General Manager

ROLE SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the President, the 
General Manager
 of 
Savoury Chef
 is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and increasing overall profitability. This role is focused on leading business development and sales strategy across all service lines—corporate, social, wholesale, weddings, and private events—while supporting operational excellence through collaboration with the Director of Operations and department leads.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong commercial instincts, deep knowledge of the local events and hospitality landscape, and a proven ability to foster relationships that generate sustained revenue. The General Manager will have a clear understanding of how each department functions and will work cross-functionally to support scalable, efficient practices that enhance client satisfaction and financial performance.

This is a senior leadership role designed for a results-driven professional who is passionate about building a premier catering and events company recognized for excellence, innovation, and hospitality.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Sales & Business Development

• Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive growth strategy, with clear goals for revenue, profit margin, and market share expansion.
• Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities across all revenue streams, including corporate catering (delivery and staffed), galas, weddings, social events, wholesale, and strategic partnerships.
• Cultivate relationships with key venues, planners, charity, and corporate clients to drive inbound referrals and long-term contracts.
• Work with the Director of Sales and Marketing to guide and mentor the sales team; refine the outbound sales process and ensure performance targets are met or exceeded.
• Monitor and analyze sales trends and customer feedback to inform offerings and improve conversion.
• Represent Savoury Chef in high-level client meetings and at industry events as a senior brand ambassador.
• Ensure CRM systems and sales pipelines are actively managed, accurate, and strategically used.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the Director of Operations to align sales growth with operational capacity and profitability targets.
• Maintain visibility across departments (kitchen, logistics, sales, operations) to ensure cohesion and identify areas for improvement.
• Support the development of scalable systems that promote efficiency, consistency, and service excellence.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and Culinary team to develop offerings that reflect market demand and brand positioning.

Financial Performance & Profitability

• Monitor business unit profitability and recommend margin improvement strategies, including pricing adjustments, product mix, and cost controls.
• Contribute to budget planning and forecasting; track sales against targets and oversee reporting on key performance indicators.
• Work with the Director of Operations to Identify revenue leakage, inefficiencies, and underperforming segments, and implement corrective action plans.

Events Execution

• Collaborate closely with the Event Operations Manager to ensure consistent, high-quality event execution that reflects the company's standards.
• Assist in the development and refinement of training systems for event staff, with a focus on service excellence, professionalism, and operational efficiency.
• Monitor feedback and event performance metrics to implement continuous improvements in client experience and event delivery.
• Be available as a senior resource for troubleshooting during major or high-profile events when necessary.

Culture & People Development

• Promote a positive, performance-oriented culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and respect.
• Coach and mentor direct reports and rising leaders to foster a strong internal talent pipeline.
• Support recruitment and training efforts to ensure the team reflects Savoury Chef's values and standards of excellence.
• Partner with department heads to implement people strategies that reduce turnover and improve staff engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in catering, hospitality, or event services, with a strong focus on business development.
• Demonstrated success in growing revenue and client portfolios within a high-end, service-driven business.
• Deep familiarity with the Vancouver market and local event industry is strongly preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills; a confident communicator with executive presence.
• Highly analytical and organized, with experience managing budgets and KPIs.
• Enthusiastic about food, hospitality, and creating exceptional client experiences.