Restaurant Manager – HopCat in Ann Arbor, Michigan at Project BarFly

Restaurant Manager – HopCat

Full-Time | Competitive Salary + Quarterly Bonus + Benefits

Lead a Restaurant. Own a Business. Build Your Career.

At HopCat, we believe great restaurants are built by leaders who take ownership.

Our Restaurant Managers don't just manage shifts—they own a department, develop people, improve systems, and drive measurable business results. Every manager is entrusted with an Area of Responsibility (AOR) that allows them to specialize, make an impact, and prepare for future leadership opportunities.

If you're looking for a role where you'll have real influence over your restaurant—not just another set of keys—we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

As a Restaurant Manager, you'll work alongside the General Manager to lead daily operations while taking ownership of one key area of the business.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading daily restaurant operations and peak-volume shifts
• Hiring, coaching, developing, and recognizing team members
• Delivering outstanding guest experiences
• Managing labor, staffing, and financial performance
• Maintaining operational excellence, food safety, and cleanliness
• Driving accountability through coaching and follow-up
• Using operational metrics to improve results
• Building future leaders within your department
• Leading one assigned Area of Responsibility

Area of Responsibility (AOR) Ownership

Each Restaurant Manager owns one of the restaurant's core business functions. While every manager supports the entire operation, each becomes the subject matter expert and leader for one department. Areas of Responsibility include:

• Hospitality Manager - Own the guest experience from arrival to departure by leading service standards, hospitality coaching, mystery shop performance, guest recovery, and online reputation management.
• Server Manager - Develop the server team through scheduling, staffing, quarterly one-on-ones, department meetings, hospitality coaching, mystery shop action plans, and accountability for maintaining a 4.6+ Google rating and outstanding service execution.
• Front Desk Manager - Lead the host team while owning reservations, waitlist accuracy, front desk organization, guest flow, scheduling, staffing, and first impressions.
• Bar & Beverage Program Manager - Lead one of the industry's most respected craft beer and beverage programs by developing bartenders, managing staffing, controlling beer and liquor costs, executing beverage standards, and maintaining bar excellence.
• Beer Program Manager - Own weekly beer ordering, beer education, craft beer promotions, inventory communication, and ongoing team education through weekly beer pre-shift meetings.
• Training Manager - Build great teams through structured onboarding, weekly training communication, ExpandShare completion, Restaurant365 training documentation, and ongoing coaching that keeps every team member improving.
• Events & Reservations Manager - Coordinate private events and large-party reservations from inquiry through execution while ensuring exceptional guest communication, flawless event execution, and strong financial performance.
• Marketing Manager - Grow your restaurant's presence in the community by maintaining in-store marketing, building relationships with local businesses, coordinating fundraising partnerships, and executing local marketing initiatives.
• Off-Premise Manager - Own the takeout and delivery business by improving order accuracy, organizing expo operations, coaching team members, and enhancing the off-premise guest experience.
• Rewards Manager - Lead guest loyalty initiatives by increasing Rewards participation, coaching servers and bartenders, monitoring enrollment performance, and ensuring promotional execution throughout the restaurant.
• Utility Manager - Lead the Prep, Dish, and Utility teams by maintaining staffing, scheduling, training completion, sanitation standards, and operational support systems that keep the kitchen running efficiently.

Leadership Expectations

Every Restaurant Manager is expected to:

• Write weekly schedules for their department
• Evaluate Top Performers and Development Opportunities
• Maintain proper staffing levels and hiring plans
• Conduct quarterly one-on-one conversations
• Lead recurring department meetings
• Establish weekly team focuses and action plans
• Monitor department-specific performance metrics
• Complete operational audits and follow through on improvements
• Develop future leaders within their department
• Partner with the General Manager to improve overall restaurant performance

What We're Looking For

• Previous restaurant management experience preferred
• Experience leading high-volume teams
• Strong communication and coaching skills
• Passion for hospitality and developing people
• Organized, accountable, and results-driven
• Comfortable making decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Financial awareness, including labor and cost management
• Availability to work nights, weekends, and holidays

Why HopCat?

• Real Ownership - Every manager leads a department—not just a shift.
• Career Growth - Our management structure is designed to prepare leaders for Senior Manager, General Manager, and Area Director opportunities.
• Leadership Development - You'll receive regular coaching, leadership training, and opportunities to expand your responsibilities as you grow.

Competitive Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Quarterly performance bonus
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401(k)
• Dining discounts
• Leadership development and ongoing training
• Internal promotion opportunities

Our Values

Everything we do is built around five core values:

• Respect
• Accountability
• Passion
• Teamwork
• Integrity

If you're ready to lead people, own results, and grow your career with one of the Midwest's premier restaurant brands, we'd love to hear from you.

Better Every Day. Stronger Together. Lead Where It Counts.

Apply today and start building your future with HopCat.

BarFly is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We know that diverse, talented and dedicated individuals are critical to our success, so we look for veterans and people from various backgrounds not just because it's the right thing to do, but also because it's good for our business. We accept, celebrate and support the differences of people because it makes our team, the experience at our restaurants and the communities in which we operate better.

#MGMT