University of Manchester Students' Union
General Manager
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General Manager Role
This new venture is our most significant commercial launch in a decade, and as General Manager you will play the lead role in making it a success.
Starting shortly before launch you will open the venue, set its standards, build its team and help shape its identity as a high-quality Oxford Road bar and social venue trading from morning coffee through to late-night drinks. Every commercial pound the venue generates goes back into supporting students at the University of Manchester, making this one of the few General Manager roles where the P&L has a purpose beyond profit alone.
The role sits within the Commercial team, working alongside colleagues responsible for Manchester Academy Venues, Bar 532 & Kitchen and Corridor Coffee. Together, the team generates the trading income that supports the Union’s student-facing work while delivering first-class hospitality experiences for students, staff, gig-goers and the wider Oxford Road community.
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Responsibilities
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Lead the P&L for the site, keeping sales, gross profit, labour and controllable costs on track and taking swift action where needed. In practice, this means:
- Clear weekly targets
- Tight control of wet and dry margins
- Effective rota planning
- Strong stock management
- A relentless focus on the guest experience
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Build and lead the newly recruited team of:
- Assistant Managers
- Head Chef
- Sous Chef
- Kitchen colleagues
- Casual bar and floor staff
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Developing that team into confident, capable hospitality leaders will be a core part of the role, supported by in-house HR, learning and development, and the wider Commercial leadership team.
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Act as Designated Premises Supervisor, taking responsibility for safe and compliant trading, including:
- Licensing
- Health and safety
- Food safety
- Staff training
- Incident management
- Responsible alcohol retailing
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- Lead and shape the venue’s events and programming calendar, working with colleagues and student groups to create the moments that give the venue its identity. Activities include:
- Quiz nights
- Acoustic sessions
- Welcome Week takeovers
- Society activity
- University-linked activations
- Pre-gig trading
About the Role
This role strongly reflects our values of delivering great experiences and building community. It is a rare and exciting opportunity for an experienced and passionate hospitality leader to take the reins at a major new hospitality venue while directly contributing to the student experience at one of the UK’s largest and most diverse universities.
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