General Manager

CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH General Manager - Landmark Restaurant & Events Venue Multi-Revenue Hospitality Leadership | Ottawa-Ontario, Canada Location: Ottawa-Ontario, Canada Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Compensation: $80,000 - $90,000 per year + bonus, gratuities, incentives & benefits Team: ~40+ total Reports To: Ownership / Senior Operations Leadership Languages: English required; bilingual (English / French) a strong asset Function: Restaurant & Bar Operations / Events & Functions / P&L Leadership ABOUT OUR CLIENT Our client is an established, multi-revenue hospitality venue operating within a larger and well-resourced Canadian hospitality group. The property combines a high-volume dining room, a substantial bar and beverage programme, a generous seasonal patio, and a dedicated private-event floor — a mix that makes it both a year-round local favourite and a sought-after setting for functions and group dining. The business is backed by the infrastructure, standards, and career pathways of a growing multi-site operator, and is entering its next stage of commercial growth. It is now seeking a General Manager to take full ownership of the operation, its people, and its performance. The identity and precise location of our client will be shared with shortlisted candidates. This search is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis. THE OPPORTUNITY Mafra Talents is proud to partner with our client in the search for a strategic, commercially minded General Manager to lead the full operation of this flagship venue. This is a rare opportunity for a hospitality leader who can advance the business, driving commercial performance, growing the events and functions revenue stream, and leading a large, engaged team while preserving the character and guest experience that make the venue a destination. As General Manager, you will hold full accountability for the venue: its people, its performance, and its reputation. You will set the strategy, lead the team, and own the numbers, balancing day-to-day operational excellence with a longer-term plan to grow revenue, elevate the guest experience, and expand the events business. You will own the profitability of the operation and uphold the highest standards of service, quality, and safety. Our client is seeking a leader who thinks like an operator and an entrepreneur: someone who can read the market, build the events pipeline, develop a strong management bench, and take the business to its next stage of growth all with a positive, growth-oriented mindset. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic & Commercial Leadership • Hold full P&L accountability — revenue growth, cost control, and profitability across restaurant, bar, brewing/retail, and events. • Develop and execute a business plan to advance the venue, identifying opportunities to grow covers, average spend, and event revenue. • Analyze performance data to inform pricing, staffing, and operational decisions. • Partner with senior leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and growth initiatives. • Own compliance with all cost-control budgets, including but not limited to hourly labour, food cost, and beverage cost. Events & Functions • Grow and lead the private events, functions, and group-dining business, maximizing use of the venue's premium dedicated event space. • Build the sales pipeline from enquiry to execution, cultivating corporate, wedding, and community client relationships. • Ensure flawless planning and delivery of events alongside the culinary and service teams. Operations & Guest Experience • Lead all day-to-day operations to the highest standards of service, quality, consistency, and presentation. • Uphold and elevate the guest experience across a high-volume dining room, bar, and patio. • Drive and monitor the venue's guest satisfaction and online reputation, including OpenTable and Google review rankings, and act on the feedback they surface. • Ensure full compliance with health, safety, liquor (AGCO), and food-safety regulations at all times. • Use the venue's POS, scheduling, and inventory / cost-control systems to manage performance day to day, with the ability to get up to speed quickly on the group's platforms. Team Leadership • Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 40, building a strong management bench across front and back of house. • Own recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance management to drive engagement and retention. • Foster a culture of accountability, hospitality, and continuous improvement that reflects the venue's standards and community role. Community & Brand • Create, nurture, and grow community relationships that extend the impact and reach of the brand within its community. • Represent the venue as a visible local ambassador, building partnerships with neighbourhood businesses, community groups, and local organisations. • Protect and strengthen the venue's reputation as a destination and a community institution. QUALIFICATIONS • 5+ years of progressive hospitality leadership, ideally as a General Manager or senior operations leader in a high-volume restaurant, bar, or venue. • Demonstrated events and functions expertise — a venue, banquet, or events-led background is strongly preferred. • Strategic, commercially driven mindset with full P&L ownership and a proven track record of growing a business. • Proven ability to lead, develop, and retain large front- and back-of-house teams. • Proven ability to elevate the guest experience, measured by OpenTable and Google review rankings. • Proven ability to create, nurture, and grow community relationships that further extend the impact of a brand within its community. • Strong financial acumen — budgeting, forecasting, cost control, and data-informed decision-making. • Track record of delivering against cost-control budgets, including hourly labour, food cost, and beverage cost. • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with guests, clients, and teams. • Bilingual (English / French) is a strong asset in this market. • Smart Serve certification and sound knowledge of AGCO / liquor regulations. • Food Handler Certificate an asset; a diploma or degree in hospitality or business is a definite asset. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE — FIRST 12 MONTHS • Full command of the P&L, with clear cost controls and a credible plan to grow revenue across restaurant, bar, and events. • A visible increase in event enquiries, conversions, and function revenue against an agreed pipeline target. • A strengthened management bench, with defined roles, development plans, and reduced reliance on the GM for day-to-day cover. • Consistent service standards and guest satisfaction across peak volume periods. • Guest satisfaction and online rankings on OpenTable and Google trending measurably upward. • Hourly labour, food, and beverage costs consistently delivered on or under budget. • Full regulatory, safety, and food-safety compliance with no material findings. • Measurable improvement in team engagement and retention across front and back of house. WHY JOIN This is a rare chance to lead a landmark, high-profile venue with genuine autonomy — real budget, real accountability, and the backing of an established hospitality group that invests in its people. You will run a multi-revenue business, not a single dining room, and you will have the mandate to grow it. • Base salary of $80,000 - $90,000 plus bonus and incentive programme. • Comprehensive benefits plan. • Rapid career advancement opportunities within an established, growing hospitality group. • An unparalleled family-oriented culture. HOW TO APPLY This search is managed exclusively by Mafra Talents Inc. on behalf of our client, on a strictly confidential basis. All applications and conversations are handled in complete confidence, and only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Qualified candidates are invited to send their resume in confidence to Jose Mafra at [email protected], or apply through www.mafratalents.com. Mafra Talents is a boutique Canadian recruitment firm with global reach, dedicated to hand-picking top-tier international talent tailored to our clients' unique hiring needs. Our recruitment services are 100% free for candidates. We are an inclusive recruitment partner and welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background or identity. Accommodations are available on request throughout the selection process.

The General Manager is responsible for the full P&L, operational excellence, and strategic growth of a high-volume hospitality venue. Key duties include leading a team of 40+, expanding the events and functions revenue stream, and maintaining high guest satisfaction rankings.

Requires 5+ years of progressive hospitality leadership experience with a strong background in events and financial management. A bilingual candidate (English/French) with Smart Serve certification and a degree in hospitality or business is highly preferred.

• Bonus • Gratuities • Incentives • Comprehensive benefits plan

• BudgetingPreferred
• Cost ControlPreferred
• Operational ExcellencePreferred
• Relationship BuildingPreferred
• ForecastingPreferred

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• P&L Management
• Hospitality Leadership
• Event Planning
• Revenue Growth
• Cost Control
• Team Development
• Guest Experience Management
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Strategic Planning
• Staff Recruitment
• Relationship Building
• Compliance Management
• Operational Excellence
• Sales Pipeline Management
• Community Engagement

• Hospitality
• Food & Beverage
• Management & Leadership

Minimum education

Professional degree

Minimum experience

5+ years

Apply by

Mar 1, 2027

Posting language

English

Working hours

40 hours per week

Seniority

Executive

Application method

Direct apply is available