Assistant General Manager

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit international conservation leader, committed to inspiring a passion for nature and creating a world where all life thrives. Empowering people from around the globe to support our mission to conserve wildlife through innovation and partnerships, we support cutting-edge conservation, and bring the stories of our work back to our two world-famous front doors — the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park — giving millions of guests, in person and virtually, the opportunity to experience conservation in action. The deep and extensive knowledge gained from more than a century of experience in wildlife care, health, veterinary services, nutrition and conservation makes us invaluable in the global effort to save species. Our team members play a crucial role in driving our conservation efforts forward and bringing us closer to a world where all life thrives.

HOW YOU WILL IMPACT OUR MISSION
The Assistant General Manager performs all job assignments with a positive attitude that supports San Diego Zoo Wildlife
Alliance's mission and vision of saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in wildlife care and conservation science with
our dedication to inspiring passion for nature and leading the fight against extinction. The Assistant General Manager is
responsible for budget analytics, revenue generation, inventory management, merchandising, ordering, guest service, employee
relations, food safety management, facility management, kitchen management, and strategic planning. Must have a good
understanding of how the job responsibilities relate to other areas of the Food and Beverage operation, such as food preparation
back-of-the-house service, and food/beverage cost control. Must be able to remain calm and speak professionally when resolving
customer complaints and be willing to work any shift, any day and long hours when necessary. Demonstrated ability in
maintaining consistent, high quality guest service levels. Supervise employees, including maintaining proper employee/employer
relations, recognition, evaluating performance and administering discipline. May be assigned to additional Restaurants and Retail
outlets. The Assistant General Manager reports to the General Manager.
WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Employee Management - Responsible for management of front of house restaurant team. Ensures consistent, high-quality service standards are maintained throughout the restaurant but not limited to: interviewing, hiring, scheduling, payroll, training, mentoring, performance management, and additional administration tasks as assigned. Develops and administers training and incentive programs. Collaborates with multiple departments throughout campus. Also responsible for collaborating with other members within the retail department on menu concepts and menu creation, keeping in mind operational efficiencies. Facilitates an environment that encourages innovation amongst staff, where ideas are encouraged.
• Inventory Management - Responsible for oversight of inventory activities in assigned food service operations including but not limited accurate recipe implementation, monitoring inventory levels, and oversight of inventory activities. Manages employee cash control and register functions. Oversees inventory items, food, beverages, and dry goods.
• Budget Revenue - Responsible for administering and managing assigned budgets including, but not limited to meeting objectives set for revenue, cost of goods, labor and operating supplies. Collaborates with Marketing in regards to Restaurant's marketing and branding efforts.
• Safety – Adheres to compliance with health, safety, food safety, sanitation and alcohol awareness standards. Ensures highest food safety standards including but not limited to correct food temperatures, conducting safety training, inspections and maintaining documentation to comply with federal, state and local food safety standards. Assists in managing food quality and safety. Establishes restaurant best practices
• Organizational Support of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance - Research options to keep the restaurant aligned with sustainability and conservation in support of the organization's mission.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Mkutano House is an upcoming restaurant concept built around community, connection, and exceptional guest experiences. 

We are seeking passionate, reliable, and service-oriented individuals who are excited to help bring this vision to life from the ground up. If you excel in a fast-paced environment, take pride in your craft, and believe outstanding food is best enjoyed alongside genuine hospitality, you will find a strong sense of purpose here. This is more than a position—it is an opportunity to grow with a dedicated team, help shape a new dining destination, and contribute meaningfully from day one.

JOB EXPERIENCE

• 1-2 year's experience managing in a full-service environment required.
• Experience working with represented labor union preferred.
• Training and certification in safe food handling required.
• Experience managing multiple venues required.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality, business administration or a related field preferred.
• California Driver's License required upon hire.
• ServSafe Certificate required  within 90 days of Employment.
• RBS Certification required within 90 Days.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Safe Food Handling is required
• ServSafe certified
• Point of sale register systems and reporting
• Effective customer relations skills
• Effective leadership skills
• Identify and evaluate safety risks
• Maintain confidentiality
• Manage hourly and exempt staff
• Motivate and train full service and café restaurant staff
• Work effectively with individuals, groups or teams in a diverse environment
• Work in a high-volume operation
• Manage multiple priorities under pressure
• Communicate effectively (verbal and written)
• Use word processing and spreadsheet systems

SOME OF THE PERKS YOU WILL ENJOY AS A TEAM MEMBER

• Free admission to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
• Family Passes
• Complimentary Tickets
• Free Parking at the San Diego Zoo & San Diego Zoo Safari Park
• Local and In-House Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
  

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Location: Escondido, CA
• Position Type:  Full-Time Salaried Exempt Position
• Salary Range: $70,304 to $76,884.30 
  

About The Salary Ranges
Please note that the salary range mentioned in this job posting should serve simply as a guide. The final compensation offered may vary based on a variety of factors, including bonuses and/or incentives, or a candidate's experience and skills. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to providing a fair, equitable, and competitive package that reflects the value an individual brings to the organization.

Fraudulent Recruiting
Beware of fraudulent recruiting. Legitimate San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance contacts will use an email address. We do not request money, checks, equipment orders, or sensitive personal data during the recruitment process. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance only conducts interviews via phone, Zoom, Teams or in-person.

If you have been asked for any of the above, or believe you have been contacted by someone posing as a San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance employee, please e-mail   If you feel that you have been the victim of fraud, please contact your financial institution(s) immediately. 

 Be an ally for wildlife by joining our team 

At San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, we thrive on celebrating our differences. Diversity is vital for the benefit of our team members, our guests, our community, and our wildlife.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status. 

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, please email your request to  and provide the job title and location to which you are applying. 

As a Federal Contractor, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. We are not offering sponsorship for this position at this time.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is a drug free workplace.