Restaurant General Manager - Panera Bread
Position & Perks
General Manager – Panera Bread
Lead with Purpose. Grow People. Build Your Career.
At Panera Bread, we believe food should be good and the people who serve it should be even better. As a General Manager, you'll lead a high-performing team, create an exceptional guest experience, and drive the success of one of our neighborhood cafes.
As part of Doherty Enterprises, one of the largest restaurant franchisees in the Northeast, you'll have the opportunity to build a long-term career with a company that invests in its people. With more than 55 Panera Breads across New York we offer real opportunities for growth and advancement.
Grow With Us
We're looking for General Managers who inspire others, embrace challenges, and are passionate about developing great teams. If you're ready to make an impact and grow your career with one of the region's premier restaurant companies, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and discover why great leaders grow at Panera Bread and Doherty Enterprises.
Responsibilities
What You'll Do
As a General Manager, you will:
- Lead all daily cafe operations, ensuring outstanding food quality, cleanliness, and guest satisfaction.
- Recruit, hire, develop, coach, and retain a high-performing management and hourly team.
- Foster a positive, inclusive culture focused on teamwork, accountability, and guest service.
- Drive sales, profitability, labor management, and cost controls while achieving business goals.
- Ensure operational excellence by maintaining Panera brand standards and food safety compliance.
- Develop future leaders through coaching, training, and succession planning.
- Analyze business results and create action plans to improve café performance.
- Build relationships within the local community to increase café awareness and guest loyalty.
Qualifications
What We're Looking For
- 3+ years of restaurant management experience, including experience as a General Manager.
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop teams.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L, labor, and food cost.
- Passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays as business needs require.
- Valid driver's license and reliable personal vehicle required. Travel between cafes, training locations, and company meetings may be required.
- Must be authorized to work in the United States.
Why Join Doherty Enterprises?
- Competitive salary
- Quarterly performance bonus opportunity
- Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Training & Leadership Development
- Career Growth Opportunities Across Multiple Brands
- Employee Meal Discounts
- A people-first culture recognized as a Top Workplace
About Doherty Enterprises
Doherty Enterprises is one of the largest franchise restaurant groups in the United States, operating hundreds of restaurants across New Jersey and New York under eight brands — Applebee's Grill & Bar, Panera Bread, Wendy's, JINYA Ramen Bar, The Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Chevys Fresh Mex, Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas, and their own corporate support office. This Panera Bread location is one of them.
What started decades ago as a single restaurant has grown into a multi-brand company built on the same idea from day one: treat your people well, and they'll treat your guests well. The vast majority of their managers started as hourly team members and grew with the company — they promote from within, across brands, not just within one.