Bar & Café
General Manager

About the Opportunity

We are creating a bar, café and gathering space designed to feel distinct, immersive, and rooted in its iconic San Francisco setting—one that welcomes locals and visitors alike into an experience that is inspiring and deeply rooted in place. The food and beverage program will reflect the Bay Area’s leadership in sustainability, seasonal sourcing, and community-driven hospitality, while demonstrating that environmental values and high-quality hospitality go hand in hand.

We are beginning with a focused café concept that is financially disciplined, operationally sound, and designed to thrive in a high-visibility public setting. The café is part of a larger creative vision: using food, drink, and gathering as gateways to spark curiosity, connection, and a renewed relationship with nature and the environment. Over time, the space may expand to include programming and events, but the near-term priority is excellence—opening and running a food business that people return to again and again.

We are seeking a seasoned Food & Beverage Operator to lead this effort—someone excited to build a best-in-class operation while contributing to a broader, mission-driven initiative that uses creativity and hospitality to make a meaningful impact.

Location: San Francisco

Start: Early 2026

About Us

We are an experienced, diverse team working at the intersection of hospitality, entertainment, and movement building. Our broader work includes the development of creative public experiences that bring people together, support local economies and shift culture to inspire widespread environmental action that is truly fun. We believe in the power of food to spark wonder and fuel community.

For this project, our approach is deliberately grounded: We require operational excellence and believe long-term success comes from disciplined execution.

About the Role

As our founding food & beverage General Manager, you will be responsible for launching and stabilizing the café operation. You will help develop P&L assumptions, the operating plan and execution strategy, and will serve as the primary operational lead.

This is a hands-on role suited for an operator who enjoys building from the ground up and understands the realities of running food businesses in San Francisco.

This role carries real decision-making authority over staffing, systems, vendors, and day-to-day execution, with direct access to ownership. Close collaboration with a small group of creative and culinary advisors will be required.

Key Responsibilities

Financial & Operational Leadership

• Develop a conservative, site-specific operating plan for a high-volume café
  

• Build and own the P&L model, including labor, food cost, pricing, and throughput assumptions
  

• Identify break-even points and operational buffers

Menu & Service Model

• Help design a menu architecture that balances quality, speed, and margins
  

• Collaborate with culinary advisors to ensure food offerings reflect sustainability values without compromising operations
  

• Align service flow and menu design with staffing and volume realities

Launch & Execution

• Lead launch planning, staffing models, and training approach
  

• Navigate SF health, safety, and permitting requirements
  

• Source and manage vendors, suppliers, and operational partners
  

• Establish systems, SOPs, and controls to support reliable daily operations

Collaboration & Stewardship

• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for ownership and key stakeholders
  

• Coordinate with creative partners to integrate light programming or events in an operationally responsible way

• Help assess longer-term operating structures as the venue stabilizes

Day-to-Day Leadership

• Own the daily operation of the café, bar, and patio—setting the tone on the floor, ensuring consistent service quality, and creating a welcoming, well-run environment
  

• Lead and schedule front- and back-of-house teams, maintaining clear standards for service, hospitality, cleanliness, and food safety
  

• Manage daily opening and closing procedures, cash handling, inventory counts, and vendor coordination
  

• Partner closely with culinary and beverage leads to ensure menus are executed with consistency, care, and attention to detail
  

• Monitor labor, food, and beverage costs in real time, making smart adjustments to staffing, prep, and service flow as needed
  

• Serve as the primary on-site decision-maker, calmly resolving issues as they arise and keeping operations running smoothly during high-volume periods
  

• Build a culture of accountability, professionalism, and pride in the work—coaching staff through feedback, training, and example
  

• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, and regulatory requirements, maintaining readiness for inspections at all times

Ideal Background

We are looking for someone with earned operational credibility.

You likely bring:

• 10+ years of food & beverage operating experience

• Direct responsibility for P&L performance

• Experience opening or managing venues in San Francisco or similar regulatory environments

• Comfort operating in high-visibility, public-facing locations

• A practical, solutions-oriented mindset

• Respect for sustainability-driven food systems, paired with financial discipline
  

• Experience operating in complex environments (public-facing sites, mixed-use venues, or spaces with regulatory and stakeholder complexity)

Engagement Structure

• Initial advisory agreement (contract-based) focused on planning and readiness while the site is secured
  

• Competitive monthly retainer during the advisory phase
  

• Performance-based incentives tied to planning, readiness, and launch milestones
  

• Clear path to transition into a full-time, W-2 General Manager role upon securing the space