OPPORTUNITY OVERVIEW

Postino WineCafe is a growing, culture-forward restaurant brand with 35 locations across seven states and an exciting expansion ahead. We are preparing to open our first Greater Chicago Area location in Vernon Hills, IL in Fall 2026, marking a significant milestone in our national growth strategy. Over the following three years, we are committed to opening a minimum of three Postino locations across the Greater Chicago Area, creating a strong foundation for long-term market leadership. The Area Director will play a critical role in launching this market. This position will initially serve as the General Manager of the first Chicago-area location, leading the opening, building the team, and establishing operational excellence. As additional locations open, the role will evolve into multi-unit leadership, overseeing multiple restaurants and developing future leaders within the market.

TRAVEL AND COMMITMENT EXPECTATIONS

The individual selected for this role must be willing and able to train and work in multiple markets outside of the Greater Chicago Area during the construction and pre-opening phase, estimated to last approximately six months. All travel expenses and daily per diem will be fully covered, and regular travel back to the home base will be provided to support work-life balance throughout this period.

WHO WE ARE

We are a restaurant group that thrives on creating authentic and inspiring experiences for the communities we serve. Through the contributions of countless incredible people, past and present, we’re headed to the moon with a simple mission — to make people feel good. While no one on the team is quite like the other, it’s our common values that keep us united.

• Be Authentic and Humble
• Act with Integrity
• Bring Good Energy
• Achieve as a Team
• Get Extraordinary Results
• Inspire with Hospitality

ABOUT THE AREA DIRECTOR

The primary responsibility of the Area Director is to provide direct oversight, validation, coaching, and accountability of company goals, results, processes, procedures, and standards by the General Managers and their management teams at assigned store locations.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL YOU MUST

• Reward and express genuine appreciation of your team’s valuable hard work and tenure.
• Provide ongoing mentorship, development, and education.
• Achieve sales goals and maximize profits at your area restaurant locations.
• Build a team of passionate hospitality and culinary leaders who live and breathe our values, demonstrate competency, who are high character individuals.
• Orchestrate a vibrant orientation experience for new leaders.
• Approach training with energy, accountability, and detail.
• Communicate company objectives daily to all your restaurant locations.
• Empower your leaders to build and develop their own team.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE UPWARD PROJECTS

• Excellent benefit and compensation package
• Paid time off and earned paid sick time
• Fitness discount programs
• 401K with company match
• A people focused culture united by our shared values
• Unlimited growth opportunities, with several new restaurant openings
• Having a voice. We provide empowerment and influence to all our team members
• Opportunity to build deep, meaningful, and lasting relationships with colleagues
• Recognition and rewards for your hard work and tenure
• Generous meal benefit program

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a multi-unit manager in a high-volume restaurant environment
• Ability to provide accomplishments and successes within the multi-unit role in key company metrics
• Advanced knowledge of food and beverage trends, products, and quality
• Ability to examine details and provide alternate solutions to areas where results fall short
• Strong ability to learn and teach the mechanics and details of a P&L
• Excellent people skills and the ability to motivate and inspire others
• Proven ability to develop managers
• Strong communication skills both oral and written
• Strong ability to understand, use, and teach others software that applies to daily business functions
• Strong advocate of company culture and putting employees first 
• Ability to see complex situations and provide best case solutions from research and benchmarking
• Strong ability to handle conflict when it arises and able to diffuse high-risk situations