General Manager
Company: Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Company Overview:
Five Guys Burgers and Fries is one of America's most successful and beloved hamburger concepts — ranked the #1 burger in the U.S. by Zagat. While our food gets the headlines, it's our people-first culture that makes the real difference. At Five Guys, both crew members and managers are cross-trained to work every position in the restaurant, creating a high-energy, collaborative, and fun work environment.
With an open kitchen layout, we bring the guest experience right into the action — it's loud, fast, and filled with team communication.
What It Takes to Be a Five Guys General Manager:
- People & Leadership Skills: Can you inspire and motivate others? This is the #1 trait we seek. Great leadership creates great teams.
- High Energy & Stamina: Our kitchens are fast-paced and physically active environments. Being on your feet and staying energized is a must.
- Adaptability: You'll manage a rotating crew and shift roles constantly throughout the day.
- Communication: Real-time, vocal collaboration is essential — we rely on strong team communication to keep things moving.
- Love of Food & Music: We make amazing burgers to the sounds of classic rock. A good vibe is part of our culture — and yes, singing along is encouraged!
- Team Mindset: Our best managers always put the team first and lead with humility.
Responsibilities:
- Oversee financial performance, including inventory control and cost management.
- Lead crew assignments, coaching, and performance during all shifts.
- Foster outstanding customer experiences through proactive service and problem-solving.
- Own the full shift operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly from open to close.
- Work a combination of both opening and closing shifts:
- Morning: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Afternoon/Evening: 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Qualifications:
- Minimum 18 years of age
- High school diploma required; some college or continuing education is a plus
- 1–2 years of leadership experience, ideally in a restaurant or customer-facing business
- Previous experience in food service strongly preferred
- ServeSafe Certification is a plus
- Strong, reliable professional references — from both supervisors and former direct reports
Perks & Benefits:
- Competitive base pay
- Quarterly bonus program based on restaurant performance
- Career advancement opportunities with a rapidly growing brand
- Dynamic and supportive team culture
- Ongoing training and leadership development
Ready to Lead the Team?
At Five Guys, you'll find a role where passion, leadership, and hustle come together in a fast-paced, rewarding environment. Bring your energy, grow with us, and help us deliver legendary burgers — every single day.
Recent Jobs
Top searches
Employment opportunities at Five Guys
Jobseekers are also searching for
Searches you may like
Trending searches in Riverside, IL
Popular Searches for General Manager
Frequently Asked Questions
Excelling as a General Manager at Five Guys demands high-energy leadership with strong communication skills, adaptability to fast-paced shifts, and a team-first attitude. Inspiring and motivating your crew while maintaining stamina throughout busy hours is key to thriving in their dynamic restaurant environment.
Day-to-day, a General Manager at Five Guys in Riverside balances hands-on team coordination, financial oversight like inventory control, and customer satisfaction. Unlike some managerial roles focused solely on operations, this position requires active involvement on the floor, adapting to shifting crew roles and maintaining a lively atmosphere.
Yes, General Managers at Five Guys benefit from structured leadership development and opportunities for upward mobility within the expanding company. Their experience managing multi-shift operations and people skills opens doors to regional or area general manager roles, especially in growth markets like Illinois.
Managing in Riverside entails navigating a suburban market with diverse customer expectations and staffing demands. The role involves balancing efficient shift transitions amid local commuting patterns and adapting to a competitive restaurant landscape that may differ from urban centers like Chicago.
Riverside's proximity to Chicago increases competition among experienced candidates for General Manager roles at Five Guys. Candidates with strong food service backgrounds and leadership certifications often have an edge due to local demand for seasoned managers who can drive team performance and operational excellence.
Five Guys stands out by fostering a people-centered culture with cross-training, open kitchen layouts, and an energetic work environment. General Managers enjoy quarterly bonuses, career growth paths, and a supportive team vibe that emphasizes collaboration over rigid hierarchy, uncommon in many fast-food franchises.
Yes, Five Guys invests in ongoing leadership development and operational training tailored for their restaurant model. While ServSafe certification is a plus, they also emphasize on-the-job coaching and cross-position training to ensure managers are fully equipped to handle the fast-paced kitchen and team dynamics.
General Managers at Five Guys in Riverside typically earn between $50,000 and $65,000 annually, reflecting competitive pay aligned with Illinois’ cost of living and the restaurant’s performance-based quarterly bonuses. This range rewards both leadership experience and the physical demands of managing busy shifts.
Unlike purely administrative positions, the General Manager at Five Guys actively leads from the front, juggling shift operations, crew coaching, and real-time communication to maintain a vibrant guest experience. This dual focus on hands-on involvement and strategic oversight is central to their management style.
Experience as a General Manager at Five Guys equips professionals with versatile skills in fast-paced food service leadership and multi-shift management, highly regarded across the U.S. This role often serves as a stepping stone to regional management or corporate leadership within growing restaurant chains.