Now Hiring - The Garden State Grill - Restaurant Manager & Catering Sales Manager in Lillington, NC

Full description of the position

Restaurant Manager & Catering Sales Manager The Garden State Grill | Lillington, NC $55,000-$65,000+ | Bonus Opportunities | Growth Position Most restaurant management jobs ask you to maintain someone else's system. This isn't one of them. The Garden State Grill is an independently owned, chef-driven, scratch-kitchen restaurant that has spent the last five years building a reputation for exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and a loyal following throughout Harnett County and the Campbell University community. Now we're entering our next phase of growth. We're looking for one exceptional leader to help us build it.

About the Role

: This is a hybrid leadership position. Part of your week will be spent leading restaurant operationsdeveloping our team, coaching service, maintaining standards, and ensuring every guest receives world-class hospitality. The remainder of your week will focus on growing our catering businessbuilding relationships with local businesses, Campbell University, athletic programs, churches, schools, nonprofits, and community organizations while creating memorable events that generate long-term revenue. If you enjoy both people leadership and business development, this position offers the best of both worlds. No two weeks will look exactly alike. What You'll Be Doing Restaurant Leadership

• Lead daily front-of-house operations
• Coach, mentor and develop team members
• Ensure outstanding guest experiences
• Assist with hiring, onboarding and training
• Maintain service standards and accountability
• Help create a positive, high-performing culture
• Support scheduling and daily operations
• Partner with ownership to continually improve systems Catering Growth
• Develop new catering relationships throughout the community
• Build business with Campbell University and local organizations
• Follow up on catering inquiries
• Conduct sales outreach to businesses and community groups
• Coordinate events from booking through execution
• Develop repeat catering clients
• Help grow one of the restaurant's biggest opportunities What Makes This Position Different This is not a corporate restaurant. There are no endless conference calls. No layers of bureaucracy. No executives making decisions from another state. You'll work directly with the owner, have a voice in the business, and help shape where we're going. We've invested heavily into building real systems including:
• Leadership development program
• Structured onboarding
• Written SOPs
• Manager training curriculum
• Performance review system
• Accountability processes
• Clear operational standards We're building something designed to last. We're Looking For Someone Who...
• Loves hospitality
• Naturally leads people
• Is organized and self-motivated
• Communicates confidently
• Builds relationships easily
• Enjoys solving problems
• Wants to help grow a businessnot just manage shifts
• Takes ownership instead of making excuses
• Leads by example
• Brings energy, positivity and professionalism every day Preferred Experience
• Restaurant management experience
• FOH leadership
• High-volume restaurant operations
• Catering or event coordination
• Sales or business development experience
• Staff training and coaching
• Scheduling and labor management If you have restaurant management experience but little catering experience, we'll teach you. If you have catering experience but want to grow into restaurant leadership, we'd love to talk. The right attitude and leadership ability matter more than checking every box.

Compensation

• Competitive salary
• Performance bonus opportunities
• Catering commission opportunities
• Paid time off
• Employee meal program
• Growth opportunities
• Direct mentorship from ownership About The Garden State Grill We're more than a restaurant. We're a scratch kitchen built on four core values: Service. Quality. Unity. Commitment. Every decision starts there. We believe hospitality still matters. We believe food should be made with pride. We believe great teams are builtnot found. And we believe that people who genuinely care about others create unforgettable guest experiences. If you're simply looking for another management job, this probably isn't the right fit. If you're looking to help build something special alongside an owner who is deeply invested in his people, culture, and future, we'd love to meet you. Apply today and tell us why you're the leader our next chapter needs. In your application, include a brief note telling us what great hospitality means to you and why this position stood out. Applications without a short introduction may not be considered. Pay: $52,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits

:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Paid training Work Location: In person