General Manager

General Manager - Carlsbad

Compensation: $75,000 + Bonus 

Reports To: District Manager 

Join the Flock! 🦜

Parakeet Café was built on a simple belief: real, nourishing food can transform lives. Parakeet Café was created to share vibrant, wholesome meals made with intention. Every plate is meant to feel good, taste great, and bring people together.

Our belief shows up in every dish we prepare. We source ethical, local, organic ingredients. We cook with avocado, coconut, or olive oil only, never seed oils. Nothing is fried or microwaved. We never use additives, fillers, or gums. Everything is made in-house daily, because we believe in always serving what we'd feel good giving our own families.

What guides us:

1. Guest experience is our #1 priority. Hospitality is more than service. It's the warmth, care, and curiosity we bring to every person who walks in.
2. Personal integrity. We do what's right even when no one's watching. Trust is built in the small choices, and we protect it every day.
3. Community is essential. We know our regulars by name, and we treat every guest like they're already one.
4. Overall quality. We hold the same standards for every pour, every plate, and every choice, because our guests feel it in everything we do.
5. Provide wellness after all. We take care of our guests, ourselves, and each other, on and off the clock, because we can't bring our best if we're running empty.

When you join Parakeet, you're joining a team that cares deeply about hospitality, quality, wellness, and creating an experience that makes someone's day a little better.

About the Role 

As a General Manager, you are the leader and owner of the day-to-day cafe experience. You'll be responsible for building and developing a strong team, delivering exceptional hospitality, maintaining operational excellence, and driving the overall performance of your cafe.

We're looking for a hands-on leader who leads by example, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and knows how to balance taking care of people with achieving strong business results.

What You’ll Do

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing cafe team while creating a positive, accountable, and supportive culture.
• Deliver an exceptional guest experience by leading from the floor and ensuring warm, consistent hospitality.
• Oversee day-to-day cafe operations and ensure smooth, efficient service.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, presentation, cleanliness, organization, and safety.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, inventory, ordering, and other operational needs of the café.
• Monitor key performance indicators, including sales, labor, food costs, and waste, and take action to improve results.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, workplace safety, Company policies, and applicable employment requirements.
• Partner with District manager and HR on hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee development.
• Build relationships with guests and the local community while representing the Parakeet brand.
• Take ownership of your cafe's overall performance, identifying opportunities to improve the team, guest experience, and business.

Experience 

• 3+ years of restaurant, hospitality, or food-service management experience preferred.
• Previous General Manager or comparable leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, including labor management, inventory, food cost, scheduling, and guest service.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to make sound decisions and remain composed in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on leadership style and willingness to jump in wherever needed.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards.
• Experience with restaurant POS, scheduling, and operational systems preferred.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule based on business needs, including weekends and holidays.

If you're an experienced hospitality leader who loves developing people, creating memorable guest experiences, and running a strong operation, we'd love to hear from you 🩷

Benefits

• Competitive salary + bonus opportunity  
• 2 Weeks Paid Vacation 
• Paid Sick Time
• 401(k) 
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance 
• Employee meal and discount benefits 
• Opportunities for growth and development 
• A people first culture centered around hospitality, wellness, quality, and community