OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
Restaurant Manager jobs on OPT are available, but most openings are with independent restaurants or regional chains that have sponsored F-1 workers before. Your OPT work authorization is employer-specific, so lining up a sponsor before your EAD expires is the priority.
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Get Access To All JobsCompensation Type: Hourly
Highgate Hotels:
Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.
Location:
Overview:
The Food and Beverage Manager is responsible for coordinating, supervising and directing all aspects of food and beverage’s operations, while maintaining a profitable food and beverage outlet and high quality products and service levels. He/she is expected to market ideas to promote business; reduce employee turnover; maintain revenue and payroll budgets; and meet budgeted productivity while keeping quality consistently high.
Responsibilities:
- Employees must at all times be attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to all guests, managers and fellow employees.
- Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the outlet.
- Supervise outlet personnel.
- Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
- Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of issues as they arise.
- Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
- Assist in coordinating and monitoring all phases of Loss Prevention in the outlet.
- Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
- Ensure preparation of required reports, including (but not limited to) Wage Progress, payroll, revenue, employee schedules, quarterly actions plans.
- Monitor quality of service in F&B outlets.
- Assist in menu planning and preparation.
- Ensure compliance with all local liquor laws, and health and sanitation regulations.
- Ensure compliance with SOP’s in all outlets.
- Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.
- Be visible on the floor and assist staff as needed during each meal period.
- Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate Hotel standards.
- Understand, implement and monitor corporate promotions in outlet (if applicable), including buffet and three-meal concept standards.
- Ensure the training of employees on SOP’s and technical job tasks.
- Be involved in and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (CARE, One to One), etc.
- Interview candidates for front-of-house F&B positions and follow standards for hiring approvals.
- Complete tip reporting.
- Ensure overall guest satisfaction.
- Oversee private events in function spaces and suites.
- Oversee quality of service in In Room Dining.
- Hold outlet personnel accountable.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- 2 years of Food and Beverage Management experience in a luxury hotel required.
- At least 3 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 years of related experience; or a 2-year college degree and 2 or more years of related experience.
- Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.
Physical Requirements:
- Long hours sometimes required.
- Required to be standing for extended amount of time.
- Flexibility in schedules required to flex depending to the operation.
- Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
General Requirements:
- Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
- Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
- Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
- Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service
Compensation Type: Hourly
Highgate Hotels:
Highgate is a premier real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in U.S. gateway markets including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a rapidly expanding presence in Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate’s portfolio of global properties represents an aggregate asset value exceeding $20B and generates over $5B in cumulative revenues. The company provides expert guidance through all stages of the hospitality property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate also has the creativity and bandwidth to develop bespoke hotel brands and utilizes industry-leading proprietary revenue management tools that identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive out performance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the industry’s most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, and Seattle.
Location:
Overview:
The Food and Beverage Manager is responsible for coordinating, supervising and directing all aspects of food and beverage’s operations, while maintaining a profitable food and beverage outlet and high quality products and service levels. He/she is expected to market ideas to promote business; reduce employee turnover; maintain revenue and payroll budgets; and meet budgeted productivity while keeping quality consistently high.
Responsibilities:
- Employees must at all times be attentive, friendly, helpful and courteous to all guests, managers and fellow employees.
- Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the outlet.
- Supervise outlet personnel.
- Respond to guest complaints in a timely manner.
- Work with other F&B managers and keep them informed of issues as they arise.
- Keep immediate supervisor fully informed of all problems or matters requiring his/her attention.
- Assist in coordinating and monitoring all phases of Loss Prevention in the outlet.
- Prepare and submit required reports in a timely manner.
- Ensure preparation of required reports, including (but not limited to) Wage Progress, payroll, revenue, employee schedules, quarterly actions plans.
- Monitor quality of service in F&B outlets.
- Assist in menu planning and preparation.
- Ensure compliance with all local liquor laws, and health and sanitation regulations.
- Ensure compliance with SOP’s in all outlets.
- Ensure compliance with requisition procedures.
- Be visible on the floor and assist staff as needed during each meal period.
- Conduct staff performance reviews in accordance with Highgate Hotel standards.
- Understand, implement and monitor corporate promotions in outlet (if applicable), including buffet and three-meal concept standards.
- Ensure the training of employees on SOP’s and technical job tasks.
- Be involved in and/or conduct departmental and hotel training (CARE, One to One), etc.
- Interview candidates for front-of-house F&B positions and follow standards for hiring approvals.
- Complete tip reporting.
- Ensure overall guest satisfaction.
- Oversee private events in function spaces and suites.
- Oversee quality of service in In Room Dining.
- Hold outlet personnel accountable.
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- 2 years of Food and Beverage Management experience in a luxury hotel required.
- At least 3 years of progressive experience in a hotel or a related field; or a 4-year college degree and at least 1 years of related experience; or a 2-year college degree and 2 or more years of related experience.
- Must have knowledge of F&B preparation techniques, health department rules and regulations, liquor laws and regulations.
Physical Requirements:
- Long hours sometimes required.
- Required to be standing for extended amount of time.
- Flexibility in schedules required to flex depending to the operation.
- Medium work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
General Requirements:
- Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and written, with all level of employees and guests in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service oriented manner.
- Must be effective at listening to, understanding, and clarifying concerns raised by employees and guests.
- Must be able to multitask and prioritize departmental functions to meet deadlines.
- Approach all encounters with guests and employees in an attentive, friendly, courteous and service
See all 75+ OPT Restaurant Manager Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Restaurant Manager
Target multi-unit operators and regional chains
Independent restaurants rarely have HR infrastructure to handle OPT sponsorship. Regional chains and multi-unit operators have dedicated HR teams familiar with work authorization paperwork, making them far more likely to sponsor F-1 employees into management roles.
Lead with your hospitality degree when applying
Restaurant Manager roles qualify for OPT only when the work is directly related to your degree field. Hospitality management, food service administration, and business degrees with a hospitality focus are the clearest connections. Make that link explicit in every application.
Start the sponsorship conversation before the offer stage
Raising OPT authorization after an offer creates friction. Mention your F-1 status and EAD timeline in the first interview, framing it as a straightforward administrative step the employer handles, not a complex legal burden on their part.
Document your management experience in quantifiable terms
Employers evaluating OPT candidates for management roles want proof of impact. Quantify team sizes managed, revenue overseen, or cost reductions achieved. Concrete numbers reduce hesitation from employers unfamiliar with sponsoring international candidates.
Apply during off-peak hiring windows for faster decisions
Restaurant hiring spikes around spring and late summer but decision-making slows. Applying in January through March or September through October means less competition and faster turnaround from managers who have more time to evaluate your candidacy.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility if your degree qualifies
If your hospitality or food service degree came from a STEM-designated program, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This significantly increases your appeal to employers who want long-term management hires without immediate H-1B visa pressure.
Restaurant Manager OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Restaurant Manager jobs qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your degree field. A Restaurant Manager position tied to a hospitality management, food service, or business degree typically satisfies the OPT practical training requirement. The connection between your coursework and the job duties needs to be clear and documentable for your DSO and employer records.
How do I find Restaurant Manager employers who are open to sponsoring OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and surfaces Restaurant Manager jobs from employers who have a history of sponsoring international candidates. Browsing through Migrate Mate saves time by filtering out roles where OPT authorization is unlikely to be accepted, letting you focus your applications where they have the best chance.
Can I work as a Restaurant Manager on OPT without a formal job offer letter?
No. OPT is employer-specific, meaning your work authorization is tied to a specific employer and role. You need a valid job offer and your EAD card before you can begin working. Your employer also needs to be registered in E-Verify if you are on a STEM OPT extension, so confirm their E-Verify status before accepting an offer.
What happens to my OPT status if the restaurant I work for closes or I get laid off?
You enter a 60-day grace period from your last day of employment. During that window, you can find a new qualifying Restaurant Manager position, apply for a change of status, or prepare to depart the U.S. You must report any employment change to your DSO promptly, as failing to do so can jeopardize your F-1 record.
Will working as a Restaurant Manager qualify me for H-1B sponsorship later?
It depends on how the role is classified. Restaurant Manager positions can qualify as H-1B specialty occupations if the employer documents a degree requirement in a specific field such as hospitality management or business. Generalist management roles without a defined degree requirement are harder to support under H-1B. Choosing employers who already sponsor H-1B workers improves your long-term options.