Restaurant Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's restaurant industry spans fast-growing cities like Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, with employers ranging from nationally recognized chains to independent hospitality groups. Major operators including Cracker Barrel, headquartered in Lebanon, and large hotel-restaurant groups have histories of sponsoring international workers for culinary and management roles requiring specialized expertise.
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Get Access To All JobsAbout the Job:
As the Restaurant General Manager, you'll lead a dynamic team, handpicking and training the best crew to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Imagine the pride you'll feel setting the gold standard that others aspire to. You'll oversee the recruitment and training of your team, guiding them towards promotions and empowering them to build successful careers. By cultivating a team of top performers, you'll create a culture that's vibrant, optimistic and incredibly rewarding. Your success will be reflected in the achievements of your team.
The Day-to-Day:
- Recruit, onboard, and conduct orientations for top Team Members and Shift Supervisors, ensuring a strong, well-prepared team.
- Develop a comprehensive training plan, mentoring Assistant Managers, Shift Supervisors, and Team Member Trainers as well as overseeing the execution of all training and development initiatives.
- Recognize and reward outstanding Team Member performance regularly, while fostering a culture of equity, inclusion and belonging.
- Address and resolve conflicts promptly, maintaining a positive work environment.
- Personally engage with customers, swiftly resolving any issues to ensure a positive experience.
- Strategically schedule staff to optimize customer service, coach the management team on the KFC brand standards and lead product rollout meetings to ensure successful implementation.
- Analyze the restaurant's financial performance, manage the budget and develop strategies to maximize profitability without compromising the customer experience.
- Stay informed about competitors and aim to exceed their standards in all aspects, including digital presence and loyalty programs.
Is this you?
- 5 years in restaurant or retail management with a strong track record in people management.
- Proven ability to improve performance based on P&L analysis.
- Proficient with digital tools and platforms.
- Exceptional communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.
- Solid understanding of restaurant maintenance programs.
- Champions KFC's culture and values, with a focus on Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
- Experienced in recognizing and motivating teams, with a successful track record in people development.
- Skilled in recruiting top talent and training both high and under-performing employees.
- Adaptable to change and experienced in supporting change management.
Adheres to corporate policies and Occupational Health and Food Safety standards.
Work-Hard, Play-Hard:
- Competitive pay
- Bonus Eligible
- 4 weeks' vacation and additional Paid Time Off
- Tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities
- Career advancement and professional development
- Medical benefits from day 1
- 401k retirement plan with 6% match
- Health and wellness programs
- Perks! Discounts on mortgages, vehicles, cell phones, gym memberships and more
- Free meal each shift
- KFC Foundation Programs including FREE college tuition at WGU, $1 per $1 Savings Match Program, Hardship Assistance Program plus more!
About the Job:
As the Restaurant General Manager, you'll lead a dynamic team, handpicking and training the best crew to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Imagine the pride you'll feel setting the gold standard that others aspire to. You'll oversee the recruitment and training of your team, guiding them towards promotions and empowering them to build successful careers. By cultivating a team of top performers, you'll create a culture that's vibrant, optimistic and incredibly rewarding. Your success will be reflected in the achievements of your team.
The Day-to-Day:
- Recruit, onboard, and conduct orientations for top Team Members and Shift Supervisors, ensuring a strong, well-prepared team.
- Develop a comprehensive training plan, mentoring Assistant Managers, Shift Supervisors, and Team Member Trainers as well as overseeing the execution of all training and development initiatives.
- Recognize and reward outstanding Team Member performance regularly, while fostering a culture of equity, inclusion and belonging.
- Address and resolve conflicts promptly, maintaining a positive work environment.
- Personally engage with customers, swiftly resolving any issues to ensure a positive experience.
- Strategically schedule staff to optimize customer service, coach the management team on the KFC brand standards and lead product rollout meetings to ensure successful implementation.
- Analyze the restaurant's financial performance, manage the budget and develop strategies to maximize profitability without compromising the customer experience.
- Stay informed about competitors and aim to exceed their standards in all aspects, including digital presence and loyalty programs.
Is this you?
- 5 years in restaurant or retail management with a strong track record in people management.
- Proven ability to improve performance based on P&L analysis.
- Proficient with digital tools and platforms.
- Exceptional communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.
- Solid understanding of restaurant maintenance programs.
- Champions KFC's culture and values, with a focus on Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
- Experienced in recognizing and motivating teams, with a successful track record in people development.
- Skilled in recruiting top talent and training both high and under-performing employees.
- Adaptable to change and experienced in supporting change management.
Adheres to corporate policies and Occupational Health and Food Safety standards.
Work-Hard, Play-Hard:
- Competitive pay
- Bonus Eligible
- 4 weeks' vacation and additional Paid Time Off
- Tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities
- Career advancement and professional development
- Medical benefits from day 1
- 401k retirement plan with 6% match
- Health and wellness programs
- Perks! Discounts on mortgages, vehicles, cell phones, gym memberships and more
- Free meal each shift
- KFC Foundation Programs including FREE college tuition at WGU, $1 per $1 Savings Match Program, Hardship Assistance Program plus more!
Restaurant Job Roles in Tennessee
See all 131+ Restaurant Jobs in Tennessee
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Search Restaurant Jobs in TennesseeRestaurant Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies sponsor visas for restaurant roles in Tennessee?
Larger hospitality employers are the most consistent sponsors. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee, has sponsored workers for specialized roles. Hotel-affiliated restaurant groups operating in Nashville and Memphis, including properties connected to Marriott and Hilton brands, also have sponsorship track records. Independent fine dining establishments occasionally sponsor for executive chef and sous chef positions where specialized culinary expertise is required.
Which visa types are most common for restaurant roles in Tennessee?
The H-1B is the most recognized option but requires the role to qualify as a specialty occupation, which limits it largely to culinary management positions requiring a relevant degree. The O-1A applies to chefs with extraordinary ability and documented national recognition. The EB-3 immigrant visa covers skilled and unskilled workers and is sometimes used for longer-term sponsorship of kitchen staff and service roles by larger restaurant groups.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most restaurant visa sponsorship jobs?
Nashville generates the highest concentration of restaurant sponsorship activity, driven by its booming hospitality sector and large convention hotel properties. Memphis follows, particularly around its established food and tourism corridor. Knoxville sees activity near the University of Tennessee campus, where hospitality-focused employers occasionally recruit internationally. Smaller markets like Chattanooga have emerging food scenes but significantly fewer documented sponsorship opportunities.
How to find restaurant visa sponsorship jobs in Tennessee?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically by visa sponsorship status, so you can search restaurant roles in Tennessee without sorting through employers who don't sponsor. Focus your search on culinary management, executive chef, and food and beverage director titles, as these are the positions Tennessee employers most commonly sponsor. Migrate Mate also surfaces employer sponsorship history, which helps you prioritize outreach toward companies with proven track records in the state.
Are there state-specific considerations for restaurant visa sponsorship in Tennessee?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which affects prevailing wage calculations and total compensation comparisons when employers file Labor Condition Applications. Restaurant roles in Nashville face a competitive labor market, meaning sponsors typically target positions with genuine skills gaps, such as specialized cuisine expertise or multilingual service management. Tennessee's growing tourism industry, particularly in Nashville and around Gatlinburg, creates recurring demand for hospitality professionals with international backgrounds.
What is the prevailing wage for sponsored restaurant jobs in Tennessee?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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