Bar & Cafe General Manager (San Francisco) Job at Starlings, San Francisco, CA

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  • Starlings
  • San Francisco, CA

Job Description

Visionary company seeks an experienced operator to help launch and run a landmark San Francisco caf, overseeing operations, finances, and guest experience.

About the Opportunity

We are creating a bar, caf and gathering space designed to feel distinct, immersive, and rooted in its iconic San Francisco settingone 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 Areas leadership in sustainability, seasonal sourcing, and communitydriven hospitality, while demonstrating that environmental values and highquality hospitality go hand in hand.

We are beginning with a focused caf concept that is financially disciplined, operationally sound, and designed to thrive in a highvisibility public setting. The caf 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 nearterm priority is excellenceopening and running a food business that people return to again and again.

We are seeking a seasoned Food & Beverage Operator to lead this effortsomeone excited to build a bestinclass operation while contributing to a broader, missiondriven initiative that uses creativity and hospitality to make a meaningful impact.

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 longterm success comes from disciplined execution.

About the Role

As our founding food & beverage General Manager, you will be responsible for launching and stabilizing the caf 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 handson 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 decisionmaking authority over staffing, systems, vendors, and daytoday 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

  • Build and own the P&L model, including labor, food cost, pricing, and throughput assumptions
  • Identify breakeven 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
  • 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 longerterm operating structures as the venue stabilizes
  • Own the daily operation of the caf, bar, and patiosetting the tone on the floor, ensuring consistent service quality, and creating a welcoming, wellrun environment
  • Lead and schedule front and backofhouse 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 onsite decisionmaker, calmly resolving issues as they arise and keeping operations running smoothly during highvolume periods
  • Build a culture of accountability, professionalism, and pride in the workcoaching 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
  • A practical, solutionsoriented mindset
  • Respect for sustainabilitydriven food systems, paired with financial discipline
  • Experience operating in complex environments (publicfacing sites, mixeduse venues, or spaces with regulatory and stakeholder complexity)

Engagement Structure

  • Initial advisory agreement (contractbased) focused on planning and readiness while the site is secured
  • Competitive monthly retainer during the advisory phase
  • Performancebased incentives tied to planning, readiness, and launch milestones
  • Clear path to transition into a fulltime, W2 General Manager role upon securing the space

How to Apply

Please share:

  • A brief overview of your operating experience
  • Examples of venues youve opened or managed
  • Your availability to begin in January
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Job Tags

Full time, Local area, Shift work,

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