Jorge Padilla
Trussville,Alabama
Summary
Dedicated and results-driven hospitality professional with 10+ years of progressive experience in restaurant operations, advancing from entry-level roles to General Manager. Proven track record of team development, operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and community engagement in high-volume environments. Recognized for strong leadership, accountability, and commitment to building a positive team culture.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
General Manager
First Watch
Hoover, Birmingham & Vestavia Hills, AL
01.2023 - Current
- Oversee daily restaurant operations ensuring excellence in service, food quality, and cleanliness
- Lead, coach, and develop team members and managers to improve performance and accountability
- Manage scheduling, labor costs, inventory, and operational efficiency
- Ensure compliance with company policies, specifications, and health standards
- Resolve guest concerns professionally to maintain exceptional guest satisfaction
- Lead community involvement initiatives and local partnerships\
- Certified training manager
- Led staff training programs, fostering skill development and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
- Coordinated supply chain management processes, optimizing inventory levels and reducing costs.
- Oversaw financial planning and budgeting activities, ensuring alignment with company goals and profitability targets.
- Managed a diverse team of professionals, fostering a positive work environment and high employee satisfaction.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
- Managed budget development, forecasting, and financial reporting processes to track progress towards organizational objectives accurately.
- Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
Operations Manager
First Watch
Birmingham & Vestavia Hills, AL
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Assisted with daily operations in a high-volume restaurant environment
- Supervised staff and ensured adherence to company standards
- Monitored sales, labor performance, and PMIX metrics
- Supported hiring, onboarding, and training of new team members
Deli Clerk
Publix
Hoover, AL
04.2020 - 01.2022
- Provided exceptional customer service while assisting patrons with deli product selections.
- Operated slicing and packaging equipment to prepare meats and cheeses for display.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of deli area to ensure compliance with health standards.
- Collaborated with team members to manage inventory levels and reduce waste effectively.
- Trained new staff on proper food handling procedures and customer interaction techniques.
- Monitored product expiration dates, ensuring freshness and quality for customers.
- Handled customer inquiries and resolved complaints promptly, enhancing customer satisfaction levels.
- Greeted customers at counter to fulfill requests and answer questions.
- Maintained a safe working environment by adhering to food safety guidelines and promptly addressing any hazards.
- Prevented food spoilage by monitoring dates, rotating stock, and following proper storage procedures.
- Improved workflow efficiency by effectively multitasking, prioritizing tasks, and communicating with team members.
- Cleaned and sanitized dishes and utensils, consistently keeping adequate supplies on hand for expected customer loads.
- Restocked supplies and prepared additional ingredients during downtime for expected busy periods.
Delivery Driver
Shipt
Birmingham, AL
04.2020 - 01.2022
- Delivered groceries efficiently, ensuring timely arrival at customer locations.
- Navigated routes using GPS technology to optimize delivery times and reduce delays.
- Communicated effectively with customers regarding order status and delivery updates.
- Managed multiple deliveries simultaneously while maintaining high service quality standards.
Team Member
First Watch
Vestavia Hills, Birmingham & Hoover, AL
01.2015 - 01.2022
- Worked multiple roles including Dishwasher, Busser, Server, Host, and Cashier
- Delivered excellent guest service across front-of-house positions
- Maintained cleanliness and operational efficiency in back-of-house roles
- Handled POS transactions and cash accurately
- Supported training and shift operations
Education
High School Diploma -
Pelham High School
Pelham, AlabamaSkills
- Restaurant Operations Management
- Team Leadership & Staff Development
- Customer Service Excellence
- Conflict Resolution
- Training & Coaching
- Scheduling & Labor Management
- Inventory & Cost Control
- Community Engagement
- Efficient multi-tasker
- Effective leader
- Time management
- Team leadership
- Customer relations
- Staff training/development
- Performance improvement
- Deadline oriented
Accomplishments
- Staffing - Worked directly with Human Resources to streamline hiring and onboarding process.
- Marketing - Implemented marketing strategies which resulted in 6% growth of customer base.
Certification
- Servesafe Manager
- Servesafe Proctor
Languages
Spanish – Fluent
American Sign Language – Basic
Timeline
General Manager
First Watch
01.2023 - Current
Operations Manager
First Watch
01.2022 - 01.2023
Deli Clerk
Publix
04.2020 - 01.2022
Delivery Driver
Shipt
04.2020 - 01.2022
Team Member
First Watch
01.2015 - 01.2022
High School Diploma -
Pelham High School
Awards & Recognition
Community Service Award – 2026 Leadership Conference, Las Vegas.
Recognized for outstanding community involvement and dedication to local outreach initiatives.