Central Operations & Training Manager

Mad Mex; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Mad Mex is seeking a Central Operations & Training Manager to lift restaurant performance across our Corporate and Franchise network. You’ll translate priorities into scalable systems, standards and training programs that make every shift smoother and more profitable.

Partnering with Operations, Franchise Partners and Support Office, you’ll oversee reporting, data dashboards and Learning & Development, ensuring initiatives are tested, implemented and sustained in the field while keeping El Sabor

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ leadership in QSR, Fast Casual or multi-site operations.
• Experience in Operations Excellence and restaurant training.
• Experience across Corporate and/or Franchise networks.
• Understands restaurant operations and commercial performance.
• Led projects and network rollouts.
• Can coach senior leaders in ops.
• Data-driven with strong digital systems.
• Willingness to travel 30–40% and hold a valid Australian driver’s license.
• Desirable Certificate IV in Training & Assessment or related degree.

Responsibilities

• Champion the Mad Mex Way across systems and training.
• Build KPI dashboards and audit frameworks.
• Own reporting to drive action by leadership.
• Lead cross-functional projects and new openings.
• Shape NPD feasibility, trials, launch readiness.
• Oversee training framework from onboarding to certification.
• Coach ROMs, franchise partners and restaurant leaders.
• Lead innovative operations including responsible use of AI tools.

Skills

Leadership

Ops Excellence

Training

Multi-site Ops

Data-driven

Project Mgmt

Stakeholder Eng

Travel ready

Education

Certificate IV in Training & Assessment

Business/Operations degree

Job description

Mad Mex is back to its OG roots! Fighting for Flavour, Defending for Freshness and always bringing a Por El Sabor (for the flavour) attitude to everything we do.

We’re not here to play it safe or serve bland, boring “Mexican”. We’re here to bring big, bold, unapologetically Mexican flavours to Australia and build the most loved Mexican brand in the country while we do it.

With over 75 restaurants and growing, we’re entering our next phase of growth, investing in our brand, story, culture and familia, and bigger, bolder ways to bring Por El Sabor to life.

About the Role

Mad Mex is entering an exciting new chapter, and we’re looking for a Central Operations & Training Manager to make sure every restaurant is set up to deliver El Sabor, every shift.

This role is fundamentally about restaurant performance and capability. You will drive Operations Excellence, training and operational systems across our Corporate and Franchise network, translating business priorities into practical, scalable solutions that make restaurants simpler to run and stronger at what they do.

You will partner with Operations, Franchise Partners and Support Office teams, and lead the team behind our reporting, systems and Learning & Development, to make sure every initiative is restaurant-ready, trained, implemented and sustained in the field.

To crush it in this role, you’ll:

• Champion El Sabor across every operational system, process, standard and training program, so the Mad Mex Way is embedded throughout the network


• Partner with Operations to deliver strategy, KPIs and audit frameworks (OER and BSC), and build improvement plans for underperforming restaurants


• Own the operational data story: dashboards, scorecards and exception-based reporting that turn insights into action for the Leadership Team


• Lead cross-functional projects, new restaurant openings and network rollouts, making sure every initiative is tested, trained and restaurant-ready


• Bring the restaurant lens to NPD, from feasibility and trials through to launch readiness and post-launch review


• Oversee our training framework, from onboarding and certification to Train-the-Trainer, Certified Training Restaurants and leadership development, and measure whether it sticks


• Coach ROMs, Franchise Partners and restaurant leaders through regular field visits, workshops and network engagement


• Lead innovation in how we operate, including responsible use of approved AI tools, and lead and develop a team across Operations, Data and L&D

What You Bring

We are looking for someone who:

• Has 3+ years’ leadership experience in QSR, Fast Casual, Retail or multi-site operations


• Has experience in Operations Excellence, restaurant training, coaching or capability development


• Has worked across Corporate and/or Franchise networks


• Understands restaurant operations, commercial performance and operational compliance


• Has led projects, operational change and network-wide rollouts


• Can coach and influence senior operational and restaurant leaders


• Is data-driven, confident with digital systems and great at turning insights into action


• Has strong project management, stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills
  
• Is ready to travel regularly, interstate and intrastate (approx. 30–40% of the role), with a current Australian driver’s license and access to a vehicle


• Brings a passion for developing people and bringing Por El Sabor to life (a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment and/or a tertiary qualification in Business, Operations or L&D is desirable)

Why Mad Mex

This is a rare opportunity to shape how a much-loved brand operates, trains and grows, from Support Office to the restaurant floor.

You will play a leading role in driving our El Sabor strategy and making Mad Mex stronger, sharper and more connected to our amigos than ever before.

If you are ready to lead operational excellence, build capability across the network, and bring Por El Sabor to life in every restaurant, we’d love to hear from you!