OPT Restaurant Assistant Manager Jobs
Restaurant Assistant Manager jobs are open to F-1 OPT students with degrees in hospitality management, food service management, or business administration. Your OPT work authorization covers full-time roles, and STEM OPT extensions don't apply here, so timing your job search before your OPT expires is critical.
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At Perkins Restaurant & Bakery our employees are part of the Perkins extended family and the families we serve. And you'll be responsible for making special days memorable and everyday meals something extraordinary. At Perkins where we've experienced years of success through ensuring 100% guest satisfaction on every visit. If you want to work and grow with a company who has a proven track record of success, has an unmatched commitment to their employees and employs the best in the industry, you are in the right place! We respect one another for our talent, creativity and individual differences. We bring our greatest individual strengths to achieve success as a team. If career growth is what you are looking for - we got that too!
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Assists the General Manager in restaurant operations and in achieving planned sales and profit levels for the restaurant through the implementation, management, and enforcement of company policies, procedures, programs, and performance standards. Provide direction for restaurant staff to ensure maximum guest satisfaction, ensuring execution of all employee duties to guarantee maximum guest satisfaction and a quality work environment.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports: Directly to General Manager
Internal: Extensive contacts with all levels of store personnel as well as all home office departments.
* External: Extensive contacts include guests, distributors, repair technicians, salespersons, and community organizations and schools
LEADERSHIP ABILITIES
Demonstrates principles actions, uses sound judgment and follow through on commitments.
Anticipates problems and issues and makes timely and sound decisions.
Demonstrates a passion and working knowledge of food, liquor, beer and wine.
Leads by example and maintains a guest first focus.
Sets and shares goals with team, monitors and tracks progress of goals.
Directly and honestly addresses issues and resolves conflicts and seeks opportunities for improvement.
* Clarifies roles, responsibilities, priorities and expectations.
POSITION ACTIVITIES AND TASKS
Assists the General Manager in planning and analyzing administration and operations manpower.
Ensures that all menu items are prepared, portioned, and presented properly in a clean safe, and sanitary manner, according to all established procedures, performance standards, and local health department regulations.
Required, under certain circumstances, to perform/assist all functions for all positions in the restaurant.
Ensures the unit's compliance to productivity and service standards with a sufficient number of well-trained and productive employees.
Ensures proper management of the facility and equipment through preventive maintenance, energy conservation, repairs, security measures, and adherence to safety and sanitation requirements.
Ensures that inventory levels for both food and non-food items are properly maintained in accordance with company guidelines through correct ordering procedures and efficient usage and yield application.
Conducts employment activities to include staffing (hire/term responsibilities), training, and conducting performance reviews with all dining room personnel, as well as recommending salary increases and issuing employee work histories.
Ensures accurate financial data to include: payroll, cash and receipts, productivity, food costs, and operating expenses. Responsible for all communications with regard to system breakdowns and deficiencies.
Attends unit management meetings, makes presentations as requested. Responsible for meeting established objectives during periods of his/her or Key Hourly’s supervision.
Anticipates, identifies and corrects system breakdowns to achieve maximum guest satisfaction.
* Ensures the thorough training and development of non-exempt personnel directly supervised.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/ENVIRONMENT/WORKING CONDITIONS
Extensive standing and walking for up to 8 hours
Must be able to see at a distance (20) feet, at close range (12 inches), distinguish between shapes and utilize peripheral vision to avoid hazards.
Must be able to communicate clearly
Exposure to heat, steam, smoke, cold
Reaching heights of approximately 6 feet and depths of 2 ½ - 3 feet.
Must have high level of mobility/flexibility in space provided
Must have time management skills
Must be able to read, write and perform addition/subtraction calculations
Must be able to control and utilize fingers to write, slice chop and operate equipment.
Must be able to fit through openings 30” wide
Must be able to work irregular hours under heavy pressure/stress during busy times
Bending, reaching, walking
Carrying trays of food products weighing about 50 pounds for distances up to 30 feet
Lifting up to 50 pounds
* Exposure to dish and cleaning chemicals
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Receives direction and training from Regional Manager as to the specific procedures and assignments.
EDUCATION LEVEL REQUIRED:
High school diploma; some college or degree preferred.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
1 – 2 years’ managerial experience preferred, preferably in the food service industry
Disclaimer
This position description is not intended, and should not be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with job. It is intended, however, to be an accurate reflection of those principle job elements essential for making decisions related to job performance, employee development and compensation. As such, the incumbent may perform other duties and responsibilities as required.
This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to Perkins Corporate.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Restaurant Assistant Manager
Target hospitality groups, not just individual restaurants
Large restaurant groups and hotel food and beverage divisions have HR infrastructure to handle OPT paperwork. A single-location independent restaurant may want to sponsor you but lack the resources to follow through on H-1B visa or other visa filings.
Frame your international background as an operational asset
Multilingual ability and cross-cultural guest service experience are genuinely valuable in restaurant management. Highlight specific languages spoken and markets you understand when applying to restaurants serving diverse clientele or operating in international hotel brands.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with hiring managers
Restaurant Assistant Manager roles often lead to H-1B sponsorship consideration after a trial period. Be direct about your current OPT end date so employers can evaluate whether the timeline aligns with their promotion and sponsorship planning cycles.
Pursue roles at employers with a history of H-1B filings
Some restaurant and hospitality companies have filed H-1B petitions for management roles before, which signals they understand the process. Employers familiar with sponsorship are far more likely to do it again than those encountering it for the first time.
Get ServSafe and relevant certifications before applying
ServSafe Manager certification, TIPS alcohol service training, and state food handler permits demonstrate operational readiness. Employers are more willing to invest in visa sponsorship for candidates who are already qualified to manage legally compliant restaurant operations.
Ask about management training programs at chain restaurants
National and regional restaurant chains often run formal management training pipelines with structured timelines. These programs are more likely to have established sponsorship pathways than ad hoc hiring, making them a practical starting point for OPT students.
Restaurant Assistant Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Restaurant Assistant Manager role qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization?
Yes, as long as the role is directly related to your degree. If you studied hospitality management, food service management, or business administration, a Restaurant Assistant Manager position is a qualifying match. You'll need to ensure your DSO has authorized the job under your OPT before your start date.
Can I work as a Restaurant Assistant Manager on a STEM OPT extension?
No. Restaurant and hospitality management is not a STEM-designated field, so STEM OPT extensions don't apply to these roles. You're limited to your initial 12-month OPT period. If you want to remain in the U.S. after that, you'll need an employer willing to sponsor you for an H-1B or another work visa before your OPT expires.
Do restaurant employers commonly sponsor visas for Assistant Manager roles?
Sponsorship is less common at independent restaurants but more realistic at large hospitality groups, hotel chains, and national restaurant brands with dedicated HR teams. These employers understand the H-1B process and have filed petitions for management roles before. Finding OPT-friendly employers in this field is easier when you use a focused job board like Migrate Mate, which filters for roles open to OPT candidates.
Can I work part-time as a Restaurant Assistant Manager on OPT?
Yes, OPT permits both full-time and part-time employment. However, USCIS requires OPT students to work at least 20 hours per week to remain in valid status. Restaurant management roles are typically full-time given the operational demands, but if you're in a reduced-hours arrangement, confirm with your DSO that it still satisfies the minimum requirement.
What happens to my OPT status if I'm laid off from a Restaurant Assistant Manager job?
You have a cumulative 90-day unemployment allowance during your OPT period. If you're laid off, that clock starts immediately, so begin your job search right away. Notify your DSO, update your SEVIS record with the employment change, and document the gap. Exceeding 90 total days of unemployment puts your status at risk.