Restaurant General Manager

Riggs Washington DC sits on the iconic downtown corner of Penn Quarter’s 9th and F Street in a historic building once home to Riggs National Bank. Each of the Hotel’s 181 guest rooms offers a playful nod to the building’s legacy. Riggs is home to the all-occasion European brasserie-inspired restaurant Café Riggs, as well as Silver Lyan – a subterranean bar from the internationally acclaimed Ryan Chetiyawardana, also known as Mr Lyan. Job Description Position Overview: The General Manager of Café Riggs holds full operational, financial, and strategic responsibility for the restaurant and its team. As the senior leader on-site, the GM is expected to set the vision, cultivate a culture of excellence, and deliver exceptional dining experiences in alignment with the hotel’s brand values. This role requires an agile, guest-centric leader who can balance day-to-day operations with long-term business planning, team development, and brand growth. Key Responsibilities: Leadership and Culture Building: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team, setting clear expectations and standards for service, performance, and professionalism. Champion a culture of hospitality, inclusion, and accountability that reflects the values of the Riggs brand. Provide ongoing leadership development and succession planning for senior team members, including the Assistant General Manager and department heads. Act as a role model in guest interactions and team dynamics, setting the tone for respectful, solution-oriented communication. Operational Oversight: Own all aspects of restaurant operations, ensuring excellence in service execution, product quality, cleanliness, and team performance. Lead the implementation and evolution of standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and service guidelines to maintain brand consistency. Ensure effective coordination between front and back-of-house teams, resolving operational roadblocks proactively. Guest Experience and Brand Stewardship: Drive a service culture that prioritizes personalization, warmth, and consistency in every guest interaction. Actively engage with guests on the floor, solicit feedback, and respond to complaints or concerns with urgency and care. Develop guest experience programming, signature events, and hospitality rituals that reinforce Café Riggs as a premier DC dining destination. Financial Performance and Strategic Management: Build, manage, and own the restaurant’s operating budget, P&L, and forecasting models in partnership with finance. Set and achieve revenue goals through pricing strategy, cost controls, labor efficiency, and menu engineering. Analyze financial reports, sales trends, and market opportunities to make data-informed decisions that drive growth and profitability. Strategic Vision and Brand Development: Define the long-term strategic direction of Café Riggs in collaboration with executive leadership and marketing. Lead the development and execution of new concepts, seasonal menus, and brand partnerships that align with market trends and guest demand. Represent Café Riggs in the DC hospitality community, establishing relationships that support hiring, partnerships, and brand visibility. People and Performance Management: Oversee scheduling, payroll, training, and performance management across all restaurant roles. Conduct regular performance reviews, enforce disciplinary procedures when necessary, and recognize team achievements Salary Range: 90,000 - 100,000 Benefits At Riggs Washington DC we are committed to giving our employees the skills and support required to deliver extraordinary experiences, and most importantly, to grow in their careers. On top of this we also like to offer our teams a wide range of benefits including: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance (for full-time employees) 6 complimentary nights a year at any Lore Group hotel Lore Group Employee & Immediate Family Rates Lore Group Friend and Family Rates 50% Employee discount and 25% Friends and Family discount at over 800 partner hotels via Lore Discovery 50% discount in Lore Group restaurants and bars 10 Days Vacation - Plus every year an extra day Company Paid Life Insurance 1.5X annual salary Employee Assistance Program Referral Incentive 401K with 5% Match Training and Development Programs Additional perks via United Healthcare Complimentary Employee Meals Employee Recognition programs Equal Employment Opportunity Lore Group does not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, or political affiliation. We will make any reasonable effort to ensure that all applicants and employees receive equal opportunity in personnel matters, including recruiting, selection, training, placement, promotion, wages and benefits, transfers, terminations, and working conditions. Location: Washington, DC Our properties are widely celebrated for their thoughtful design, interesting use of space, engaging restaurants, award-winning bars and the passion of our people. We are passionate about our people and are committed to training, developing, mentoring, and coaching a world-class team to deliver memorable experiences for our guests. As a small, independent group, we are able to offer a personalised career progression on a global stage, with many of our team members having been able to move to our European and American properties, and vice versa, expanding their roles, careers and experiences. We prefer to promote and transfer within our group whenever possible, backed up by tailored training using internal and external resources. We firmly believe our future leaders are alongside us. Click here to discover stories below from Lore Group team members across Amsterdam, London, Washington DC and our group office in London.