General Manager

About iara
iara is a Brazilian open-kitchen restaurant on Manhattan's Lower East Side, inspired by the Amazon. Chef Vitor Mendes, a 2025 StarChefs Rising Star and the opening Chef de Cuisine of Theodora, is opening his first restaurant at 205 Allen Street and putting the team together now. 50 seats, one open kitchen, and a menu you won't find anywhere else. iara celebrates Amazon Rainforest’s unique ingredients through comforting Brazilian cooking.

The Role
We're looking for a General Manager who wants to build something from scratch, not run someone else's playbook. You'll be right next to Vitor on the big calls around systems, culture, hiring, and the way every guest feels walking in. It starts part-time before we open (10 to 20 hrs/wk, setup and vendor sourcing) and goes full-time once we do. This is a founding role, with an equity track for the right person.

Responsibilities
- Own the full FOH operation, from service standards and scheduling to floor coverage and guest experience
- Run a sharp pre-shift and set the floor plan for every service
- Be the link between the open kitchen and the floor, handling allergies, dietary needs, and special requests cleanly in a room where the pass is in full view
- Set the standard for hospitality on the floor, with table touches every service, turning first-timers into regulars, and catching any hiccup before it reaches the guest
- Lead and develop the FOH team across hiring, onboarding, performance, and training the floor on the menu, wine, and the iara story
- Build and maintain all operational systems (POS, reservations, inventory, payroll, scheduling)
- Manage P&L alongside Vitor, tracking labor cost, covers, and per-seat revenue weekly
- Coordinate vendor relationships across linen, supplies, the beverage program, and repair and maintenance
- Keep the restaurant licensed and compliant across DOH, health permits, the liquor license, and labor rules
- Own cash handling and the daily close, including drawer counts, deposits, and comp tracking
- Partner on local marketing, press nights, and private-event bookings
- During pre-opening, help hire the team, establish training protocols, and design the guest journey

What We're Looking For
- 3+ years as GM or senior FOH manager at a casual, fine-casual, tasting-format, or Michelin-adjacent NYC restaurant
- Experience building teams from the ground up, not just inheriting them
- A track record of leading polished, high-touch service
- Strong operational instincts across P&L literacy, scheduling, and compliance
- Tech-fluent and fast on POS (we run Toast), Google Workspace, and the systems that run a restaurant
- Valid NYC Food Protection Certificate (Food Handler's) required
- Genuine interest in Brazilian/South American cuisine and the iara story
- Calm under pressure; you make the chaos invisible to the guest
- Holds our operating and training standards consistently, service after service
- A strong sense of initiative; you anticipate guest and operational needs before they surface
- Open availability across nights, weekends, and holidays, as business needs require
- Comfortable on your feet for long stretches, with the ability to bend, kneel, reach, and take stairs throughout service
- Able to lift, carry, push, or pull objects of up to 50 lbs as the job requires
- Strongly Preferred: Proficiency with AI tools like Claude

Compensation & Benefits
- $85,000 to $90,000/yr salary
- Performance bonus
- Equity track, discussed at offer
- Health insurance plan offered
- Paid time off
- Staff meal every shift plus an employee dining discount

To apply: Email [email protected] with your resume and a short note on why iara. Subject line: General Manager

iara is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive workplace where every member of the team belongs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States, and reasonable accommodations are available for the hiring process and the essential functions of the role.