Assistant Manager

at  The Annex Restaurant

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Full-Time, Seasonal
The Annex is a standout restaurant, bar, and event space in Inverness, Nova Scotia; a seaside town on the western side of Cape Breton Island. In 2025 the Annex is thrilled to be a finalist in the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia’s annual awards in the categories of Best Restaurant, Cape Breton and Best Atmosphere.
A community-centric gem, The Annex is set in an unbeatable location - overlooking Cabot Links golf course, Inverness Harbour, and the Northumberland Strait - with stunning sunset views. Warm, knowledgeable service, delicious scratch-made food and our beautiful dining room combine to create an unforgettable dining experience that feels both special and home-like for our guests. We aim to become a destination dining experience throughout the Maritimes.
The Annex is located in an incredibly special corner of the world and we take tremendous pride in highlighting the talent and beauty of Cape Breton and its surroundings. Showcasing “best-of” local is a cornerstone principle of our mission, whether it be through food, drink, music, or extended opportunities. Our culinary team’s contemporary Maritime cuisine showcases local products in novel but approachable ways; elevated comfort food with plenty of fresh seafood and seasonal produce is where our menu shines. Our close relationships with local fishers, farmers, and purveyors provides intimate access to Cape Breton’s bountiful offering.
The restaurant’s dining room seats 40 at table and an additional 11 around our social bar space. A spacious deck offers the opportunity to extend serve to up to an additional 75 guests throughout the summer. Finally, our fully-licensed lawn space provides a memorable setting for pre- or post-dinner drinks, as well as offering the potential for larger-scale special events. The town sees significant seasonal traffic, and the restaurant can average 125 covers a night in the height of the season. The Annex is a warm, welcoming space with a focus on noteworthy quality that carries throughout the entire guest experience.
The Annex seeks to fill the role of Assistant Manager, a key member of its leadership team. This role will work closely with the Owner-Operator to own the training and management of the front-of-house team. The right candidate will be passionate about service standards and creating a memorable guest experience. They will be an operations ace and highly skilled at contributing to a smoothly operating dining room and a profitable business. On top of this, the ideal individual will display a curiosity and appreciation for food and beverage creation. Food and drink knowledge is an asset, an appetite for learning is a must.
Inverness, Nova Scotia is a rural town of about 1,300 people on the west coast of Cape Breton Island. A vibrant summertime destination for many, the area hosts gorgeous sandy beaches with the warmest Atlantic waters north of the Carolinas, innumerable hiking trails, a strong home-grown music culture, and is home to the globally-ranked golf courses of Cabot Cape Breton. In winter, the area quiets down significantly, making time for community building, sitting by the fire, card playing, and winter-sports (including over 1000km of snowmobiling trails). The area is ideal for individuals and families who enjoy outdoor activities and nature.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Reliability and a professional approach to work are absolute requirements
• Strong leadership abilities
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Understanding of health and sanitations laws
• Deep knowledge of the food industry, practical wine and beverage knowledge, and awareness of ongoing trends
• Some understanding of menu and recipe development techniques
• Basic computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook)
• Budgeting skills to control costs
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at once
• Incredible time management skills
• An “always learning” mentality

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• 3-5 years’ experience in high-volume restaurants
• Experience in and exposure to finer dining work environments
• Previous restaurant management experience preferred
  Why Work For US:
• Positive, respectful, professional work environment
• Commitment to work-life balance
• Tip Pool participation
• Vacation pay, overtime pay
• Training and certification opportunities
• Opportunity for Health Care benefits
• Employee discount on food and beverages
  If you have a passion food and beverage service, we would love to hear from you!
  Please submit a resume highlighting your relevant experience to the email address above.
  Job Types: Full-time, Seasonal
  Contract length: 8 months
  Pay: $45,000.00-$52,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Tips

Benefits:

• Dental care
• Discounted or free food
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Store discount
• Vision care

Flexible language requirement:

• French not required

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• Evening shift
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Inverness, NS: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Education:

• Secondary School (preferred)

Experience:

• Restaurant: 3 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Food Handler Certification (preferred)
• Serve Right (preferred)

Location:

• Inverness, NS (preferred)

Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 2025-04-0

• Lead, mentor, and manage front-of-house (FOH) team
• Implement and refine training programs and service standards
• Develop and implement FOH operational standards with the Owner-Operator
• Schedule FOH team appropriate to predicted business levels
• Maintain and track FOH inventory, particularly alcohol
• Ensure a positive and seamless guest experience, from point of first contact, through service, to maintaining relationships
• Maintain a smoothly operating and financially successful FOH.
• Address guest concerns appropriately
• Coordinate and execute special events with the Owner-Operator
• Contribute to the generation of new ideas to attract business and create value for guests
• Contribute to the design and execution of the restaurant’s beverage program