Restaurant General Manager

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCHGeneral Manager - Casual Dining, Bar & Waterfront VenueGuest-Led Hospitality Leadership | Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLocation: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (waterfront district)Employment Type: Full-Time, PermanentCompensation: $70,000 base salary + bonus, gratuities, incentives & benefitsTeam: A dedicated front- and back-of-house brigadeReports To: Ownership / Senior Operations LeadershipLanguages: English required; French an assetFunction: Restaurant & Bar Operations / Guest Experience / P&L LeadershipABOUT OUR CLIENTOur client operates a lively, guest-focused restaurant and bar set in one of Toronto’s most sought-after waterfront settings. The venue pairs a globally inspired, all-day dining menu with a well-loved bar and social-hour programme, a spacious seasonal patio with lake views, and a signature weekend brunch experience, a mix that draws a loyal neighbourhood following as well as visitors, walk-ins, and groups celebrating special occasions.The business is backed by the infrastructure, standards, and career pathways of a growing multi-concept hospitality group, and is entering its next stage of commercial growth. It is now seeking a General Manager to take full ownership of the operation, its people, and its performance.The identity and precise location of our client will be shared with shortlisted candidates. This search is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis.THE OPPORTUNITYMafra Talents is proud to partner with our client in the search for a hands-on, commercially minded General Manager to lead the full operation of this waterfront venue. This is a strong opportunity for a hospitality leader who can advance the business, driving commercial performance, growing the brunch, bar, and group/celebration business, and leading an engaged team while preserving the character and guest experience that make the venue a neighbourhood favourite.As General Manager, you will hold full accountability for the venue: its people, its performance, and its reputation. You will set the strategy, lead the team, and own the numbers, balancing day-to-day operational excellence with a plan to grow revenue, elevate the guest experience, and strengthen the venue’s presence for groups and celebrations. You will own the profitability of the operation and uphold the highest standards of service, quality, and safety.Our client is seeking a leader who thinks like an operator and a host: someone who can read the market, build repeat and walk-in traffic, develop a strong management bench, and take the business to its next stage of growth with a positive, guest-first mindset.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESStrategic & Commercial Leadership•    Hold full P&L accountability, revenue growth, cost control, and profitability across restaurant, bar, and brunch/social-hour programmes.•    Develop and execute a business plan to advance the venue, identifying opportunities to grow covers, average spend, and group/celebration revenue.•    Analyze performance data to inform pricing, staffing, and operational decisions.•    Partner with senior leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and growth initiatives.•    Own compliance with all cost-control budgets, including but not limited to hourly labour, food cost, and beverage cost.Groups & Celebrations•    Grow and lead the group-dining and celebration business, maximizing use of the venue’s patio and dining spaces for bookings.•    Build repeat and referral bookings, cultivating relationships with corporate, birthday, and community clients.•    Ensure flawless planning and delivery of group bookings alongside the culinary and service teams.Operations & Guest Experience•    Lead all day-to-day operations to the highest standards of service, quality, consistency, and presentation.•    Uphold and elevate the guest experience across the dining room, bar, and waterfront patio.•    Drive and monitor the venue’s guest satisfaction and online reputation, including OpenTable and Google review rankings, and act on the feedback they surface.•    Ensure full compliance with health, safety, liquor (AGCO), and food-safety regulations at all times.•    Use the venue’s POS, scheduling, and inventory / cost-control systems to manage performance day to day, with the ability to get up to speed quickly on the group’s platforms.Team Leadership•    Lead, coach, and develop the front- and back-of-house team, building a strong management bench.•    Own recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance management to drive engagement and retention.•    Foster a culture of accountability, hospitality, and continuous improvement that reflects the venue’s standards and community role.Community & Brand•    Create, nurture, and grow community relationships that extend the impact and reach of the brand within its neighbourhood.•    Represent the venue as a visible local ambassador, building partnerships with neighbourhood businesses, community groups, and local organisations.•    Protect and strengthen the venue’s reputation as a welcoming waterfront destination.QUALIFICATIONS•    5+ years of progressive hospitality leadership, ideally as a General Manager or senior operations leader in a high-volume, guest-focused restaurant or bar.•    Experience with brunch, bar/social-hour, patio, and group or celebration bookings is strongly preferred.•    Commercially driven mindset with full P&L ownership and a proven track record of growing a business.•    Proven ability to lead, develop, and retain front- and back-of-house teams.•    Proven ability to elevate the guest experience, measured by OpenTable and Google review rankings.•    Proven ability to create, nurture, and grow community relationships that further extend the impact of a brand within its neighbourhood.•    Strong financial acumen, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and data-informed decision-making.•    Track record of delivering against cost-control budgets, including hourly labour, food cost, and beverage cost.•    Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with guests, clients, and teams.•    Smart Serve certification and sound knowledge of AGCO / liquor regulations.•    Food Handler Certificate an asset; a diploma or degree in hospitality or business is a definite asset.WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE — FIRST 12 MONTHS•    Full command of the P&L, with clear cost controls and a credible plan to grow revenue across restaurant, bar, and group business.•    A visible increase in group/celebration bookings and revenue against an agreed target.•    A strengthened management bench, with defined roles, development plans, and reduced reliance on the GM for day-to-day cover.•    Consistent service standards and guest satisfaction across peak volume periods, including brunch and social hour.•    Guest satisfaction and online rankings on OpenTable and Google trending measurably upward.•    Hourly labour, food, and beverage costs consistently delivered on or under budget.•    Full regulatory, safety, and food-safety compliance with no material findings.•    Measurable improvement in team engagement and retention across front and back of house.WHY JOINThis is a genuine opportunity to lead a beloved, high-energy waterfront venue with real autonomy — real budget, real accountability, and the backing of an established hospitality group that invests in its people. You will run a guest-first, multi-revenue business, and you will have the mandate to grow it.•    Base salary of $70,000 plus bonus and incentive programme.•    Comprehensive benefits plan.•    Career advancement opportunities within an established, growing hospitality group.•    A vibrant, guest-first, family-oriented culture.HOW TO APPLYThis search is managed exclusively by Mafra Talents Inc. on behalf of our client, on a strictly confidential basis. All applications and conversations are handled in complete confidence, and only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.Qualified candidates are invited to send their resume in confidence to Jose Mafra at jose.mafra@mafratalents.com, or apply through www.mafratalents.com.Mafra Talents is a boutique Canadian recruitment firm with global reach, dedicated to hand-picking top-tier international talent tailored to our clients' unique hiring needs. Our recruitment services are 100% free for candidates. We are an inclusive recruitment partner and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background or identity. Accommodations are available on request throughout the selection process.