General Manager — Waterfront Restaurant & Bar (Fort Myers Beach)
Full-time, salaried | On-site | New ownership taking over August 2026
About the Opportunity
An established, high-volume waterfront restaurant and sports bar on Fort Myers Beach is changing hands, and the incoming ownership group is hiring a General Manager to run the house.
This is a well-known local spot with a loyal following, a full liquor license, and strong seasonal traffic. Ownership is not local day-to-day, so this is a true operator's role — you will be the person the staff, guests, and vendors look to.
We are a confidential employer at this stage. Location and identity will be shared with candidates who advance past initial screening.
What You'll Own
Operations
- Run daily front-of-house and back-of-house operations, open to close
- Serve as manager on duty during peak shifts; be a visible presence on the floor
- Set and enforce service standards, cleanliness standards, and pace of service
- Build weekly shift schedules and manage coverage to hit labor cost targets
- Oversee opening/closing procedures, cash handling, and end-of-shift reconciliation
- Manage the POS system, menu programming, pricing updates, and comps/voids policy
Financial Performance
- Own the P&L alongside ownership; hit weekly and monthly food, beverage, and labor cost targets
- Manage food and beverage cost of goods; investigate and correct variances
- Run weekly inventory counts on food, liquor, beer, and wine; control waste, spoilage, and shrink
- Place all orders with food and beverage distributors; verify deliveries against invoices
- Negotiate and maintain vendor relationships; review invoices before submission to ownership
- Produce weekly operating reports and flash numbers for ownership
Guest Experience & Revenue
- Personally handle guest complaints and service recovery
- Monitor and respond to online reviews; protect the restaurant's reputation
- Coordinate live entertainment, events, holidays, and private parties
- Work with ownership on menu development, specials, promotions, and happy hour strategy
- Drive seasonal revenue during peak months and manage cost structure through the slower season
Facility & Compliance
- Maintain the building, kitchen equipment, bar equipment, HVAC, and outdoor/waterfront areas
- Coordinate repairs and preventive maintenance with vendors and contractors
- Maintain full compliance with Florida health department, fire, and food safety requirements; lead inspections
- Maintain compliance with Florida alcoholic beverage laws, including responsible service and ID practices
- Keep all licenses, permits, and certifications current
- Execute hurricane preparation, storm closure, and reopening procedures
Team Leadership
- Recruit, interview, hire, and onboard front-of-house and back-of-house staff
- Make termination decisions and handle separations
- Train and develop shift leads, servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff on standards and procedures
- Run pre-shift meetings and communicate daily priorities
- Coach performance in the moment and hold the team to expectations
- Build a bench so the restaurant is staffed through peak season
What You Will NOT Be Responsible For
This role is structured so your time goes to running the restaurant, not to administrative paperwork. Payroll and HR administration are handled by ownership and outside providers:
- Payroll processing, tax filings, and payroll administration
- Benefits administration and enrollment
- Workers' compensation claims and unemployment filings
- HR compliance paperwork and recordkeeping
You decide who's on the team and lead them. The back-office paperwork goes elsewhere.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $65,000 per year
- Profit sharing: 5% of annual net profit — the restaurant's true bottom line after all operating expenses are paid
- Health insurance: employer pays 50% of the premium in year one, increasing to 100% employer-paid after five years of continuous employment
- Paid time off
- Shift meals
What We're Looking For
- 3+ years of general manager or senior management experience in a full-service restaurant and bar
- Demonstrated P&L responsibility with a track record of hitting food, beverage, and labor cost targets
- Proven ability to recruit, hire, and retain quality staff in a competitive labor market
- Strong working knowledge of POS systems, inventory control, and scheduling software
- Florida ServSafe Manager certification and alcohol server training (or ability to obtain immediately)
- High-volume and seasonal experience strongly preferred; waterfront, beach, or tourist-market experience a major plus
- Available nights, weekends, and holidays — this is a hospitality operation, not a desk job
- Calm under pressure, hands-on, and comfortable being the most accountable person in the building
To Apply
Send your resume and a short note about the highest-volume operation you've run, the cost targets you were held to, and whether you hit them.
All inquiries are confidential.
Equal opportunity employer.
Pay: $65,000.00 - $85,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
