manager, restaurant

*Restaurant Manager*

Kerr Street Cafe ? Oakville, Ontario

*Full-Time | Permanent | On-Site*

Kerr Street Cafe is looking for an experienced, energetic, and people-focused RestaurantManager to join our growing team in the heart of Oakville's Kerr Village.

We are a busy brunch restaurant known for made-from-scratch food with great presentation and flavour, great coffee, warm hospitality, and a fast-paced service environment. Beyond the cafe, our business includes boutique catering, private events, and a growing retail marketplace featuring chef-made prepared foods amongst many other items.

We're looking for a leader who thrives in a busy restaurant, genuinely enjoys working with people, and can help us deliver an exceptional experience for our guests while supporting and developing our team.

*The Role*

As Restaurant Manager, working under the direction of the General Manager and owner, you will be responsible for the day-to-day front-of-house operation and will work closely with kitchen leadership team to maintain high standards of service, hospitality, cleanliness, and efficiency.

This is a hands-on management position. You'll be on the floor leading by example, supporting the team during service, solving problems as they arise, and ensuring guests leave with a great experience.

*Key Responsibilities*

• Lead and motivate the front-of-house team during daily service.
• Create a positive, professional, and team-oriented work environment.
• Oversee daily opening, service, side work, and closing procedures.
• Ensure consistently high standards of guest service and hospitality.
• Manage busy weekend and peak-period service while maintaining calm and organized operations.
• Coach, train, and develop servers / baristas.
• Assist with onboarding, scheduling, and performance management.
• -Coffee knowledge / experience is an asset.
• Monitor labour and staffing levels to ensure an efficient operation.
• Maintain strong communication between front-of-house and kitchen teams.
• Handle guest concerns professionally and turn challenging situations into positive experiences.
• Ensure food safety, cleanliness, health and safety, and restaurant standards are consistently followed.
• Oversee cash handling, POS procedures, daily deposits, and end-of-day reporting.
• Monitor inventory and supplies and communicate purchasing needs to management.
• Help maintain service standards across the cafe, catering, and retail operations.
• Support private events and catering functions when required.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, sales, efficiency, and the overall guest experience.
• Work with ownership and leadership to implement new systems, procedures, promotions, and initiatives.
• Lead by example and be willing to jump in wherever the team needs support.

*What We're Looking For*

• 3+ years of restaurant management or supervisory experience, preferably in a high-volume, full-service or upscale casual restaurant.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• A genuine passion for hospitality and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to remain calm, positive, and solutions-focused during busy services.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, labour management, and customer service.
• Experience with POS systems, cash handling, scheduling, and inventory is an asset.
• Food Handler Certification is preferred.
• Smart Serve certification is required if working with alcohol service.
• Ability to work weekends and holidays is a must.
• Must be comfortable working on your feet and being actively involved in restaurant operations.
• Strong English communication skills.

The Ideal Candidate

You are more than someone who can run a shift.

You're a leader, coach, problem-solver, and hospitality professional who understands that great restaurants are built around great people.

You know how to set expectations without micromanaging. You can motivate a team during