GENERAL MANAGER

General Manager

The General Manager is the leader of the Potbelly shop! They should bring their good vibes every day to create an environment of belonging and teamwork in order to make Potbelly a fun place for our team members and customers, too.

$60,000 - $65,000 base salary range + bonus potential.

What's In It For You

Competitive pay with performance-based annual raises!

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Domestic Partnership Benefits

Paid Parental Leave

FSA and HSA with Employer Contribution

Commuter Benefit Program

Retirement Savings 401(k) with company match

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Time Off

Discount Program

Flexible Work Schedule

Career growth opportunities

If hired, you must meet and maintain all eligibility requirements to qualify

What You Bring To The Table...

You want to delight customers with great food and good vibes

You are friendly and customer service oriented

You have strong written and verbal communication skills

You love working in a fast-paced environment

You're a team player

You enjoy problem-solving

You have open availability

You're able to maintain deadlines and prioritize while running an effective shift

You have strong organizational skills and the ability to multitask

You can handle the heat of the kitchen knife skills are a plus!

You enjoy higher levels of noise from music, customer and employee traffic

You can manage potential allergens : peanut products, egg, dairy, gluten, soy, seafood and shellfish

You are able to build and develop strong teams and handle conflict resolution

You have strong interviewing skills

You're able to write effective schedules and maintain labor goals

You have Microsoft Office skills

You have a strong business acumen

You have the ability to understand and interpret financial reports

Minimum of at least 2 years as a General Manager in a restaurant or retail environment with P&L responsibility preferred

You're able to stand / walk for 8-9 hours or as needed

You have the ability / stamina to work a minimum of 45 hours per week

You're able to lift up to 10 pounds frequently and up to 50 pounds occasionally

Illinois Applicants - all IL employees are required to become food safety certified within 30 days of employment

Job Duties And Functions

Train, coach, and develop all shop team members to realize their potential

Assess staff abilities. Create and implement effective development plans

Interview, select and hire great people who represent Potbelly Values

Develop and maintain Good Vibes culture that fosters strong attraction & retention

Effectively schedule Associates, Certified Trainers and Shift Leaders

Update communication board with critical shop information

Hold regular meetings with key shop staff

Effectively delegate tasks to team and ensure a high standard of execution

Ensure all security procedures are followed

Ensure back-of-the-house procedural standards are met

Count drawers and follow proper daily cash handling procedures

Effectively drive neighborhood shop marketing and promotions to maximize sales potential, including sourcing and blitzing outside of shop for recruiting and marketing purposes

Control cost of goods, variances and inventories within the shop

Create a marketing plan. Lead local shop marketing to increase sales. A GM ideally is involved in the community, the school and local business, social and not-for-profit activities

Control assigned P&L line items

Must spend 80-90% of time on the shop floor in the Front of the House

Ability to maintain deadlines and prioritize while running an effective shift

Comply with health and safety standards for food, cleanliness and safety

Effectively handle customer complaints / issues

Others duties as assigned

As a requirement of the position, all Shift Leaders and Managers must be trained and pass a Food Safety Certification course. In Illinois, certification is required through the Illinois Department of Public Health, while in all other states certification is required through the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe), National Registry of Food Safety Professionals or the National Environmental Health Association (Prometric). Should the Shift Leader or Manager fail to pass the certification requirements after two attempts, he or she will be not be qualified to continue to perform in a Shift Leader or Management capacity

At Potbelly, we are committed to creating a welcoming and respectful environment where individuals are valued for their unique perspectives, backgrounds, and strengths. We believe that inclusion, collaboration, and mutual respect enhance the way we serve our customers and work together as a team. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

We're an equal opportunity employer. Each applicant will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Application Deadline : Applications must be submitted by 1 / 22 / 2026 to be considered for this position. The posting may close earlier if a suitable candidate is selected before the deadline.