Restaurant General Manager - Kissaki - C2i

Kissaki is a Japanese restaurant rooted in the traditions of omakase sushi and kaiseki, dedicated to sharing authentic Japanese cuisine through mindful sourcing, seasonality, and uncompromising quality. Across our omakase counters, dining rooms, and outdoor spaces, we deliver a refined sensory experience backed by the highest standards of service, knowledge, and hospitality.

General Description

Responsible for leading the restaurant team in successfully running a Kissaki restaurant, managing the day-to-day restaurant operations and maintaining Kissaki quality and standards in all areas.

Requirements

• Oversee front-of-house operations to deliver an efficient, polished and hospitable experience for every guest
• Lead by example as a role model for exceptional service, continuously elevating standards and embodying hospitality in daily actions
• Act as a cultural and brand ambassador for Kissaki, both within and outside the restaurant
• Guide guests through the food and beverage menus, recommending courses and pairings, explaining off-menu dishes and answering questions on preparation
• Ensure the dining room is fully set up and stocked before and throughout service
• Ensure all Kissaki food and beverage recipes and procedures are followed to maintain the highest and most consistent quality standards
• Oversee weekly food and beverage inventories, ensuring all purchases and cost of goods remain within approved budgets
• Manage staffing levels in line with business volumes, keeping labour costs within monthly budgets
• Work closely with back-of-house leadership to resolve operational issues efficiently
• Promote a safe working environment through training and daily oversight, identifying and resolving hazards and ensuring all incidents are documented in line with company procedures and UAE health and safety regulations
• Maintain and update opening and closing checklists, and oversee end-of-shift breakdown and cleaning of the dining room
• Pursue ongoing learning and development to keep knowledge and skills current

People Management

• Recruit, train, coach, manage and evaluate front-of-house team members
• Prepare and manage the FOH schedule
• Monitor, coach and motivate the management and service teams to consistently meet Kissaki's service and hospitality standards
• Lead regular team communication, including pre-shift briefings, meetings and training sessions
• Ensure all new joiners are fully trained on restaurant expectations, steps of service, menu knowledge and dish presentation
• Maintain professional relationships with the team, upholding all standards of conduct set out in the Kissaki Employee Handbook

Essential Functions

• Ability to lead, coach, inspire and motivate a large team
• Strong ownership mindset with a sense of urgency and initiative
• Ability to resolve issues promptly, professionally and with sound judgement
• Ability to delegate effectively and follow through
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and use time efficiently
• Ability to work independently and adapt to a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while maintaining professionalism
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, according to business needs
• Proficiency in MS Office and restaurant systems (email, spreadsheets, invoicing, POS)
• Consistent adherence to Kissaki's grooming and hygiene standards, attendance requirements and all HR policies

Work Experience Requirements

• 5+ years experience as a Manager of a fine dining restaurant
• Experience using Restaurant 365 and Toast, preferred
• Experience with Japanese cuisine preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and Google Suite