Overview:
For more than 36 years, Howies has been welcoming locals and visitors alike with warm hospitality, honest Scottish food and genuine Scottish service.
As one of Edinburgh’s most respected independent restaurant groups, we pride ourselves on creating memorable experiences for our guests while building a positive and supportive environment for our teams.
We’re now looking for a General Manager to lead our flagship Waterloo Place restaurant.
Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre, Waterloo Place is one of Edinburgh’s busiest independent restaurants, serving lunch, dinner, private dining and group bookings throughout the year.
This is a role for someone who loves hospitality, enjoys developing people and wants to be a visible leader within a busy restaurant environment.
Whether you’re an experienced General Manager or a strong Restaurant Manager ready for your next opportunity, this role offers the chance to lead one of Edinburgh’s most established restaurant teams within a supportive and forward-thinking business.
Our Approach
At Howies, we believe great hospitality starts with great people.
Our goal is simple: create an environment where our teams feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work. In return, they deliver the warm, genuine hospitality that has been at the heart of Howies for more than three decades.
We are investing heavily in our people, systems and support structures to ensure our managers can focus on where they make the biggest difference.
That means spending less time tied to administration and more time leading teams, supporting guests and driving standards.
The Role
This is a hands-on leadership position.
You’ll be a visible presence in the restaurant, supporting your team, engaging with guests and leading by example throughout service.
We believe managers create the greatest impact when they are on the floor, coaching their team, building relationships and helping create a positive culture.
Over the last year we have invested significantly in new systems and reporting tools to improve visibility and simplify management processes.
We are also continuing to expand our central support functions, including dedicated bookings and events administration support, allowing our managers to focus their time on people, service and performance rather than paperwork.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Leading The Team
- Creating a positive, professional and supportive culture
- Recruiting, training and developing team members
- Supporting and coaching supervisors and managers
- Conducting regular one-to-ones and performance reviews
- Leading by example and setting high standards
- Building a team that enjoys coming to work and takes pride in what they do
Guest Experience
- Delivering warm, genuine hospitality every day
- Building relationships with regular guests and local businesses
- Ensuring consistently high service standards
- Handling feedback positively and professionally
- Creating memorable experiences that encourage repeat visits
Running The Restaurant
- Leading busy services with confidence and energy
- Supporting the team during high-pressure periods
- Working closely with the kitchen management team
- Maintaining standards across all areas of the business
- Ensuring compliance with company procedures and health & safety requirements
Commercial Performance
- Managing labour in line with business targets
- Delivering sales and performance objectives
- Understanding and responding to business reporting
- Driving productivity and operational efficiency
- Contributing to the continued success and growth of the restaurant
What We’re Looking For
We’re open to speaking with either an experienced General Manager or a strong Restaurant Manager who is ready to take the next step in their career.
You’ll be supported by an experienced operations team, modern systems and growing central support functions, allowing you to focus on leading your team and delivering great hospitality.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Leads from the front and enjoys being part of service
- Builds positive relationships with their team
- Creates a culture of accountability, support and respect
- Has experience in a busy restaurant environment
- Understands labour control and operational performance
- Is confident coaching and developing others
- Remains calm and organised under pressure
- Takes pride in delivering excellent guest experiences
- Wants to build a long-term career within a successful independent hospitality business
Above all, we’re looking for someone who understands that great hospitality starts with great people.
What Success Looks Like
- A motivated and engaged team
- Strong staff retention and internal progression
- Consistently high standards of service
- Positive guest feedback and repeat business
- Labour and financial targets achieved
- A restaurant people enjoy working in and visiting
Package
- £40,000 salary
- Performance bonus of up to 15% of salary (£6,000)
- Additional tronc averaging approximately £13,000 per annum
- Company pension scheme
- Staff meals on duty
- Employee discount across the Howies Restaurant Group
- Ongoing training and development opportunities
- Formal external leadership and management training
- Structured support from an experienced operations team
- Clear opportunities for progression within the business
Realistic on-target earnings of approximately £60,000 per annum.
Why Howies?
Howies remains proudly independent, family-run and committed to long-term investment in both our people and our business.
We invest in our teams for the long term through structured development, external training opportunities and clear progression pathways. We want our managers to grow with the business and play a meaningful role in its future.
We believe hospitality is ultimately about human connection. We support our teams to develop rewarding careers while delivering the warm hospitality that has defined Howies for more than three decades.
If you’re passionate about people, hospitality and leadership, we’d love to hear from you.
Pay: £40,000.00-£60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
