District Manager

District Manager — Multi-Unit Cafe Operations

Location: San Francisco, CA

Reports to: Head of Cafe Operations

Full-Time | Field-Based

Recruits Lab is conducting a confidential search for a fast-growing hospitality company seeking a hands-on District Manager to lead six cafe locations across San Francisco.

This is a high-ownership, multi-unit leadership role responsible for developing General Managers, improving unit economics, and ensuring every location delivers consistently strong operations and customer experiences.

What You’ll Own

• Lead the performance of six cafe locations.
• Recruit, hire, coach, and develop General Managers.
• Build a strong bench of Assistant Managers and future GMs.
• Own district-level revenue, labor, COGS, waste, and profitability goals.
• Review P&Ls and weekly scorecards and hold GMs accountable for results.
• Visit locations regularly to coach teams and resolve operational issues.
• Maintain high standards for product quality, hospitality, speed, cleanliness, and safety.
• Ensure locations are properly staffed, scheduled, supplied, and prepared for peak periods.
• Identify underperformance early and execute clear improvement plans.
• Build and implement training and operating best practices across the district.
• Support the successful launch of new locations as the company expands.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven multi-unit leadership experience across cafes, restaurants, fast-casual, hospitality, or high-volume retail.
• Strong track record of hiring and developing successful General Managers.
• Hands-on knowledge of P&Ls, labor planning, inventory, COGS, waste, and cost control.
• Demonstrated ability to improve underperforming locations.
• Strong operational discipline and high standards for customer experience.
• Comfortable spending significant time in locations working alongside managers and teams.
• Direct, accountable leadership style with strong judgment and urgency.
• Ability to support a 24/7 operation, including occasional nights, weekends, and emergencies.

What Success Looks Like

Every location has a strong GM, operating targets are consistently achieved, product and service standards remain high, and talented team members have clear opportunities to advance.

This is an opportunity for an experienced multi-unit operator to have significant ownership over a growing San Francisco hospitality concept and help build the people, systems, and operating discipline required to scale.

Recruits Lab is managing this confidential search on behalf of our client.