Restaurant Manager

Job Overview

Sourdough & Co. is a fast-casual restaurant known for artisan sandwiches served on authentic San Francisco sourdough bread. Our Progress Ridge Townsquare restaurant is the first Portland metro location and is proudly locally owned and operated.

The Role:
We are seeking an experienced Restaurant Manager to support pre-launch activities and lead daily operations at our brand-new Progress Ridge location. We want to build a positive, team-oriented culture rooted in integrity, mutual respect, and community value. We are looking for a great human being and a hands-on leader who treats people with care, helps create an environment where both guests and team members feel valued, and ensures every shift runs smoothly with a sharp focus on hospitality, safety, and food quality.

• Schedule & Hours: This is a full-time role averaging 35–40 hours per week once operational (with occasional overtime during our initial launch months). Hours during initial training and launch prep will start as part-time before transitioning to full-time closer to our official opening.
• Growth & Development Potential: This role offers direct path opportunities to grow into a broader operational leadership position with increased responsibility over time as our business scales and consistent performance is demonstrated.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Compensation: $24.00 – $28.00 per hour (DOE) plus eligibility for bonus incentives that reward operational excellence, leadership, and restaurant success.
• Lifestyle-Friendly Operating Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:00 am–8:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am–6:00 pm. (Note: hours subject to change based on business needs).
• Healthcare Benefits: Medical and health benefit options available for eligible employees.
• Free Shift Meals: Enjoy a complimentary meal on us during your shift.
• Cultural Impact: A hands-on leadership role where you have the direct opportunity to shape the culture and standards of a brand-new restaurant from day one.
• Supportive & Growth-Oriented Culture: We value attitude and developing skills that extend far beyond the kitchen. We believe accountability goes both ways—ownership is fully committed to upholding the same high standards of respect, integrity, and community that we ask of our team.

What You'll Do

Lead Restaurant Operations

• Hospitality & Quality Assurance: Set, uphold, and coach the team on clear hospitality and brand standards across all shifts. Monitor the guest experience, proactively address issues, and step in directly to resolve escalated customer concerns. Ensure service quality and store cleanliness remain top priorities alongside speed, accuracy, and cost control.
• Operations Management & Accountability: Serve as the primary on-site leader responsible for day-to-day restaurant operations and maintaining a safe, productive workplace. Operate as the lead decision-maker, resolving daily operational issues independently to ensure consistent performance without direct Owner involvement.
• Inventory Management: Manage and monitor restaurant inventory end-to-end, including ordering, receiving, unloading, stocking, labeling, and rotation to ensure tight operational efficiency at all times.
• Hands-On Leadership: Lead by example by participating directly in food preparation and customer service activities. Maintain the agility and willingness to step into any station or conduct any task needed to keep the restaurant running smoothly.
• Financial Awareness & Business Growth: Monitor daily sales and key operating metrics (labor, food, supplies) to identify trends and reduce waste. Partner with the Owner to support restaurant promotions, catering, and store initiatives to drive sales and overall business growth.

Lead & Manage the Team

• Leadership & Management: Build and lead a dependable team, setting clear expectations and empowering members to take ownership of their roles. Supervise day-to-day staff activities, including task assignments (cleaning, line duties, opening/closing). Monitor, mentor, and provide real-time coaching. Address and document performance concerns promptly, partnering with the Owner on serious disciplinary actions or termination decisions.
• Hiring & Training Execution: Support recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding efforts, providing input on hiring decisions in partnership with the Owner. Execute and reinforce company training processes to ensure team members meet performance standards; identify training gaps and partner with the Owner to improve training materials.
• Scheduling & Compliance: Prepare and manage staff schedules using company tools, aligning with labor targets and business needs established by the Owner. Review and process team time-off requests while ensuring proper shift coverage and compliance with applicable labor regulations

Maintain Food Safety & Operational Standards

• Safety, Compliance & Inspections: Ensure full restaurant compliance with all OSHA workplace safety rules and local food safety regulations by conducting routine safety checks. Evaluate food safety inspection results, promptly identifying and correcting workplace safety hazards, and leading activities to improve daily food safety practices.
• Team Safety & Training: Train staff on all workplace safety and food safety requirements. Monitor, reinforce, and ensure consistent team compliance and adherence to company safety standards.

Other Responsibilities

• Brand Representation: Represent the restaurant’s values and standards through professional and respectful interactions with staff, guests, and business partners at all times.
• Operational Partnership: Actively partner with the Owner to identify opportunities to improve restaurant efficiency, team performance, and customer satisfaction. Assist in developing, refining, and documenting operational procedures, including workplace safety, food safety compliance, and training processes.
• General Adaptability: Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Owner.

What We're Looking For

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

• Compliance & Age Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age to safely operate all kitchen machinery and satisfy state legal regulations for restaurant operations and supervisory oversight.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of restaurant management experience with demonstrated success leading a team. Experience in a high-volume, fast-casual, QSR, or fast-paced environment preferred.
• Required Certifications: Valid Oregon Food Handler Card required upon hire. Food Protection Manager Certification required within 30 days of hire.
• Schedule Flexibility: Availability to work a flexible schedule, including opening/closing shifts, evenings, weekends, and holidays, based on business needs.

Core Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Operations & Financial Awareness: Strong knowledge of restaurant operating procedures. Ability to follow budgets, interpret sales and expense reports, and translate operational data into clear recommendations for the Owner.
• Autonomous Leadership & Execution: Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and make sound decisions with minimal supervision. Demonstrates a "lead-by-example" mentality to inspire performance and stay calm, organized, and solution-oriented under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Compliance, Equipment & Safety: Knowledge of personnel policies, labor laws, OSHA safety rules, and local food safety regulations. Ability to safely operate, and train staff on, restaurant equipment (including but not limited to commercial ovens, meat slicers, and food preparation machinery) in strict accordance with safety standards.
• Effective Communication & Collaboration: Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively train team members, connect with guests, resolve conflict, and maintain absolute transparency with ownership.
• Technology Proficiency: Comfortable using and navigating modern restaurant technology, including point-of-sale (POS) systems, scheduling software, and digital communication tools for daily operations.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Physical Mobility & Stamina: Requires continuous mobility to move throughout the facility and stand or walk for extended periods across a shift. Frequent physical movement is necessary, including bending, reaching, stooping, and walking about the restaurant to assist guests, coordinate with teammates, and manage operations.
• Lifting Demands: Must be able to regularly lift, move, and/or carry up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift, push, pull, and/or carry up to 50 pounds (such as when receiving inventory, restocking heavy food supplies, or organizing storage areas).
• Pace & Environment: Work is performed primarily in a high-energy, fast-paced indoor restaurant environment. The role is heavily oriented toward guest service and is subject to frequent work interruptions.
• Mental Resilience: Must be able to work calmly, effectively, and professionally under the pressure of continual guest and staff interactions, with a consistent expectation to maintain fast order turnaround times while ensuring high food quality, operational standards, and order accuracy.
• Sensory Requirements: Continuous talking, hearing, and near-vision processing are required to safely communicate with guests, direct team members, monitor kitchen safety, and utilize restaurant technology platforms.

Apply Today

If you’re passionate about leadership, developing high-performing teams, and delivering exceptional guest experiences, we’d love to hear from you.

Click Apply Now to start the process. To keep things completely transparent, here is a quick look at the 5 short sections you’ll complete:

1. General Info: Your name, phone number, and email so we can easily reach out.

2. Tell Us About Yourself: A mix of quick background questions and a few open-ended questions where you can feel free to be as brief or detailed as you’d like.

3. Scheduling & Availability: A snapshot of your general availability (you will have space to elaborate on this later).

4. Work Experience: A quick overview of your background (company, role, and dates). Note: If you are sending a resume, you are welcome to keep this section brief, or skip this section altogether.

5. Your Final Thoughts: A dedicated space for you to share anything else you’d like us to know, provide context on your background, or elaborate on your scheduling availability.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sourdough & Co. is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in the workplace.