Chief Operating Officer

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗥𝘀 𝟳𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬 - 𝗥𝘀 𝟭𝟮𝟱𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬𝟬 (𝗶𝗲 𝗜𝗡𝗥 𝟳𝟬-𝟭𝟮𝟱 𝗟𝗣𝗔)

Experience: 17+ yrs

Location: Mubmai

Job Type: Full-time

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead end-to-end operations for a growing restaurant and hospitality business. The role requires a strong track record in operational excellence, restaurant operations, business growth, financial performance, and multi-unit leadership.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for building scalable operating systems, improving restaurant performance, strengthening customer experience, and ensuring consistent execution across locations. This role requires a strategic leader who can translate business objectives into operational plans while maintaining strong ownership of profitability, people, quality, and service standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overall restaurant operations and ensure consistent execution across all locations.
• Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with business growth and profitability objectives.
• Drive a culture of operational excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and execution discipline.
• Own restaurant-level performance, including revenue, profitability, productivity, cost control, and unit economics.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs across restaurants and business functions.
• Develop standard operating procedures, operating frameworks, and scalable processes for multi-unit operations.
• Ensure consistent standards for food quality, service, hygiene, safety, customer experience, and brand presentation.
• Lead restaurant leadership teams and build a strong pipeline of high-performing operational talent.
• Coach, mentor, and develop regional, cluster, and restaurant managers.
• Analyse operational and financial performance to identify gaps, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Drive initiatives to improve labour productivity, food costs, wastage, inventory management, and operating margins.
• Partner with Finance to develop budgets, forecasts, business plans, and profitability improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to optimise sourcing, vendor performance, inventory, and supply continuity.
• Lead operational planning and execution for new restaurant openings, expansions, and market launches.
• Identify opportunities to improve customer experience, service efficiency, and restaurant productivity.
• Establish effective performance-review mechanisms and ensure timely corrective actions.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives involving Operations, HR, Finance, Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, and Technology.
• Identify and implement technology, automation, and process improvements that enhance operational efficiency.
• Manage operational risks and ensure compliance with applicable food safety, health, labour, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide regular performance insights, operational updates, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• 17+ years of experience in restaurant operations, hospitality, food service, retail, or a closely related consumer-facing industry.
• Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-unit restaurant operations at a senior leadership level.
• Strong track record of driving operational excellence, revenue growth, profitability, and cost optimisation.
• Deep understanding of restaurant unit economics, P&L management, food costs, labour costs, inventory, and operational KPIs.
• Strong experience building scalable SOPs, processes, operating models, and performance-management systems.
• Proven ability to lead and develop large, multi-layered operational teams.
• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to connect operational decisions with business and financial outcomes.
• Experience managing restaurant expansion, new-store openings, and operational transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of customer experience, service quality, food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-growth, and constantly evolving environments.
• High ownership, execution discipline, and a strong bias toward measurable business results.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Hospitality Management, Operations, or a related discipline is preferred.