Assistant General Manager — Pizzeria | Real Path to GM in 6–12 Months
Eleni's Pizza Works is a busy, independent, family-style pizzeria in Sarasota/Bradenton area near SRQ Airport. We do real food, real volume, and we treat our team like family. We're looking for an Assistant General Manager (AGM) who wants to grow into a General Manager role and eventually run the whole operation. This is not a "fill the schedule and go home" job — it's a launch pad for someone who wants ownership-level responsibility and the pay that comes with it.
Why this role is different: We're a single, independent location — not a corporate machine. That means you'll learn every part of the business: the line, the front, the numbers, the ordering, the hiring. If you've been an Assistant Manager at a chain and you're tired of waiting years for a promotion that never comes, this is your shot. We promote on performance, not on politics.
What you'll do (Day One):
- Run shifts: open, close, manage the floor, and keep ticket times tight during the rush.
- Work every station. This is non-negotiable. You must be willing and able to jump on the pizza station, the grill/fryer, expedite orders, run the front counter, and yes — wash dishes when we're slammed and someone calls out. We all do it, including ownership. If you think you're "above" any station, this is not the job for you.
- Coach the team on speed, quality, and portion control.
- Handle customer issues with a smile and make them want to come back.
- Help control food cost and labor cost — you'll learn to read the numbers and act on them.
As you grow into GM (6–12 months):
- Own the weekly schedule and labor budget.
- Run inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships.
- Hire, train, and develop the team.
- Own the store's P&L with the owner — and earn a monthly profit bonus on top of salary.
What we're looking for (Experience):
- 2+ years of management experience in a chain pizzeria — Domino's, Pizza Hut, Marco's Pizza, Papa John's, Hungry Howie's, MOD Pizza, Blaze, Little Caesars, or similar — as a Shift Manager, Assistant Manager, or Assistant GM. (Independent pizzeria management experience also strongly considered.)
- Hands-on experience on a pizza station (stretching/dressing/oven) — required.
- Comfort with a POS system (Toast, Square, HungerRush, or similar) and basic understanding of food cost % and labor cost %.
- A track record of being the person who steps onto the line when the team is short — not the person who calls a district manager.
- Experience with delivery and takeout operations (we run ~⅓ dine-in, ⅓ takeout, ⅓ delivery).
What makes you a strong fit:
- You started in a chain (and learned the systems) but you want more autonomy and a faster path up.
- ServSafe Manager Certification (or willing to get it within 30 days).
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a big plus (great for working with the kitchen team).
- You live within ~25 minutes of the restaurant and have reliable transportation.
The must-haves (please don't apply without these):
- Willing and eager to work ALL stations — pizza, grill/fryer, front, expo, and dish.
- Available 5 days a week, including Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
- Available to work both lunch and dinner (we're open 10 AM–9 PM, 7 days a week).
- Reliable, on time, and ready to lead by example.
Compensation & Growth:
- AGM starting pay: $45,000–$50,000/year (or hourly equivalent depending on experience).
- Promotion to GM (performance-based, typically 6–12 months): $50,000–$55,000 base + monthly profit bonus (realistic total $55,000–$62,000/year).
- Paid time off after 90 days.
- Health insurance stipend (for GM role).
- Free shift meal.
- Most importantly: a real, written growth path — we'll define your GM milestones on Day One.
Schedule: Full-time, 45–50 hours/week. Open availability required, including weekends and holidays.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: $45,000.00 – $62,000.00 per year (AGM start to GM with bonus)
How to apply: Apply through Indeed with your resume. In your message, tell us:
- Which pizzeria(s) you've managed and the store's approximate weekly sales.
- Why you want to move from a chain to an independent restaurant.
- The last time you jumped on a station to save a shift — what happened?
We read every application personally. The best candidates hear back fast.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $54,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
