Restaurant General Manager

Position: Restaurant General Manager
Department: Food & Beverage
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Reports To: Property General Manager
 

CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge, located within The Study at University City, is seeking an experienced, engaging, and hospitality-driven Restaurant General Manager to lead the restaurant's front-of-house operations. Reporting directly to the Property General Manager, the Restaurant General Manager serves as the primary operational leader for CO-OP and is responsible for the overall guest experience, team leadership and development, service standards, financial performance, and day-to-day restaurant operations.

Working closely with the Executive Chef, the Restaurant General Manager will help shape a thriving restaurant known for thoughtful food, spirited hospitality, and a strong connection to the University City community. This role requires a leader who can balance an exceptional restaurant experience with the operational and financial discipline needed to build a successful business.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on and highly visible leader who genuinely enjoys hospitality, developing people, and building relationships with guests. This individual is equally comfortable leading a busy service, coaching a team member, reviewing labor and financial performance, overseeing beverage operations, and developing strategies to grow the restaurant's business.

Our caring and attentive associates reinforce our belief that guest service is our highest priority. We seek a leader who can create an environment where exceptional hospitality, operational discipline, teamwork, and accountability come together to create a successful restaurant.

Restaurant Snapshot

• CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge – Located within The Study at University City
• Approximately 120-seat restaurant and lounge
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, bar, and room service operations
• Seasonal menus with a focus on Mid-Atlantic ingredients and flavors
• Hotel, university, corporate, and neighborhood clientele
• Collaborative partnership between front-of-house and culinary leadership

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall front-of-house operation of CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge, ensuring consistent execution of service, hospitality, and operational standards.
• Serve as the primary restaurant operations leader and partner directly with the Property General Manager on restaurant strategy, financial performance, operational priorities, and opportunities to grow the business.
• Maintain a highly visible presence throughout restaurant operations, actively engaging with guests and supporting the team during service.
• Create a welcoming and engaging restaurant environment that builds relationships with hotel guests, neighborhood regulars, university partners, and the surrounding community.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, train, coach, and develop front-of-house team members and restaurant leaders.
• Establish clear performance and service expectations while creating a positive working environment that encourages teamwork, accountability, development, and growth.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, recognition, and performance management to restaurant team members.
• Monitor the guest experience and personally address concerns, service opportunities, and guest feedback when appropriate.
• Partner closely with the Executive Chef as the restaurant's culinary counterpart, ensuring strong communication and alignment between front- and back-of-house operations.
• Oversee restaurant scheduling, staffing, and labor management to ensure appropriate coverage based on forecasted business levels and service needs.
• Manage restaurant operating expenses, labor, inventory, purchasing, cost controls, and other key financial performance measures.
• Review restaurant financial and operational results, identify opportunities, and implement strategies to improve revenue, productivity, and profitability.
• Participate in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning for CO-OP in partnership with the Property General Manager and hotel leadership.
• Maintain strong knowledge of restaurant financial performance and understand the operational decisions that influence revenue, labor, cost of sales, and profitability.
• Oversee beverage operations, including product selection, inventory, purchasing, pricing, cost controls, and responsible alcohol service.
• Maintain strong knowledge of food, wine, spirits, cocktails, beer, and current restaurant and beverage trends.
• Develop and execute strategies to grow restaurant traffic, guest loyalty, average check, and revenue while maintaining the identity and service standards of CO-OP.
• Partner with Marketing and hotel leadership on restaurant promotions, programming, community engagement, online reputation, and other initiatives that support the business.
• Maintain awareness of guest feedback and online reviews and use insights to continuously improve the restaurant experience.
• Ensure restaurant spaces, equipment, supplies, and service areas are maintained to established cleanliness, presentation, and operational standards.
• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, sanitation, alcohol service, health, safety, and employment requirements.
• Collaborate with the property's senior leadership team and hotel departments to ensure CO-OP is effectively integrated into the overall hotel operation and guest experience.
• Support room service and coordinate restaurant needs associated with hotel guests and operations.
• Perform additional leadership and operational responsibilities as necessary to support the success of CO-OP and The Study at University City.

Fundamentals

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive restaurant leadership experience, including experience managing an upscale casual, fine dining, hotel, or comparable full-service restaurant operation.
• Previous Restaurant General Manager, General Manager, Assistant General Manager, or comparable senior restaurant leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting, leading, coaching, and developing front-of-house teams and restaurant managers or supervisors.
• Strong understanding of restaurant financial performance, including revenue, labor management, food and beverage costs, inventory, purchasing, budgeting, forecasting, and profitability.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant operations, service standards, beverage programs, and guest relations.
• Demonstrated ability to build guest relationships and create a strong culture of hospitality.
• Ability to balance hands-on restaurant leadership with administrative, financial, and strategic responsibilities.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with restaurant POS, scheduling, inventory, and financial reporting systems preferred.
• ServSafe Food Manager Certification and RAMP or equivalent responsible alcohol service certification preferred or ability to obtain as required.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule based on restaurant needs, including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to stand and remain active for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or otherwise move items weighing up to 40 pounds.

About Us

The Study at University City is a 212-room hotel located at the crossroads of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University in the heart of University City in Philadelphia. Designed as a place of discovery and connection, the hotel blends thoughtful hospitality with contemporary residential-inspired guest rooms and welcoming public spaces.

The property is home to CO-OP Restaurant & Lounge, a lively 120-seat restaurant and lounge known for spirited hospitality and seasonal menus. The hotel also features 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space, hosting university functions, corporate meetings, conferences, and private events supported by the culinary and food & beverage teams.

Eligible full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, paid time off, and paid holidays. Team members may also participate in our 401(k) retirement savings plan and Employee Assistance Program.

Study Hotels is a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment drug test and background check required.

Study Hotels is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, disability, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

Keywords: Restaurant General Manager, Restaurant GM, General Manager, Restaurant Management, Food & Beverage Management, Hospitality Management, Hotel Restaurant, Front of House, Restaurant Operations, Restaurant Leadership