General Manager in Palo Alto, California at Starbird Chicken

Who We Are:

At Starbird, we’re not just serving crispy, crave-worthy chicken — we’re redefining what fast casual can be. We believe food should be fresh, flavorful, and feel-good — and the same goes for how we treat our people. As a rapidly scaling restaurant brand expanding corporate and franchise locations, our people systems must be as strong as our food and hospitality. We are building operational infrastructure that is compliant, data-driven, scalable, and designed for long-term growth.

Role Overview
Lead your restaurant like a CEO as Starbird continues rapid growth. You are the operational engine and hospitality leader, responsible for overall performance, guest satisfaction, team development, and strong financial results. This is a build-and-scale role requiring operational rigor, internal controls, adaptability, and a balance of compliance and exceptional guest experience.

Who You Are
• Hospitality-driven, people-focused, and energized by fast-paced restaurant environments
• Passionate about great food and the guest experience
• Strong sales mindset with the ability to upsell and drive revenue
• Experienced leader with deep skills in coaching, development, and team motivation
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and disciplined in process and data
• Calm, decisive, ethical, and solutions-oriented under pressure
• Comfortable in high-growth environments and committed to continuous improvement
• Collaborative partner across Operations, Finance, Legal, People & Culture, IT, and Marketing

What You’ll Do

Guest Experience & Service
• Ensure high standards for food, beverage, hospitality, and service recovery
• Maintain strong floor presence, personalize guest interactions, and anticipate guest trends

Financial & Administrative Management
• Uphold company policies and all regulatory requirements
• Manage Harri and Paylocity; ensure accurate timekeeping and acknowledgements
• Oversee cash handling, credit controls, and inventory management
• Own P&L performance, revenue growth, cost control, and profitability

Restaurant Operations
• Lead daily restaurant, catering, and third-party delivery operations
• Ensure accurate staffing, clear scheduling, and consistent service standards
• Maintain inventory procedures and drive operational improvements

Leadership & Team Development
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and mentor managers and team members
• Build bench strength and deliver ongoing coaching and training
• Ensure accurate timecards, clear schedules, and effective labor management

Sales & Marketing Support
• Execute local and national promotions, events, and limited-time offers
• Support group business, site visits, and client interactions
• Elevate guest satisfaction through team development and product quality

Cross-Functional Partnership
• Collaborate with Marketing, Technology, Culinary, People & Culture, and Finance
• Execute brand initiatives, LTO rollouts, training programs, and technology enhancements

• Background in hospitality, service, and people/metrics management
• 7+ years managing fast-paced, growth-driven restaurants
• 5+ years hiring, developing, and managing teams
• Proven ability to grow business and build guest loyalty
• Experience with restaurant software (Harri, Paylocity, OPUS, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office)
• Experience implementing complex systems and processes
• Strong communication skills; Spanish bilingual a major plus
• Ability to multitask, adapt quickly, and deliver operational excellence