Assistant General Manager

Reports to: General Manager

About SAGA: 

SAGA is a Modern American fine dining restaurant located on the 63rd floor of 70 Pine Street in New York City’s Financial District.

Opened in 2021 by Chef Jamal James Kent, SAGA earned two Michelin stars within its first year and has maintained that standard through a  commitment to precision, discipline, and evolution. 

Today, under the leadership of Executive Chef Charlie Mitchell, SAGA continues to push forward with a clear and focused vision. 

The menu reflects a Modern American perspective, drawing from the richness of the Hudson Valley’s seasonal ingredients while embracing the diverse culinary influences that define New York City. Each tasting menu is shaped by a balance of refinement, creativity, and a strong sense of narrative.

The beverage program mirrors this philosophy, with a wine list that spans both classic and emerging regions, highlighting thoughtful, artisanal producers alongside benchmark estates. The program is designed to complement and elevate the guest experience with equal parts precision and discovery.

One floor above SAGA is Overstory, an award-winning cocktail bar offering panoramic views of the city. Together, the two concepts form a cohesive destination, united by a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and world-class hospitality.

At every level, SAGA is driven by a pursuit of continuous improvement and a dedication to delivering an experience that is both exacting and memorable, an environment designed for hospitality professionals who are passionate about their craft and committed to operating at the highest level.

Position Overview: 

The Assistant General Manager plays an integral role in overseeing the daily operations of SAGA, supporting the General Manager in delivering an exceptional fine-dining experience. This position provides hands-on leadership across the dining room and kitchen teams, ensuring operational excellence, financial performance, and consistent service standards. The Assistant General Manager fosters a positive team culture, develops talent, and works closely with the senior leadership team to support the restaurant’s overall success.

Service Responsibilities

• Oversee daily dining room operations, ensuring exceptional service execution and adherence to SAGA’s fine-dining standards.
• Lead pre-shift meetings, communicating service priorities, VIP guests, special requests, menu updates, and reservation details.
• Monitor service flow, pacing, table maintenance, and coordination between the dining room and kitchen to ensure a seamless guest experience.
• Provide hands-on floor leadership, supporting the Service Manager, captains, servers, and support staff throughout service.
• Maintain exceptional guest relations by anticipating needs, addressing concerns, and overseeing service recovery with professionalism and discretion.
• Ensure consistent service standards through ongoing floor observations, team coaching, and attention to dining room presentation and readiness.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and professional work environment through consistent communication and relationship building.
• Lead by example, demonstrating accountability, initiative, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to hospitality.
• Establish clear expectations and provide guidance, coaching, and feedback to management and hourly team members.
• Proactively identify operational challenges, resolve issues, and escalate matters when appropriate.
• Ensure company policies, procedures, and service standards are consistently implemented and maintained.
• Manage competing priorities effectively while supporting the restaurant’s operational and organizational goals.

Management & Administrative Responsibilities

• Support the General Manager in executing operational initiatives, projects, and business objectives in coordination with F&B leadership.
• Provide direction and support to the Service Manager, delegating daily responsibilities and ensuring accountability for execution.
• Monitor labor, overtime, and operational expenses to maintain performance within established budgets.
• Develop, update, and maintain opening, closing, and daily side work procedures.
• Prepare daily operational reports, oversee cash handling and restaurant opening and closing procedures, and communicate relevant updates or incidents to senior leadership.
• Manage administrative processes, including CGS inventory

Staffing, Scheduling & Team Development

• Coordinate with Human Resources and senior leadership on recruitment, job postings, interviewing, and hiring for dining room and kitchen support positions.
• Develop and maintain dining room schedules in coordination with the General Manager ensuring appropriate coverage and alignment with labor budgets.
• Review and approve dining room team timecards, complete and submit daily tip sheets, and maintain the management time-off calendar while reviewing PTO requests in accordance with company policies.
• Participate in performance management, promotional decisions, and disciplinary matters in coordination with the General Manager and Human Resources.
• Identify development opportunities, establish clear growth and promotional pathways, and conduct annual performance reviews in coordination with senior leadership.
• Oversee new-hire onboarding, training, and 90-day employee check-ins while maintaining updated job descriptions in partnership with Human Resources.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of progressive restaurant management experience, preferably in fine dining or luxury hospitality.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and motivate diverse teams in a high-volume, high-touch dining environment.
• Strong understanding of fine-dining service standards, restaurant operations, and front- and back-of-house coordination.
• Working knowledge of labor management, scheduling, payroll, inventory, and operational cost controls.
• Experience with POS, reservation, scheduling, and inventory management systems.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.