ve learned together to create a job description for a restaurant manager. In this section, I’ve provided a template you can copy, paste, and use the sample to attract a restaurant manager. Just be sure to edit the necessary details before submitting to a hiring website.

Related Role: Fine Dining Server Job Description Examples (Copy and Paste Template) 

The Spice Point – Restaurant Manager Position

The Spice Point is a restaurant that’s all about serving flavorful eats. We elevate the dining experience by offering sweet, sour, tangy, zesty, and spicy dishes that are now considered every local’s favorite. For five years we have served our customers with delicious cuisines and we aim to continue serving them for many years more.

We are in need of a Restaurant Manager to help oversee The Spice Point. They must have the passion to lead and train staff in providing the best quality of service. They must know how to multitask, delegate, and oversee the restaurant’s operations. Most importantly, they must be a team player, willing to work with everyone around them in providing the best dining experience for our customers.

Restaurant Manager Job Responsibilities:

  • Oversee and manage the restaurant’s operations and correct flaws in actions if there are any.
  • Respond to customers’ complaints and inquiries.
  • Supervise the restaurant team and organize their schedule.
  • Hire and train staff.
  • Evaluate the performance of the staff on a regular basis to maintain the restaurant’s service standards.
  • Ensures that health and safety standards are met.
  • Be familiar with the menu.
  • Be up to date with the inventory of stocks, equipment, and forecast the supplies needed.
  • (Optional) Implement marketing strategies to increase sales.
  • Encourage a positive working environment.
  • Manage the payroll and budget.

Skills and Experiences:

  • At least a year of experience of being a Restaurant Manager or similar role.
  • Degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or has a diploma in a Culinary school
  • Extensive knowledge in food and beverage.
  • Strong leadership skills.
  • Excellent customer service and communication skills.
  • Can multitask and possesses problem-solving skills.
  • Must be computer literate.
  • Has event planning skills and knows good time management.
  • Must be able to work on your feet for 8 hour or more.
  • Must be a team player.

Job Type: Full Time

Schedule: Tuesdays to Sundays; 9 am to 5 pm

Salary rate: $30 per hour

Benefits:

  • Employee discounts and free meals.
  • 401K
  • Health Insurance
  • Two weeks off paid time off after 1-year of service

Contact information: (insert both your email and number)

Apply now and add more flavor to our growing team! Send us your resume at the email address provided with the subject “I’m ready for The Spice Point!”

Questions to Ask During an Interview

Know what questions to ask during the interview.

After you start getting responses to a job posting, it’s time to prepare for the candidate interview process. Below are a few questions you can ask during an interview for a qualified restaurant manager.

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. What inspired you to look for a new job?
  3. What were your responsibilities at your last job?
  4. Was there ever a time you encountered a problem at your previous job? How did you handle it?
  5. Are you willing to work overtime and on holidays?
  6. Tell me about your previous team and how you lead them.
  7. How would you correct or reprimand staffs who are performing poorly?
  8. In your opinion is the customer always right?
  9. What do you think are your strengths and weaknesses?
  10. What are your plans for the next five years?

The goal with these interviews is to get a window into a persons beliefs and personality to understand if they’ll be a good fit. Each of these questions can serve as a probe into the way an applicant thinks.

Average Salary Job Statistics for Restaurant Managers

Here are some statistics about restaurant managers.

During later stage interviews with an applicant, salary negotiations will often be discussed. When you get to this stage in the interview it’s critical to understand the market rate compensation for restaurant managers in your area.

Related Role: Food Truck Manager Job Description Sample Template 

Below are a few statistics that will help:

  • According to Salary.com, the average hourly wage of a restaurant manager is between $22 to $32.
  • According to the Bureau of Labor, these are the roles that a restaurant manager does:
    • Hiring, training, overseeing, and on some occasions, in charge of letting go of employees
    • In charge of ordering food and beverages, supplies, and equipment in the restaurant
    • Oversees the food preparation such as the portion sizes and the presentation of food
    • Inspects supplies, work areas, and equipment
    • Ensures that staff comply with the health and food safety standards
    • Addresses complaints regarding service or food quality
    • In charge of scheduling staff and assigning them their duties
    • Manages payroll records and budgets
    • Sets standards for customer service and personnel performance
  • Employment for food service managers grew by 2.8% from 2018 to 2019.
  • The average age of food service managers is 38.7 years old.
  • The most common degree held by food service managers is Business with a major in Personal and Culinary Services.
  • By 2028, there is an expected 1.6 million new restaurant jobs created.

With this guide and template on how to write a proper job description for a restaurant manager, you’re all set in finding the right applicant for your food business. Post it up on employment websites and let your local community know you’re hiring.

Keep an eye out for a carefully crafted resume and make sure to observe the applicant on how applicants answer your questions during an interview. I wish you best of luck with hiring this important role in your restaurant. To learn more about starting a restaurant with no money, check out my previous post on the subject.

Want to start your own food business?

Hey! 👋I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.

We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.

Know someone interesting that should be interviewed on the website? Tell us about them here.