Assistant Restaurant Manager

About the role

The Assistant Restaurant Manager supports the Restaurant Manager in delivering smooth, profitable daily operations in a high‑volume hospitality environment. This role combines front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house oversight, ensuring excellent service, food quality, and compliance with safety standards.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Restaurant Manager with overall daily restaurant operations.
• Manage shifts to ensure efficient and profitable service delivery.
• Supervise front‑of‑house and kitchen teams, allocating duties and monitoring performance.
• Maintain food quality, presentation, portion control, and service standards.
• Monitor stock levels, place orders, conduct stock counts and minimise wastage.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, health and safety policies.
• Handle customer complaints professionally and resolve service issues promptly.
• Oversee cash handling, cash‑ups, reconciliations, banking and POS accuracy.
• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, scheduling, training and staff development.
• Track labour costs and support achievement of sales and profitability targets.
• Prepare daily operational reports and communicate issues to management.
• Maintain a clean, organised and fully operational restaurant environment.

Required profile

• Grade 12 / Matric or equivalent qualification.
• 1–2 years of experience in an assistant manager, shift supervisor, team leader or similar role.
• Previous experience in a high‑volume restaurant, hospitality or quick‑service restaurant environment.
• Proven ability to lead, motivate and manage teams during busy periods.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, service standards and shift management.
• Experience with stock ordering, inventory control, stock takes and wastage management.
• Knowledge of food preparation, quality control and portion management.
• Experience handling cash‑ups, reconciliations, banking and POS systems.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, hygiene and occupational health and safety regulations.
• Excellent customer service, problem‑solving and multitasking abilities.

Required skills

• POS systems
• Inventory control
• Stock ordering
• Cash handling
• Cash‑up reconciliation
• Banking procedures
• Food safety compliance
• Health and safety regulations