General Manager, Balboa

Overview

Join the Crew at Luke’s Lobster — Grow Your Career With Purpose. Luke’s Lobster is a Maine-inspired, fast-casual lobster shack known for our award-winning seafood rolls and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Every lobster we serve is traceable back to its source and sustainably harvested — because quality matters, and so do the people and oceans behind it. We’re looking for a General Manager (GM) to join our Balboa Island team — someone who’s hungry to grow, excited to lead, and passionate about creating memorable guest and team experiences.

About This Location

This General Manager role is based at our Balboa Island location in California — a standout shack in one of the most iconic, walkable coastal communities in Newport Beach. This location is a high-visibility neighborhood favorite, serving a steady mix of locals, weekend crowds, and tourists who expect fast, friendly service and a consistently great product. Balboa Island has a small-footprint, high-volume feel with an upbeat energy and constant guest interaction.

This truly feels more like a takeout seafood shack than a dine-in outlet. Success here comes from being highly organized, leading from the front, and building a tight, reliable team that can execute with speed, quality, and hospitality — even during peak rushes.

As the GM, you’ll oversee the full operation, elevate the guest experience, and create a strong team culture rooted in Luke’s standards — while running the shack like your own small business in a busy and high-demand market.

• Build, inspire, and develop a diverse and high-performing team
• Deliver warm, genuine guest interactions that highlight our Maine heritage
• Work hands-on alongside your crew on the line
• Analyze sales and manage controllable expenses, schedules, and inventory
• Maintain exceptional standards for safety, cleanliness, and organization
• Act like a small business owner and be responsible for the entire Shack operation

If you love leading by example, have an intrinsic passion for engaging guests, and enjoy rolling up your sleeves to make great experiences happen, this role is for you.

• Demonstrate joy leading people and serving guests
• A positive attitude, curiosity, and commitment to continuous growth
• Passion for the best tasting and highest quality seafood
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong financial acumen or eagerness to learn (P&Ls, COGS, etc.)
• Ability to handle or be exposed to shellfish
• Required food handler certification
• Direct customer facing experience, to include restaurant management experience, is a plus but not required
• Ability to perform physical requirements of the position (the ability to frequently lift up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds)

• Growth opportunities in a rapidly growing, family operated business that is also B Corp certified
• Salary: $80,000 - $85,000 + competitive bonus program
• Paid vacation, sick time & holidays
• Medical, dental & vision insurance (national PPO) with company contributions after one month
• Health Savings Account (HSA) + supplemental accident & hospital indemnity insurance
• Optional pet insurance and life insurance after one month
• Low-fee 401(k) with company access after one month
• Mobile phone stipend
• Company-provided laptop
• Paid parental leave
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (varies by State)
• Employee discounts (hello, lobster rolls)
• Casual dress code & supportive environment

Luke’s Lobster was born out of the dream of Maine native and third-generation lobsterman Luke Holden to bring the quality lobster rolls of his youth to the big city. After meeting business partner Ben Conniff on Craigslist, the two twenty-somethings opened their first lobster shack in a 250 square foot space in NYC’s East Village in October 2009. Now 15 years later, Luke’s Lobster brings traceable, sustainable seafood to guests across the globe.

Our vision is to be the world’s most trusted seafood brand. Our mission is to serve the best seafood because we care for it obsessively from the dock to you, and because we re devoted to serving the whole community of people it touches. We work directly with fishermen to hand-pick the best…