Restaurant Manager - Expatriate

Apex Restaurant - Restaurant Manager - Expatriate

Apex Restaurant is a fast food restaurant located in Wuse 2 Abuja.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Restaurant Manager - Expatriate

Location: Wuse 2, Abuja

Employment Type: Full-time

Reports To: Managing Director

Job Summary

• The General Manager will provide overall strategic and operational leadership for APEX, with accountability for business growth, revenue generation, profitability, people management, customer experience, and day-to-day operational excellence.
• The role holder will be responsible for translating the restaurant’s business objectives into clear commercial and operational strategies, driving revenue and customer acquisition, managing costs, developing a high-performing team, and ensuring that APEX consistently delivers an exceptional fine-dining experience.
• The General Manager will serve as the overall business leader of the restaurant, working closely with the MD to identify growth opportunities, strengthen operational performance, build the APEX brand, and position the restaurant for sustainable growth and profitability.

Leadership Expectation:

• The General Manager is expected to operate as the business owner mindset within APEX, taking full ownership of the restaurant’s commercial performance, people, customer experience, and operational standards.
• The role requires a leader who can move beyond managing daily activities to building a profitable, high-performing, customer-centric business. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong commercial judgement, data-driven decision-making, people leadership, and the ability to translate strategy into measurable business results.
• The General Manager will work closely with the Managing Director and provide timely recommendations on opportunities, challenges, investments, people matters, and strategic initiatives affecting the growth and performance of APEX.

Responsibilities

Business Strategy & Commercial Growth:

• Develop and execute the restaurant’s annual and periodic business plans in alignment with the Company’s strategic objectives.
• Take overall accountability for revenue generation, profitability, business growth, and commercial performance of APEX.
• Develop and implement strategies to increase customer traffic, average spend, repeat patronage, table turnover, event revenue, and other revenue streams.
• Identify new business opportunities, partnerships, events, experiences, and commercial initiatives that can generate incremental revenue.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, customer preferences, and industry developments to identify opportunities for business growth.
• Develop initiatives to strengthen APEX’s market positioning as a premium/fine-dining destination.
• Set clear commercial targets for the restaurant and translate them into actionable plans for the management and operational teams.
• Regularly review business performance against targets and implement corrective actions where required.
• Work with the MD to develop and evaluate new business opportunities, expansion opportunities, strategic partnerships, and revenue channels.

Revenue & Financial Management:

• Own the restaurant’s revenue and profitability performance and ensure achievement of approved financial targets.
• Develop revenue forecasts, budgets, sales targets, and business projections.
• Monitor daily, weekly, and monthly sales performance and identify trends, gaps, and opportunities.
• Analyse key financial indicators including revenue, gross margin, food cost, beverage cost, labour cost, operating expenses, average customer spend, and profitability.
• Drive effective cost management without compromising food quality, service standards, or customer experience.
• Implement strategies to optimise menu pricing, product mix, promotions, upselling, cross-selling, and other revenue drivers.
• Ensure effective inventory and stock management to minimise wastage, pilferage, stock variances, and unnecessary costs.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate revenue reporting, reconciliations, expense control, and financial accountability.
• Review and approve operational expenditures within approved authority limits.
• Provide the MD with regular commercial and financial performance reports, including key insights, risks, and recommended actions.

People Strategy & Leadership:

• Provide strong leadership and direction to the entire APEX team, fostering a culture of performance, accountability, ownership, collaboration, and service excellence.

• Build and maintain a high-performing restaurant management and operational team.

• Work with HR to identify workforce requirements, recruit high-quality talent, and ensure effective onboarding and integration of new employees.

• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure employees understand their roles, responsibilities, KPIs, and service standards.

• Drive performance management, coaching, succession planning, employee development, and talent retention.

• Identify capability gaps and ensure appropriate training and development programmes are implemented.

• Build a strong leadership pipeline within the restaurant and develop high-potential employees for increased responsibility.

• Ensure effective workforce planning, staffing levels, shift scheduling, attendance, and productivity.

• Promote employee engagement and a positive workplace culture while maintaining high standards of discipline and accountability.

• Address employee relations and performance issues promptly in collaboration with HR and in accordance with Company policies.

• Lead by example and create an environment where employees are motivated to deliver exceptional service and business results.

• Restaurant Operations & Operational Excellence

• Provide overall oversight of the day-to-day operations of APEX, ensuring efficient, seamless, and commercially effective operations.

• Ensure consistent adherence to approved SOPs, operational policies, service standards, and quality requirements.

• Establish and maintain high standards across front-of-house, kitchen, bar, service, cleaning, maintenance, and support functions such as Procurement, Store & Inventory.

• Ensure effective coordination between the kitchen, service, bar, events, and administrative teams.

• Monitor service delivery and operational performance, particularly during peak periods and major events.

• Ensure food and beverage quality, presentation, consistency, and service standards meet APEX’s fine-dining positioning.

• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

• Ensure appropriate controls are in place for cash handling, inventory, procurement, stock movement, equipment, and other operational assets.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable food safety, health, hygiene, licensing, fire, and workplace safety requirements.

• Drive initiatives that improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise the use of resources.

Customer Experience & Brand Excellence:

• Own the overall guest experience and ensure APEX consistently delivers a premium and memorable dining experience.
• Establish and maintain high standards for hospitality, service delivery, ambience, food quality, and guest engagement.
• Monitor customer feedback, reviews, complaints, and satisfaction trends and ensure timely resolution of issues.
• Develop strategies to increase customer retention, repeat visits, referrals, and customer loyalty.
• Personally engage with key guests and high-value customers where appropriate.
• Ensure all customer-facing employees consistently demonstrate professionalism, product knowledge, courtesy, and service excellence.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the customer journey and differentiate APEX from competitors.
• Protect and strengthen the reputation and positioning of the APEX brand.

Sales, Marketing & Business Development:

• Work closely with the Marketing/Communications team to develop campaigns and initiatives that directly support revenue growth.
• Develop and execute promotional strategies for events, special occasions, menu launches, seasonal offerings, and other commercial opportunities.
• Leverage events, partnerships, corporate relationships, private dining, and other channels to generate additional revenue.
• Monitor the effectiveness and commercial return of marketing initiatives.
• Provide business and customer insights to support social media, digital marketing, PR, and promotional activities.
• Build strategic relationships with corporate clients, event organisers, influencers, partners, and other relevant stakeholders to drive business opportunities.
• Ensure marketing activities are aligned with APEX’s premium brand positioning and commercial objectives.

Menu, Product & Supplier Management:

• Work collaboratively with the Head Chef