Restaurant Manager - FareStart

Restaurant Manager

Department: Social Enterprise

Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time

Location: Seattle, WA.

Pay Rate: $71,111.00 - $76,335.00/year

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

FareStart has been helping people transform their lives through food for 30 years — one person, one job and one community at a time.

People experiencing poverty struggle to escape the cycle they are in and often face other compounding barriers to getting and keeping a job. At FareStart, we help people overcome barriers by teaching work and life skills needed to succeed in employment and in life. By investing in people, providing meals and building community, we transform homelessness, hunger and poverty into human potential.

OUR VISION

Every individual has the opportunity to thrive in an equitable and just world.

OUR MISSION

FareStart transforms lives, disrupts poverty and nourishes communities through food, life skills and job training.

OUR VALUES

• Acceptance: We build relationships based on the belief that the past informs but does not dictate the future.
• Respect: We treat everyone with dignity, regardless of background or differences. We actively listen and seek first to understand.  We are honest, even when it is difficult.
• Openness: We create a culture of trust through transparency and open communication. We are open to new ideas.
• Collaboration: Contribute positively to strengthen the organization and our impact through teamwork and through partnerships.
• Accountability: We are responsible to each other, to our community and ourselves. We are committed to rigorous evaluation and making fiscally responsible decisions that align with our mission.
• Inclusion: We provide a community of belonging, regardless of background. We value and seek out diversity.
• Growth: We are a learning organization.  We invest in continuous improvement and growth.

ABOUT THE POSITION

This position is responsible for the management and daily operations of FareStart restaurant locations, ensuring excellent training, customer service, food safety, and product quality.  This position is responsible for fostering a safe and nurturing environment for FareStart’s job training programs at all FareStart restaurant locations. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise restaurant staff.
• Collaborate with programs staff regarding work students and trainers perform in restaurant spaces. 
• Oversee scheduling of restaurant staff members and responsible to find coverage in the event of a staff member’s absence, covering different shifts if necessary.   
• Ensure staff provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students using trauma-informed practices that support historically under-represented populations.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training manuals for restaurant operations.
• Collaborate with Social Enterprise leadership to monitor budgets to ensure restaurants remain profitable and actively find ways to lower operational costs, while expanding the restaurant’s customer base.
• Manage ordering, inventorying, managing production cost, sanitation, food safety, and vendor relationships for these operations.
• Manage private party reservations and restaurant email.
• In collaboration with the Social Enterprise Events Manager support the organization and execution of private events and Guest Chef Night.
• Ensure all staff provide excellent customer service.  Responsible for following up on customer service issues (e.g., customer concerns, complaints, feedback, etc.)
• Act as a liaison between the restaurants and department leadership, other departments, and partners, communicating relevant information to the restaurant staff as needed.
• Develop, implement, and update restaurant policies and procedures as necessary. 
• Collaborate with the Programs Department to support design of curriculum for relevant programs. 
• Support and promote the organization’s strategic plan and department priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At FareStart, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality or related field, and two (2) or more years of experience managing a café/coffee shop or food service operation including ordering, inventory, programming POS system, menu costing, etc.; and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• A Valid King County Food Permit, or the ability to obtain one.
• A Valid WSLCB Servers Permit, or the ability to obtain one. 
• Experience managing and developing a team.  Ability to lead and motivate teams.
• Experience with performing on-the-job training, preferably in a café/coffee shop environment.
• Proficient and experienced in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.  Ability to work with customized databases and technology and to conduct internet research.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team, within diverse teams and environments.
• Ability to communicate effectively and comfortably with audiences of different backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to display sensitivity, tact, and responsiveness in various situations and maintain a high level of confidentiality. 
• Ability to listen, give and receive feedback in a productive and professional manner. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt communication based on audience and purpose with inclusivity.  Ability to disseminate information effectively to appropriate levels.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to balance and prioritize multiple tasks and requests and meet deadlines in a professional manner.
• Ability to evaluate problems and effectively solve them in a timely manner.  Ability to respond to concerns with empathy and inclusivity.
• Ability to delegate responsibilities, work with others, and coach employees to develop their full potential. Provide helpful, behaviorally specific feedback to others.  Regularly meet with employees to review their development progress and express confidence in their abilities to be successful.  Engage in open and honest communication. 

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is exposed to a typical restaurant kitchen environment, including hot cooking elements and sharp objects. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• This position is regularly required to sit.  Frequently required to stand or walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. 
• This position requires close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• This position may be required to lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds.
• This position is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

COVID-19 CONSIDERATION: FareStart requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

BENEFIT HIGHLIGHTS

• Competitive pay based on experience and qualifications.
• Paid time-off (5 weeks first year of employment).
• Paid holidays, including up 2 floating holidays.
• 401(k) savings plan with company match.
• Medical (including vision), Dental, Disability, and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Free ORCA pass.

Why Should You Apply?

• Be part of our mission to disrupt poverty.
• Join a supportive, respectful, and celebratory community among our staff, students, board, and volunteers.
• Organizational commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
• FareStart encourages the personal and professional growth of its employees.

For information on FareStart, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at: www.farestart.org/about

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

FareStart is committed to becoming a fully inclusive, antiracist, diverse organization.  To fulfill our mission, vision, and values we are seeking candidates who demonstrate shared values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.

Our Commitment to Anti-Racism

FareStart defines antiracism as the clear acknowledgment that racism permeates organizations, communities, and industries, including our own. We recognize that we have a duty to be vigilant in addressing and confronting racism in how we make decisions, show up in our communities, build business practices and policies, and engage in intentional partnerships and philanthropic endeavors to fulfill our mission and vision.