Finch Employment

Professional & office recruitmentHospitality management recruitment in Toronto and the GTA

Finch recruits the managers, chefs and event professionals who run restaurants, hotels and venues, so you are not interviewing between services.

Executive chef plating a dish in a restaurant kitchen

In hospitality, the person in charge sets the standard for everyone else. A restaurant without a strong general manager loses control of labour costs and service, and a kitchen without the right chef struggles with consistency and food safety. Finch Employment recruits management and kitchen leadership for restaurants, hotels, catering companies and event venues across Toronto and the GTA, and for hospitality employers across Canada.

We focus on leadership and skilled roles, not general front-of-house or kitchen labour. After a consultation about your operation, concept and team, the retainer begins the search. We advertise, source and screen candidates, then arrange interviews with a shortlist of suitable people. We check the certifications your type of operation needs in Ontario, such as food handler training and Smart Serve, and follow up after the start date.

Why hospitality leadership needs a specialist

Good general managers and chefs are rarely looking. Most are running an operation now and will only move for the right concept and conditions.

A title on a resume says little. A sous chef in a hotel banquet kitchen and one in a small a la carte restaurant do very different work.

Ontario food premises must keep a certified food handler on site during operating hours, and anyone serving alcohol needs Smart Serve, so certifications matter.

Hiring between shifts is hard. Interviews compete with service, and a rushed decision on a leadership role can affect staff turnover for months.

How we screen hospitality management candidates

  • Experience at a similar scale, concept and service style
  • Food handler certification and Smart Serve status where the role requires them
  • Track record with food and labour costs, scheduling and inventory
  • Leadership style and how the candidate trains and keeps staff
  • References from owners, operators or senior managers they reported to

Where we recruit hospitality management professionals

We run hospitality management searches for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada.

Roles we fill

Hospitality management roles we recruit for

How it works

How a hospitality management search works

  1. Consultation

    Tell us about the role, your team and your timeline. We agree on a retainer and fees tailored to the position.

  2. Retainer & search

    Your retainer starts the search. We advertise, source and screen candidates for you.

  3. Shortlist & interviews

    You meet only suitable candidates. We arrange every interview.

  4. Hire & follow-up

    We manage the offer and check in after your new hire starts.

Retainer-based recruiting. Fees are tailored to every position, and a retainer up front starts your search.Book a consultation

Hospitality management recruitment: questions employers ask

Does Finch recruit servers, line cooks or dishwashers?

No. Our hospitality searches focus on management and skilled kitchen leadership, such as restaurant and hotel general managers, executive and sous chefs, and event coordinators. That focus lets us spend the time each search needs on references, certifications and fit with your concept, which matters most for the people who lead your team.

What certifications should a hospitality manager have in Ontario?

It depends on the operation. Food premises must have at least one certified food handler on site whenever they operate, and anyone who sells or serves alcohol needs Smart Serve, which the AGCO requires people to renew every five years. We confirm what each candidate holds. For your own licence obligations, check with the AGCO or your local public health unit.

How do you judge whether a chef or manager will fit our concept?

During the consultation we ask about your menu, service style, team size and the problems you want the new hire to solve. We then screen for candidates who have worked in comparable operations and ask references specific questions about leadership, cost control and consistency, so the shortlist reflects your business rather than a generic job title.

Google reviews

What our clients say

★★★★★
“Over the last four years, Finch Employment helped me find both long and short term assistants for my real estate business. The quality of personnel they matched me with has been unparalleled in regards to other recruitment firms. I am happy to recommend their services across all industries.”
Real estate business owner · Google review
★★★★★
“Finch Employment is a very reliable and professional company. My experience with them was very positive, and the process was quick and well organized.”
Business client · Google review
★★★★★
“Thank you for your professional approach. Because of Finch Employment’s support, our gym got a very skillful massage therapist.”
Fitness business · Google review

Read more reviews on Google

Tell us about your hospitality management opening

Tell us who you need. A Finch recruiter will call you back within one business day to talk through the role and retainer.

Call 416-551-6111
Office visits by appointment only