Job Title: General/Bar Manager
Location: 200 S. Wacker Drive – Downtown Chicago
Schedule: Monday–Friday | Operating Hours 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | No Weekends or Late Nights
Salary: $70,000 Annually + Quarterly Bonus Potential
Bonus Potential: 5% of their salary broken into 4 quarters. The following measurables will be reviewed at the end of every quarter to determine payment. (25% for each category).
1. Sales vs budget
2. COGS vs. budget (1% or lower)
3. Labor vs. budget (1% or lower)
4. Staff retention – Turnover rate below 25%.
Role Overview
As a Food for Thought General Manager, you are the driving force behind the overall success of the food and beverage operations. You are an experienced, energetic, and hospitality-driven General Bar Manager to oversee all food and beverage operations for our downtown café/bar concept featuring curated cocktails, wine, beer, and elevated light bar fare. This role is ideal for a hands-on leader who thrives in a polished, fast-paced hospitality environment while maintaining exceptional guest service, operational excellence, and team development.
As the General Bar Manager, you will lead both Front of House and Back of House operations, oversee beverage programming, manage daily café/bar service, and partner closely with culinary leadership to execute food and beverage initiatives. You will also drive sales through creative beverage specials, seasonal offerings, and guest engagement while ensuring profitability, staff retention, and exceptional client satisfaction.
You will partner closely with the Regional Manager and the culinary staff to ensure 100% execution and compliance of all new food and beverage menu initiatives and promotional rollouts from the Chef’s Committee geared to your specific location, while actively monitoring financial performance including expenses, sales growth, and profit margins. You will also be expected to initiate beverage specials based on your bar experience
In collaboration with the Divisional Catering Manager, you will ensure seamless daily catering operations and flawless event execution, maintaining complete client and guest satisfaction.
You will stay ahead of industry trends, bringing fresh ideas and creative inspiration to the location by leveraging social media, beverage innovation, and industry resources to keep the concept relevant and competitive.
As a hands-on leader, you will oversee both Front of House and Back of House teams, fostering a culture centered on accountability, engagement, and service excellence. You will prioritize
employee retention by developing clear career paths, structured training programs, and defined growth timelines for your team.-
Responsibilities
Leadership & Operations
- Oversee all daily café and bar operations during hours of service
- Lead, coach, schedule, and develop bartenders, servers, and support staff
- Foster a culture focused on accountability, hospitality, engagement, and teamwork
- Develop employee career paths, training schedules, and growth timelines
- Ensure high standards for guest service, beverage quality, food presentation, and cleanliness
- Measure customer satisfaction and resolve concerns promptly and professionally
Beverage & Food Program
- Create and implement beverage specials and seasonal cocktail features
- Collaborate with culinary leadership to execute all menu rollouts and promotional initiatives
- Maintain consistency and quality of light food offerings and bar fare
- Stay current on hospitality, beverage, and food trends through social media and industry resources
Financial & Administrative Management
- Manage inventory, ordering, vendor relationships, and cost controls
- Monitor Food, Labor, and Direct Costs against budgets and forecasts
- Maintain all SOPs, HACCP standards, and regulatory compliance
- Ensure compliance with all health department, liquor, and food safety regulations
Client & Event Coordination
- Partner with Catering and Conference Center teams to ensure flawless event execution
- Act as liaison with clients to ensure expectations and service standards are consistently met
- Coordinate happy hours, corporate gatherings, and downtown hospitality events
Featured Light Bar Fare Menu
- Our concept focuses on elevated small plates and shareable items designed for downtown professionals and after-work clientele.
- Sample Menu Offerings
Required Qualifications
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5+ years of food service or bar management experience in high-volume environments
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Strong knowledge of cocktails, wine, beer, and food pairings
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Financial expertise managing food, labor, and operating costs
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Experience managing both beverage and light kitchen service preferred
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Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills
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Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced hospitality setting
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Professional appearance and guest-focused attitude
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Familiarity with POS systems, scheduling, and inventory software
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Valid Food Service Manager Certification and Food Allergen Certification required
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Illinois BASSET Certification required
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledgeable of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership technique, production methods, and management of people and resources.
- Outgoing, dependable, and able to deliver top notch customer service.
- Supporting client relations and leadership skills.
- Well-versed leader who understands all aspects of food service management.
Why We’re the Leaders
- Excellent training
- Employee Referral bonuses
- Flexible scheduling
- Career advancement opportunities
- Competitive Pay
- Anniversary Milestone Incentives
Company Benefits & Perks
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Paid Time Off
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Health, Dental and Vision Insurance – Includes Spouse and Domestic Partner Coverage
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Health Provider - Blue Cross Blue Shield
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Dental Provider: Guardian
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Vision Provider: VSP
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Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
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Life Insurance
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Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) & Critical Illness Insurance
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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Mental Health, Relationship Conflicts, Child and Eldercare, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss
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Assistance for you and household members
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(3) In Person Sessions
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Unlimited phone access
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Parental Leave – Equal benefits to Mothers and Fathers
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401K Retirement Plan
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FFT University - Over 70 courses designed to enhance your skills in life and on the job to help your career growth.
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Employee Meal Plan
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Employee Discounts (Pet Insurance, Entertainment, Travel, Company Discounts, and much more).
Company Values & Culture
- Collaboration & Open Communication
- Diverse, Inclusive, Safe, and Motivating
- Our Triple Bottom Line – People, Product and Planet
- A Net Positive Organization
Grow with us! At Food For Thought, instruction, advice, and assistance are always readily available, which is why our average tenure is 6 years. The U.S. average is 4.2 years, while the Hospitality industry average is only 2.1 years!
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, move, reach, grab, and stand for long periods of time. As well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be required to lift and carry items of 40+ pounds for a moderate distance.
EEO Statement
Food For Thought provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
E-Verify Participation
Food For Thought participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.
Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.
For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.
