Find & Apply For Restaurant / Food Service Manager Jobs in Dayton, Ohio

Founding Operating Partner (General Manager) Confidential Hospitality Venture |

Dayton, Ohio Compensation:

Target base salary of 85,000-$100,000 annually, plus equity ownership opportunity

Employment:

Full-time | On-site The Opportunity A privately backed hospitality venture is seeking an experienced, entrepreneurial restaurant operator to help develop, launch, and lead a new neighborhood restaurant concept in the Dayton, Ohio area. The vision is to create a welcoming, European-inspired café, kitchen, and wine market that brings together exceptional coffee, thoughtfully prepared food, approachable wine, and curated specialty goods. A neighborhood gathering place that feels special without being formal, where guests want to return several times a week. An existing restaurant property has been identified, with substantial commercial kitchen infrastructure already in place. The project is currently in predevelopment, with property acquisition pending and design and opening plans still to be finalized. We're seeking more than a traditional General Manager. We're looking for a founding operating partner who wants to help build something from the ground up, take ownership of its success, and participate financially in the value they create. The investor intends to provide the startup capital and business support. The right partner will bring the hospitality expertise, operational leadership, and entrepreneurial drive to turn the vision into a successful business. What You'll Own Concept Development & Launch Partner with ownership to refine the concept, menu, service model, and guest experience. Help guide restaurant design, equipment needs, kitchen workflow, and operational layout. Develop the preopening budget, operating plan, and launch timeline. Lead vendor selection, purchasing, systems implementation, and opening preparations. Build and execute a successful restaurant opening. Restaurant Operations Take full accountability for day-to-day restaurant operations and the overall guest experience. Lead a business spanning morning coffee service, lunch, happy hour, dinner, and specialty retail. Establish efficient, repeatable operating processes that deliver consistent quality and service. Oversee food and beverage execution, inventory, purchasing, and quality standards. Maintain high standards for cleanliness, food safety, and regulatory compliance. People & Culture Recruit, hire, train, and develop the opening team. Build a culture centered on hospitality, accountability, teamwork, and pride in the work. Establish staffing models, schedules, training programs, and performance expectations. Create an environment where great people want to work and guests want to return. Financial Performance Own the restaurant's operating P&L, budget, and financial results. Manage labor, food and beverage costs, inventory, and controllable expenses. Develop sales forecasts, performance metrics, and operational reporting. Identify opportunities to improve profitability without compromising the guest experience. Partner with ownership on strategic decisions, capital investments, and long-term growth. Who We're Looking For We're looking for someone who combines genuine hospitality instincts with strong business judgment.

The ideal candidate has:

Significant restaurant leadership experience, ideally as a General Manager, Director of Operations, Managing Partner, or Owner/Operator. Demonstrated responsibility for restaurant financial performance, including revenue, labor, food costs, and profitability. Experience hiring, developing, and leading high-performing restaurant teams. A track record of creating excellent guest experiences while maintaining operational discipline. Strong knowledge of restaurant systems, purchasing, inventory, and service operations. The ability to move comfortably between strategic planning and hands-on execution. An entrepreneurial mindset, sound judgment, and a genuine desire to build long-term ownership. Experience opening a restaurant, managing multiple service periods, or operating a café, wine bar, or neighborhood dining concept is particularly valuable. Most importantly, we're looking for someone who wants to build a business. What Makes This Opportunity Different This is an opportunity to help shape a new restaurant from its earliest stages, with the backing of an investor who is committed to providing capital and strategic support. The selected partner will have meaningful influence over the restaurant's development, including its operations, team, service model, and guest experience. The opportunity is expected to include: Competitive base compensation. Meaningful equity ownership potential, subject to mutually agreed terms and vesting. Substantial operational autonomy and accountability. Direct partnership with an investor experienced in building and scaling businesses. The opportunity to help create a distinctive neighborhood destination with long-term potential. The investor is not seeking to manage daily restaurant operations. We're looking for a trusted partner who can lead the business with the judgment, commitment, and accountability of an owner. Timing & Confidentiality This opportunity is in the early development stage. Property acquisition, final design, opening timeline, and partnership terms are still being established. We are beginning conversations now because we believe the right operating partner should help shape the business before major development decisions are made. The search is confidential. Additional details regarding the concept, location, investment, and proposed ownership structure will be shared with qualified candidates as discussions progress. Interested? If you're an experienced hospitality leader who has dreamed of building something of your own, we'd welcome a conversation. Please submit your resume and a brief note describing your restaurant leadership experience and what interests you about an ownership-oriented opportunity. We're looking for the right long-term partner. Apply if interested!

Pay:

$85,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Application Question(s): Tell us about a restaurant you've helped open, launch, or significantly improve. What was your role, what were the biggest challenges, and what results did you achieve?

Work Location:

In person