General Manager - Restaurant and Café

About the role

Corner House is a new restaurant, café and upstairs gallery space being built in a restored mid-century house on Flower Road, Colombo 07, and is part of The Cliff Group. It is looking for a General Manager to help establish the business from the beginning and lead it beyond opening, working directly with the founders. The role covers people, service standards and commercial results, and suits someone who enjoys building, making sound decisions and following through.

Key responsibilities

• Lead pre-opening operations: recruitment, training, supplier readiness and service rehearsals
• Build a capable team, set clear expectations and develop a culture of care and accountability
• Establish practical SOPs for service, reservations, purchasing, inventory, cash handling, hygiene and reporting
• Lead from the floor and maintain warm, attentive service for a local and international clientele
• Manage operating budgets, staffing costs, stock and margins, using reporting to improve results
• Coordinate restaurant and café operations with gallery activities and events
• Work with the founders, kitchen and marketing partners to build awareness, repeat visits and a strong reputation

Required profile

• A track record of leading restaurant, café or hospitality operations, with responsibility for people and financial performance
• Experience recruiting, training and managing teams
• Previous opening experience is valuable; accomplished Restaurant Managers are welcome
• Experience with premium hospitality, café operations, galleries or events is an advantage
• Strong English communication; Sinhala and/or Tamil is an advantage

Required skills

• Practical knowledge of budgets, labour costs, purchasing, inventory and operational controls
• Evidence of introducing or improving systems and service standards
• Sound judgement, clear communication and composure during busy service
• Hospitality qualification welcome, but equivalent practical experience is valued

What we offer

• The chance to shape a new hospitality brand from its foundations
• Direct collaboration with the founders and meaningful influence over operations
• Remuneration reflecting the experience, leadership and responsibility of the role

To apply, submit your CV through LinkedIn, and where possible include a brief example of a hospitality operation you helped open, improve or grow and the results you were responsible for.