Director of Operations

Food People; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Food People, a growing multi-brand restaurant group with a significant UAE portfolio and expanding international presence, seeks a senior leader to own operational performance and shape growth strategy.

You will lead Brand Managers across multiple sites, drive profitability, and partner with executive leadership to scale operations, enter new markets, and implement robust standards as the organization scales.

Qualifications

• Director-level restaurant/F&B operations experience.
• Proven experience managing a sizeable, multi-brand and multi-site portfolio.
• Strong track record leading senior operational teams or Brand Managers.
• Commercially minded with strong strategic capability.
• Hands-on leadership style with excellent operational knowledge.
• GCC experience and international/multi-market exposure are advantageous.
• Comfortable with international travel and capable of progressing into broader executive leadership over time.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational and commercial performance across a sizeable multi-brand restaurant portfolio.
• Manage and develop Brand Managers, driving greater accountability and performance.
• Take ownership of the day-to-day operational agenda and independently lead key areas of the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve growth, profitability and operational effectiveness.
• Combine hands-on operational leadership with strong strategic and commercial thinking.
• Support UAE and international growth, working across multiple markets.
• Strengthen structures, processes and operating standards as the organisation scales.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategy, growth and key business decisions.

Skills

Director-level restaurant/F&B ops

Multi-brand multi-site portfolio

Senior operational leadership

Strategic thinking

Hands-on leadership

GCC experience

International travel

Job description

About the Job

A senior leadership opportunity within a growing multi-brand restaurant group with a significant UAE portfolio and expanding international presence. This role will take ownership of operational performance while playing a key part in shaping growth, strategy and the continued development of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational and commercial performance across a sizeable multi-brand restaurant portfolio.
• Manage and develop Brand Managers, driving greater accountability and performance.
• Take ownership of the day-to-day operational agenda and independently lead key areas of the business.
• Identify opportunities to improve growth, profitability and operational effectiveness.
• Combine hands-on operational leadership with strong strategic and commercial thinking.
• Support UAE and international growth, working across multiple markets.
• Strengthen structures, processes and operating standards as the organisation scales.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategy, growth and key business decisions.

Key Ingredients

• Director-level restaurant/F&B operations experience.
• Proven experience managing a sizeable, multi-brand and multi-site portfolio.
• Strong track record leading senior operational teams or Brand Managers.
• Commercially minded with strong strategic capability.
• Hands-on leadership style with excellent operational knowledge.
• GCC experience and international/multi-market exposure are advantageous.
• Comfortable with international travel and capable of progressing into broader executive leadership over time.

Please note, only candidates with relevant experience will be contacted to discuss the position in more detail.