Since 1963, Donatos Pizza has been serving up more than great pizza — we've been building a culture rooted in goodwill, ever since founder Jim Grote bought a small pizza shop in Columbus, Ohio's German Village. The name Donatos comes from the Latin "to give a good thing," and that idea still drives everything we do: make the best pizza, hire great people, and promote goodwill in every community we serve. Now a family-owned brand with more than 460 locations across the country, Donatos has never lost sight of the principles it was built on — leading with integrity, treating people the way we'd want to be treated, and bringing genuine hospitality to every table. Our team lives by five core values: Integrity, Fun, Of Service, Open-mindedness, and Discipline — the foundation of our Mission to promote goodwill through product, service, principle, and people, and our Promise to serve the best pizza and make your day a little better.
We have an exciting opportunity available for the first Donatos Pizza opening in the Houston area, located in Humble. The Manager is responsible for leading their team and providing outstanding service to our customers and community. Managers coach and train Donatos Associates to produce the highest quality food and to provide friendly and honest service. This role reports to the General Manager and is also a development role: Managers who consistently exceed may grow into senior leadership as we open additional Houston-area locations.
Key Responsibilities
Running the Restaurant
· Run the restaurant with full accountability for the shift or the day — product quality, service times, cleanliness, safety, cash, and team performance.
· Open and close the building with complete administrative procedures, accurate paperwork, and proper securing of cash, inventory, and the facility.
· Position Associates by volume and skill, adjust the line in real time, and decide in the moment on service recovery, staffing, equipment, and safety.
· Communicate results, issues, and follow-ups to the General Manager and the next shift's leader so nothing is passed along unresolved.
Product Quality and Food Safety
· Execute and enforce Donatos recipes, portioning, dough handling, edge-to-edge topping, bake, and product holding times.
· Ensure orders go out accurate, complete, and within quoted promise times for dine-in, carryout, delivery, and third-party.
· Ensure Associates follow all food safety and personal hygiene standards required by Donatos and the local Health Department, and complete and record required checks.
· Maintain cleanliness, equipment condition, and image standards throughout the shift, and report equipment issues promptly.
People and Training
· Train and certify new Associates on Donatos standards so they understand their role in delivering the Mission, Promise, and Values.
· Coach in the moment: give immediate, specific feedback, correct what's off, recognize what's done well, and set the tone for the team.
· Support the General Manager with interviewing, onboarding, scheduling, and documented performance conversations, including corrective action.
Cost Control and Administration
· Assume responsibility for inventory of all stocked items, vendor orders, and invoice processing, with accurate counts completed on schedule.
· Control food cost through portioning, waste tracking, and proper recording of transfers, voids, and refunds, and manage labor within the General Manager's plan.
· Follow cash handling and security procedures exactly — drawer counts, drops, deposits, and refund documentation.
· Complete required reporting in Donatos systems, and work with the General Manager to correct unfavorable P&L trends.
Customer Experience
· Listen to customers attentively, anticipate needs at all access points, and resolve complaints with empathy and the correct service recovery steps.
· Ensure the team delivers all elements of the Donatos Service Behaviors on every order.
Qualifications
· Two years of restaurant management experience preferred — Assistant Manager, Shift Manager, or comparable experience in pizza, QSR, or fast casual.
· Demonstrated ability to run a restaurant independently, including opening and closing, without direct supervision.
· Must be 18 years of age or older with a high school diploma or equivalent.
· Basic math and reading skills to count inventory, run a drawer, and process invoices, plus comfort with point-of-sale, inventory, scheduling, and ordering platforms.
· Coaching and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to hold a team accountable while keeping morale high.
· ServSafe or equivalent Food Protection Manager certification preferred, or obtainable within 60 days of hire.
· Dependable attendance and flexible availability including nights, weekends, and holidays. Valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and reliable transportation preferred.
· Completion of the Donatos management training program, e-learning modules, and food safe handler's course following hire, and able to execute all items on the Manager readiness checklist.
· Must be able to travel up to 4 weeks to complete initial training program at a corporate owned store in Columbus, Ohio. Travel expense will be paid for.
Compensation
This is an hourly, non-exempt position. The rate per hour depends on experience, with paid training and eligibility for benefits. Pay increases are tied to completing certifications and demonstrating readiness, not to time served.
Work Environment
This is an active, on-site role in a fast-paced restaurant environment. The Manager must be able to stand and walk an entire shift, occasionally lift up to 50 pounds, and perform occasional bending, twisting, and reaching, with exposure to hot surfaces, cornmeal dust, and food odors. Peak business periods, including evenings and weekends, are required, and the Manager must perform the essential functions of the position safely while meeting productivity standards.
Work schedule
- Weekend availability
- Monday to Friday
- Holidays