General Manager

We are seeking an experienced, hospitality-driven General Manager for our independent wine bar in Oceanside, CA. As the General Manager at Merenda, you will play a crucial role in overseeing daily operations, ensuring exceptional hospitality, and driving team performance. This position involves collaborating with the owners and partners while managing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations, including staff supervision, service execution, inventory management, and the overall guest experience, all while upholding Merenda's core values. Your leadership will set the standard for service excellence, staff morale, and overall business success. This role requires a hands-on, hospitality-focused individual who is passionate about food, wine, and the guest experience. SUMMARY   Works closely with the small leadership team, which includes the Owner, Beverage Director, and Chef, to oversee all establishment activities by handling the following duties or delegating them to hourly staff employees. Key Responsibilities: Leadership and Team Management: Lead, motivate, and mentor the team, ensuring smooth operations and a positive work environment. Oversee scheduling, training, and performance management. Work cohesively with the Chef to ensure seamless teamwork between FOH and BOH, fostering a collaborative environment that enhances service efficiency and guest experience. Service Excellence: Uphold and enforce high service standards, ensuring guests receive a memorable experience rooted in warm hospitality and expert service. Food and Wine Knowledge: Maintain a strong understanding of our food and wine selections to assist guests and train staff in wine pairings, proper serving techniques, and menu knowledge. A Court of Master Level 1 or WSET 2 Award is preferred but not required, though candidates with these certifications will be given priority consideration.  Operational Oversight: Hands-on management of daily operations, including maintenance, ensuring efficient workflow, proper table service, and adherence to safety and cleanliness standards. Problem-Solving: Promptly and effectively address guest concerns, service challenges, and staff issues, escalating to the owners/partners when necessary. Inventory and Ordering: Oversee FOH inventory, monitor supplies, and coordinate with vendors to maintain stock levels while minimizing waste. Financial Performance: Assist in achieving revenue goals, managing labor costs, and controlling operational expenses. POS and Technology: Utilize the POS and reservation systems to track sales, analyze reports, and troubleshoot transaction issues as needed. Staff Training and Development: Conduct ongoing staff training to enhance service quality, efficiency, and team morale. Compliance and Safety: Ensure FOH compliance with health, safety, and labor laws, maintaining a safe environment for guests and staff. Ideal Candidate Profile Summary: The ideal candidate has at least 2 - 5 years of management experience in a restaurant or similar venue, with strong food and wine knowledge and customer service experience.  Key Traits: Hospitality-Focused Leadership: Leads with warmth, professionalism, and a guest-first approach. Food and Wine Expertise: Deep understanding of food and beverage service standards. Positive Attitude: Solution-oriented under pressure. Effective Communication: Strong verbal skills for staff management and guest engagement. Attention to Detail: Ensures smooth operations and service excellence. Team Player: Collaborative, with a dynamic and ego-free approach and accountability. Customer Focus: Passionate about delivering exceptional hospitality. Time Management: Excels in prioritizing tasks during peak hours. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on team building and guest engagement. Required Skills: Experience: 2 years of management experience in a hospitality environment, ideally in a full-service setting. POS and Technology Skills: Proficient with Opentable, Toast, Homebase, and Google systems. Food and Wine Knowledge: Strong knowledge of food, wine, and beverage service standards, including proper food handling, wine pairing, and service etiquette. Valid San Diego, CA Manager Food Handler's Certificate or Certified Food Handler  Physical Requirements: Standing and walking for extended periods. Lifting, carrying, and setting up shifts. Ability to reach, bend, and stoop frequently. Ability to lift, carry, and move inventory up to 50 pounds. Schedule and Compensation Details: Full-time work with a minimum of 40 hours a week comprised of a four to six-day workweek based on business needs.  Shifts will vary, including nights, weekends, and holidays, based on the restaurant's needs.  Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience and skills, aligned with market rates. Starting at $90,000 + bonus. Performance-based bonus potential based on hitting established KPIs Benefits and Perks: Health insurance, Paid time off, Ret 401k, Dining discounts About Merenda We are a young, scrappy team looking for career-oriented hospitality professionals to help establish, grow, and evolve our new wine bar concept, Merenda. We're laser-focused on cultivating a culture of diversity and inclusion, while committed to working to make the industry a more equitable and sustainable career path for the next generation of hospitality professionals. If you're a passionate hard worker looking for an opportunity to leave your mark on something special, then you've come to the right place. Our staff realizes that none of us are successful unless all of us are successful and we treat each other and our responsibilities accordingly.  Merenda is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking victim status, ancestry, national origin, alienage or citizenship, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristic, or other protected status.

Created: 2025-02-20