General Manager - Aera

As the General Manager at Aera, you'll lead a high-performing team to deliver exceptional guest experiences all year round. You’ll oversee all aspects of daily operations, from elevated service and beverage programs to high-energy nightlife, entertainment programming, and late-night service, while driving operational performance, revenue growth, and brand presence. This is an exciting opportunity to shape memorable experiences, inspire your team, and contribute to the success of a vibrant, industry-leading hospitality destination.

The Day to Day:

• Manage and oversee the daily operations, including daytime, evening, and late-night, service execution, staffing, guest flow, and overall restaurant performance, in accordance with O&B standards and brand expectations.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of all food and beverage menus across the operation, with particular emphasis on delivering and continuously enhancing a premium, industry-leading beverage program, aligned with O&B quality and service standards.
• Partner with the management team to plan, curate, and execute a dynamic calendar of live entertainment and special events that drive guest engagement and brand presence.
• Collaborate with marketing and leadership teams to contribute creative ideas and initiatives that support brand awareness, guest acquisition, and ongoing promotion of the concept.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with guests, team members and senior leadership, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and exceptional service, consistent with O&B values and service philosophy.
• Lead, inspire, and develop the management and front-line teams to consistently exceed service expectations and performance standards, while upholding O&B operational and leadership standards.
• Oversee financial and operational reporting, including sales performance, invoicing, payroll, scheduling, inventory control, and labour management, ensuring accurate reporting to the Director of Operations.
• Ensure compliance with all health, safety, security, and licensing requirements, maintaining a safe, professional, and high-performing environment for guests and staff.
• Identify opportunities for operational improvement, revenue growth, and cost efficiencies while maintaining premium guest experience standards.

Qualifications

• Progressive Sr. Management experience within the hospitality industry, ideally in premium, high-volume service environments.
• In-depth knowledge of hospitality operations, elevated service standards, and guest experience design within refined, social dining and nightlife-driven, late-night entertainment concepts.
• Strong knowledge of food and beverage operations, including wine, spirits, cocktail programs, and beverage cost controls; WSET or equivalent beverage education considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong, visible leadership in a fast-paced, high-performance environment, with experience motivating, coaching, and developing large teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with guests, staff, partners, and senior stakeholders.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, P&L management, labour planning, and revenue optimization.
• Proven operational planning and execution skills across service, events, and high-volume guest flow.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with the capacity to manage complex guest situations with professionalism and discretion.
• Maintains awareness of industry trends, guest preferences, and the competitive landscape to deliver distinctive and engaging guest experiences.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and peak operating periods.
• Legally eligible to work in Canada.

Additional Information

This is an existing role with a current vacancy.

Salary: $75,000 - $95,000 base (plus gratuities) 

AI Disclosure
To ensure a fair and efficient recruitment process, some aspects of candidate screening may be conducted using AI software. All assessments and outcomes are reviewed by our hiring team to provide thoughtful, personalized consideration. We are committed to transparency and respect, ensuring a welcoming experience for every candidate.

Accessibility & Accommodation
Oliver & Bonacini is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process. If you require accommodation or support during any stage of the hiring process, please let us know. We will work with you to ensure your needs are met in a respectful and timely manner.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We value and embrace diversity in all forms and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Our recruitment practices are designed to ensure fairness, equity, and opportunity for every candidate.