General Manager

About The Empanada Lady

The Empanada Lady is an Afro-Latina, Boricua-owned restaurant and cultural brand in downtown Baltimore. What started as a food concept has grown into a multi-stream business including dine-in service, a full bar, catering, off-site events, activations, and brand partnerships. We're rooted in culture, community, and quality — and we operate with intention.

This is not a "keep the floor staffed" role. This is a leadership position in a growing operation.

The Role

We're seeking an experienced General Manager to oversee daily restaurant and bar operations while owning catering execution, events, cost control, and operational support for brand partnerships.

This role is for someone who understands that great service, strong prep, clean systems, and financial discipline all go hand in hand. You'll be trusted to run the business day-to-day, lead the team, and maintain standards even when the Founder is not on site.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Operations & Team Leadership

• Lead front-of-house, back-of-house, bar, and catering teams
• Hire, train, schedule, and coach staff with clear expectations
• Ensure opening/closing procedures, cleanliness, and service standards are consistently met
• Maintain and enforce SOPs across all departments
• Address performance issues directly, professionally, and with documentation

Restaurant & Bar Operations

• Oversee service flow, food quality, bar readiness, and guest experience
• Monitor comps, voids, and discounts and correct misuse
• Ensure inventory, prep, and equipment readiness for service
• Handle guest recovery and protect the brand experience

Catering (Major Responsibility)

• Own catering from inquiry through execution and follow-up
• Review catering orders for accuracy: menu, quantities, prep needs, staffing, logistics
• Coordinate catering prep so it does not disrupt in-house service
• Ensure catering items are properly prepped, labeled, stored, packed, and delivered
• Lead or oversee off-site catering execution and on-site pickups
• Ensure catering is organized, profitable, and executed without last-minute chaos

Events & Activations

• Plan and execute on-site events, pop-ups, and off-site activations
• Translate event goals into operational plans (staffing, prep, timelines, setup)
• Coordinate vendors, collaborators, and logistics
• Ensure events feel intentional, elevated, and aligned with the brand

Cost Control & Financial Awareness

• Monitor food cost, beverage cost, labor, and operating expenses
• Review invoices for accuracy before approval
• Manage inventory, pars, ordering discipline, and waste reduction
• Identify cost leaks and implement corrective action
• Support profitability without compromising quality

Brand Partnerships

• Support operational execution of brand partnerships and sponsorships
• Ensure partner deliverables are handled accurately and professionally
• Represent The Empanada Lady with vendors, partners, and collaborators

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of restaurant or hospitality management experience
• Catering and event experience is required
• Strong understanding of food cost, labor, inventory, and ordering
• Proven leadership with the ability to coach, correct, and hold standards
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive
• Comfortable managing multiple revenue streams at once
• Experience with POS systems and Google Workspace
• Flexible availability including nights, weekends, and events

This Role Is Not for Someone Who:

• Avoids accountability or financial responsibility
• Treats catering as an afterthought
• Needs constant reminders
• Is uncomfortable owning outcomes

This Role Is for Someone Who:

• Plans ahead and executes with intention
• Protects margins and systems
• Leads with clarity and consistency
• Takes pride in running a tight operation

Why Join Us

You'll be stepping into a business with a strong brand, real momentum, and room to grow. This role has visibility, responsibility, and the opportunity to help shape how a culturally rooted hospitality brand scales — the right way.

Pay: $50, $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person