General Manager - Rosa Azul in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey at CONNELL FOUNDATION FOOD GROUP LLC

Rosa Azul brings the vibrant spirit of Mexican cuisine to life through bold flavors, thoughtfully crafted cocktails, and an inviting atmosphere where great food, genuine connections, and memorable experiences come together.

As part of Table & Banter Hospitality, we're seeking an exceptional General Manager with proven restaurant opening experience to help bring this exciting new concept to life. We're looking for a passionate, hands-on leader who knows what it takes to build a restaurant from the ground up, assemble and inspire an outstanding team, build a strong culture, and deliver an exceptional hospitality experience from day one.

This is more than opening a restaurant. It's an opportunity to build something truly extraordinary.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Lead the successful opening of Rosa Azul by overseeing pre-opening preparations, recruitment, training, operational readiness, and laying a strong foundation for long-term success.
• Build, inspire, and develop an exceptional team across front-of-house and back-of-house operations, creating a culture of hospitality, accountability, and collaboration.
• Take full ownership of restaurant operations and financial performance, including P&L management, revenue growth, labor costs, food and beverage costs, and profitability.
• Create an extraordinary guest experience through elevated service standards, thoughtful hospitality, and a consistent commitment to excellence.
• Partner closely with the Executive Chef to ensure culinary excellence, menu consistency, food quality, and seamless kitchen operations.
• Oversee food and beverage operations, including a distinctive cocktail program featuring tequila, mezcal, and thoughtfully crafted beverages.
• Establish and maintain effective operating procedures, staffing plans, scheduling practices, purchasing, inventory controls, and performance standards.
• Drive sales and build lasting guest relationships through community engagement, local marketing, and exceptional hospitality.
• Lead by example with a visible, hands-on presence, coaching and developing managers and team members while fostering accountability, professional growth, and a high-performing culture.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, responsible alcohol service, sanitation, and workplace safety while leading with integrity and sound judgment.

The Leader We're Looking For

• 5+ years of progressive restaurant management experience, including 2–3 years as a General Manager or in a comparable leadership role.
• Proven success leading high-volume, full-service restaurant operations, preferably in upscale casual dining.
• Demonstrated experience opening new restaurants, including pre-opening planning, team building, training, and operational execution, strongly preferred.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including P&L management, budgeting, labor planning, inventory management, and cost controls.
• Proven ability to lead front-of-house and back-of-house teams, with a strong focus on collaboration, accountability, and operational excellence.
• A hands-on, engaging leadership style with the ability to recruit, inspire, develop, and retain exceptional teams.
• A genuine passion for hospitality, culinary excellence, and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Strong knowledge of food and beverage operations, including cocktail programs; familiarity with Mexican cuisine, tequila, and mezcal preferred.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills; sound judgment; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working within a multi-concept hospitality organization preferred.
• ServSafe Manager certification, or the ability to obtain it, along with responsible alcohol service certification in accordance with company requirements.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays based on business needs.

Supporting Your Success

• Choice of Company-subsidized medical plan options
• Generous employer pension contribution
• Paid time off program and paid holidays
• Employee dining and hospitality perks across The Park
• Career growth opportunities within a dynamic and evolving organization

Rosa Azul offers a chance to build something extraordinary from the start. We're looking for a passionate leader who brings energy, creativity, and genuine hospitality to everything they do. This is your chance to lead the opening of an exciting new concept, build an exceptional team, and establish a culture where culinary excellence, memorable guest experiences, and outstanding hospitality come together. We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about how your leadership, experience, and vision will help bring Rosa Azul to life.

While we leverage technology to support our recruiting process, every application is personally reviewed by a member of our Human Resources team because we recognize that behind every résumé is a person, a career journey, and a genuine interest in joining our organization.