Citrus & Salt is a high-energy, Baja-inspired concept from Chef Jason Santos, built around coastal Mexican and Southern California-influenced tapas, bold cocktails, and one of the largest tequila and mezcal selections in the market. The vibe is bright, social, and Instagram-ready. We’re opening our Burlington location and looking for a General Manager who can build the team, set the standard, and own performance from day one.
This is a pre-opening leadership role. The General Manager will be involved in hiring, training, and systems build-out ahead of launch, then own day-to-day operations post-open.
The Role
- This is not a figurehead position. The General Manager is responsible for:
- Leading the full restaurant operation (FOH + partnership with BOH)
- Driving sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction
- Building, developing, and holding the team accountable
- Maintaining standards across service, product, and environment
- You are responsible for how the restaurant performs — financially, operationally, and culturally.
Core Responsibilities
- Leadership & Culture
- Set the tone for the entire restaurant through presence, urgency, and standards
- Build a team that is accountable, engaged, and consistently improving
- Coach managers and hourly staff through real-time feedback and development
- Create an environment that is productive, respectful, and performance-driven
- Lead by example in service, professionalism, and work ethic
- Operations & Execution
- Ensure consistent execution of food quality, service standards, and guest experience
- Own the flow of service and support the floor during peak periods
- Maintain a clean, organized, and fully operational restaurant at all times
- Enforce health, safety, and sanitation standards without exception
- Work closely with the Chef to ensure alignment between FOH and BOH
- Financial Performance
- Own P&L performance and drive profitability across the business
- Manage labor to target while protecting the guest experience
- Control costs through attention to detail, systems, and accountability
- Identify opportunities to improve revenue, efficiency, and margin
- Ensure proper handling, storage, and usage of all products to minimize waste
- Team Development & Accountability
- Hire, train, and develop a strong FOH team ahead of and through opening
- Build a leadership bench through coaching and internal growth
- Address performance issues directly and consistently
- Maintain high standards for training, onboarding, and daily execution
- Reduce turnover by building a team that wants to be there and perform
- Guest Experience & Business Growth
- Operate with a guest-first mindset in every decision
- Resolve issues quickly and effectively to drive repeat business
- Build relationships with regulars and the local community as a new location
- Drive sales through floor presence, team coaching, and operational consistency
- Partner with leadership on events, promotions, and local marketing efforts
- Bar & Beverage Oversight
- Partner with the Beverage Director on inventory and ordering
- Partner with the Beverage Director on cocktail, tequila, and mezcal program execution and staff training
- Partner with the Beverage Director on cleanliness, systems, and bar standards
- Ensure the bar program performs operationally and financially
- Facility & Systems
- Maintain the physical space through daily walkthroughs and follow-up
- Identify and communicate repair and maintenance needs
- Ensure all systems (service, training, admin) are organized and effective
- Keep documentation, scheduling, and operational tools up to standard
- What We’re Looking For
- Strong operator with full ownership mentality
- Ability to lead in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
- Financial acumen with experience managing P&L and labor targets
- Clear communicator who can align teams and drive execution
- Hands-on leader who is present on the floor and in the business
- Comfortable operating in a pre-opening environment: building systems and a team from scratch
Experience
- 3–5+ years in a General Manager or senior leadership role
- High-volume, full-service restaurant experience required
- OpenTable and Toast expert
- New restaurant opening experience preferred
Success in This Role Looks Like
- The restaurant runs clean, organized, and in control at all times
- Service is consistent, paced correctly, and guest-focused
- The team is trained, accountable, and improving
- Labor and costs are managed without sacrificing experience
- The business is growing with strong repeat guest traffic in a new market
