General Manager

Job Title: General Manager Location: Cork Salary: €55,000 - €60,000 Type: Full-time, Permanent

About the Opportunity An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and commercially focused General Manager to lead the operations of a customer-centric entertainment and leisure venue in Cork. This position offers the chance to take full ownership of a high-profile operation, driving commercial performance, operational excellence, customer experience, and team development. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading a large team, managing financial performance, and ensuring the business consistently delivers exceptional results. We are seeking a hands-on leader with strong commercial acumen, excellent people management skills, and a proven ability to deliver sustainable business growth.

The Role

As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the successful running of the business. You will oversee all operational, financial, and people management functions while ensuring the highest standards of customer service, compliance, and profitability. You will work closely with senior leadership to develop and implement business plans, identify performance improvement opportunities, and create a positive and engaging culture for both employees and customers.

Key ResponsibilitiesCommercial & Financial Management

• Take full accountability for the venue's commercial performance and profitability.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and financial performance against agreed targets.
• Analyse weekly and monthly KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve revenue, margin, and operational efficiency.
• Drive revenue growth through effective operational management and customer engagement strategies.
• Control labour, operational, and overhead costs while maintaining service excellence.
• Develop and implement action plans to address performance gaps and maximise business opportunities.

Operations Management

• Lead the day-to-day operation, ensuring all activities are delivered efficiently and in line with company standards.
• Maintain exceptional standards of presentation, cleanliness, compliance, and customer service.
• Ensure operational procedures are consistently followed and continuously improved.
• Manage all cash handling, stock control, and administrative processes effectively.
• Monitor business performance and implement corrective actions where necessary.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, inspire, and develop a large team to achieve operational and commercial objectives.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, and customer satisfaction.
• Recruit, retain, and develop top talent across the business.
• Conduct regular coaching, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Support succession planning and identify future leaders within the organisation.
• Foster a positive working environment built on trust, respect, and continuous improvement.

Customer Experience

• Champion a customer-first approach throughout the business.
• Ensure customers receive a welcoming, professional, and engaging experience.
• Respond effectively to customer feedback and implement improvements where required.
• Drive customer retention and loyalty through outstanding service delivery.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate effectively with senior leadership teams on business initiatives and performance objectives.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on operational and financial performance.

About You The ideal candidate will be a proven operational leader with a strong track record of delivering results in a fast-paced customer-facing environment.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 5-7 years' experience in a General Manager, Store Manager, Operations Manager, or equivalent senior leadership role.
• Proven experience managing high-volume retail, hospitality, leisure, or service-led operations.
• Strong P&L ownership and financial management experience, ideally within businesses generating €2m-€5m+ annual revenue.
• Demonstrated success in delivering revenue growth, improving profitability, and implementing cost control initiatives.
• Experience leading large teams (30+ employees) and building high-performance cultures.
• Strong commercial awareness with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Excellent analytical skills with experience using KPIs and management information to improve business performance.
• Outstanding leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven experience coaching and developing management teams and frontline employees.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Hands-on leadership style with a visible and proactive approach to management.
• Strong organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and business management systems.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within retail, hospitality, leisure, facilities management, or contract-led service environments.
• Multi-site management experience.
• Experience leading operational transformation or business improvement projects.
• Experience working within regulated or compliance-driven industries.
• Exposure to local marketing initiatives and customer engagement strategies.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary package (€55,000 - €60,000 (DOE))
• Performance-related bonus opportunity.
• Leadership role with significant autonomy and responsibility.
• Ongoing professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative management environment.
• The opportunity to lead a successful operation and make a measurable impact on business performance.

Desired Skills and Experience Essential Requirements Minimum 5-7 years' experience in a General Manager, Store Manager, Operations Manager, or equivalent senior leadership role. Proven experience managing high-volume retail, hospitality, leisure, or service-led operations. Strong P&L ownership and financial management experience, ideally within businesses generating €2m-€5m+ annual revenue. Demonstrated success in delivering revenue growth, improving profitability, and implementing cost control initiatives. Experience leading large teams (50+ employees) and building high-performance cultures. Strong commercial awareness with a data-driven approach to decision-making. Excellent analytical skills with experience using KPIs and management information to improve business performance. Outstanding leadership, communication, and stakeholder management abilities. Proven experience coaching and developing management teams and frontline employees. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment. Hands-on leadership style with a visible and proactive approach to management. Strong organisational, planning, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and business management systems. Desirable Experience Experience within retail, hospitality, leisure, facilities management, or contract-led service environments. Multi-site management experience. Experience leading operational transformation or business improvement projects. Experience working within regulated or compliance-driven industries. Exposure to local marketing initiatives and customer engagement strategies.