Restaurant General Manager – Afrikana Rushden Lakes
Salary: £40,000–£47,000 per annum (depending on experience) + Performance-Related Bonus
Location: Afrikana Rushden Lakes, Rushden, Northamptonshire
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Work Location: On-site
About Afrikana
CHICKEN DONE DIFFERENT!
Afrikana is a fast-growing restaurant brand bringing authentic, home-cooked African-inspired dishes to the high street, alongside a vibrant dining experience filled with culture, art, music and great food.
Born in the Midlands, Afrikana is expanding across the UK and internationally, bringing bold flavours, great hospitality and unforgettable experiences to its guests.
We are excited to be opening Afrikana Rushden Lakes, and we’re looking for an experienced, passionate and commercially driven Restaurant General Manager to lead our brand-new restaurant.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious hospitality professional to take ownership of a new restaurant, build and develop their own team, and play a key role in establishing Afrikana as a leading dining destination at Rushden Lakes.
The Role
As General Manager, you’ll run the restaurant like it’s your own!
You’ll be responsible for the overall performance and day-to-day operations of Afrikana Rushden Lakes, leading your team, delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving the commercial success of the restaurant.
We’re looking for a confident, hands-on leader who understands what it takes to run a successful restaurant, develop great people, control costs and maintain outstanding operational standards.
As this is a brand-new restaurant opening, you’ll also have the exciting opportunity to help recruit, train and develop your team from the ground up, establishing a positive, high-performing culture from day one.
Key Responsibilities
Restaurant Operations & Leadership
- Take full ownership of the restaurant’s day-to-day operations and overall performance.
- Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing management and restaurant team.
- Oversee all Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) operations.
- Ensure smooth and efficient restaurant operations across all trading periods.
- Lead from the front, remaining visible and hands-on during busy services.
- Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, service and hospitality.
- Ensure the restaurant operates in accordance with Afrikana’s brand standards, policies and procedures.
- Take responsibility for operational compliance, including food safety, hygiene, health & safety and restaurant security.
Commercial Performance & Profitability
- Take ownership of the restaurant’s financial and commercial performance.
- Manage budgets, labour costs, stock, inventory and operational expenditure.
- Monitor and achieve agreed sales, profitability and operational targets.
- Use performance data and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to identify opportunities and drive improvements.
- Optimise staffing levels and labour deployment in line with trading patterns and business needs.
- Oversee stock ordering, inventory management and waste control.
- Identify opportunities to increase sales, improve efficiency and maximise profitability.
- Balance operational efficiency and cost control with exceptional guest experiences.
People Management & Team Development
- Recruit, train, coach and develop a strong management and restaurant team.
- Build an inclusive, positive and motivating working environment.
- Lead by example, promoting Afrikana’s culture, values and high standards.
- Support employee onboarding, ongoing training and professional development.
- Manage team performance, providing regular feedback, coaching and guidance.
- Identify and develop future leaders within the business.
- Build a culture of accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.
- Support employee engagement and retention.
Guest Experience & Brand Standards
- Deliver exceptional guest experiences across dine-in, takeaway and delivery services.
- Create a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere that reflects Afrikana’s brand and culture.
- Ensure every guest receives friendly, attentive and professional service.
- Handle customer feedback and complaints professionally and effectively.
- Monitor guest satisfaction and identify opportunities to improve service.
- Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness, presentation and hospitality.
- Protect and promote Afrikana’s reputation within the local community.
New Restaurant Opening & Business Growth
- Play a key leadership role in preparing Afrikana Rushden Lakes for its grand opening.
- Support the recruitment, onboarding and training of the initial restaurant team.
- Establish effective operational routines, processes and performance standards.
- Prepare the team to deliver excellent service from launch.
- Work closely with the restaurant owners and Afrikana’s wider operations and support teams.
- Support local marketing initiatives, promotional activities and community engagement.
- Drive continuous improvement, sales growth and long-term restaurant success.
What We’re Looking For
We’re looking for a passionate hospitality leader who combines strong operational experience with commercial awareness and excellent people-management skills.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in a Restaurant General Manager, Restaurant Manager or comparable senior hospitality management role.
- Experience managing a busy, fast-paced restaurant or hospitality operation.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing, motivating and developing teams.
- Good understanding of restaurant financial performance, including budgets, labour costs, stock control and profitability.
- Experience working towards commercial targets and operational KPIs.
- Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health & safety standards.
- Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to make confident decisions and remain calm under pressure.
- A hands-on, proactive and people-focused management style.
- Strong commitment to customer service and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
- Flexibility to work across restaurant trading hours, including evenings and weekends.
Desirable Experience
- Previous experience opening a new restaurant or launching a hospitality venue.
- Experience recruiting, training and developing a new restaurant team.
- Experience managing a branded restaurant or multi-site hospitality operation.
- Strong understanding of restaurant profit and loss (P&L) management.
- Experience implementing operational improvements and driving business growth.
What We Offer
At Afrikana, we believe great food starts with great people. We invest in our teams, celebrate individuality and create opportunities for people to grow.
The successful candidate will receive:
- Competitive annual salary of £40,000–£47,000, depending on experience.
- Performance-related bonus opportunity, linked to agreed business objectives and KPIs.
- Free Afrikana meal on every shift worked.
- 20% team dining discount for you, your friends and family.
- Structured General Manager training and ongoing leadership support.
- Opportunities for career progression and long-term professional development.
- The chance to join an exciting, growing restaurant brand.
- A supportive working environment that values leadership, teamwork and individuality.
- The unique opportunity to lead a brand-new restaurant and build your own team from the ground up.
Why Join Afrikana Rushden Lakes?
This isn’t just another General Manager position.
It’s an opportunity to become the driving force behind a brand-new Afrikana restaurant at one of Northamptonshire’s most popular shopping, leisure and dining destinations.
You’ll have the opportunity to shape the restaurant’s culture, develop a talented team, influence business performance and establish a restaurant that guests love returning to.
We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their work, leads with passion and wants to build something special.
If you’re an experienced restaurant leader who loves great food, great people and delivering exceptional hospitality, we’d love to hear from you.
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