Operations Manager - Food Services

Lagardere AWPL External Careers; Sydney; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

National exposure

Staff Discounts

Career Development

Variety built into the role

Travel across the network

Make a visible impact

Work with diverse brands and concepts

Paid Parental Leave

Employee Referral Program

Wellbeing Leave & EAP

Job summary

LagardèreAWPL in Australia is seeking an Operations Manager – Food Services to lead 20+ F&B concepts across 8 airports. You will partner with General Managers, F&B Managers and Store Managers to lift performance, drive profitability and ensure excellent guest experiences in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.

The role combines hands-on leadership with strategic rollout of new openings, system improvements and compliance across the network.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in multi-site or high-volume operations management in hospitality, retail or travel retail.
• Strong commercial acumen with control of sales, labour, COGS, margin and costs.
• Experience coaching and developing operational leaders.
• Strong analytical skills to convert data into actions and improvements.
• Hands-on leadership style working directly with venue teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations of 20+ Food & Beverage concepts across 8 airports.
• Collaborate with General Managers, F&B Managers and Store Managers to lift performance.
• Drive sales, labour, COGS, margin and profitability.
• Review operations, customer experience, service standards and compliance.
• Coach venue leaders and build high-performing teams.
• Identify performance gaps and create practical action plans.
• Ensure consistency across the portfolio while respecting venue and airport needs.
• Support new openings, refurbishments and rollouts.
• Work with Finance, HR, Marketing, Culinary and Procurement teams.
• Champion continuous improvement in service, productivity and standards.
• Ensure food safety, WHS and licensing compliance.
• Share best practices and scale ideas nationally.

Skills

Multi-site operations

High-volume operations

Analytical skills

Leadership & coaching

Customer experience focus

Job description

Shape the Future of Travel Dining with the largest Travel Retail Operator in the Pacific

At LagardèreAWPL, we’re not just the largest Travel Retail operator in the Pacific – we’re the most passionate! With 150+ stores across Australia, & New Zealand, we bring big brands to life in airports and travel hubs. Our dynamic team of 1,500+ professionals work across 40 unique retail concepts – and now, we want YOU to join our team!

The Role:

As our Operations Manager – Food Services, you’ll take the lead across a fast-moving national portfolio of 20+ diverse Food & Beverage concepts spanning 8 airports. You’ll work side by side with General Managers, F&B Managers and Store Managers, helping them lift performance, solve operational challenges and deliver consistently strong commercial and customer outcomes.

No two days will look the same. One day you might be working through a performance opportunity with a venue team, the next supporting a new opening, improving an operating model or helping roll out a new initiative across the network.

This is a role for a hands-on multi-site operator who enjoys being close to the action, building strong leaders and making a visible impact across a growing business.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the day-to-day operational performance of 20+ Food & Beverage concepts across 8 airports
• Partner with General Managers, F&B Managers and Store Managers to lift performance, solve challenges and deliver strong results
• Drive sales, labour, COGS, margin, wastage and overall venue profitability
• Spend time in venues reviewing operations, customer experience, service standards and compliance
• Coach and develop venue leaders, building capability, accountability and high-performing teams
• Identify performance gaps and turn them into clear, practical action plans
• Drive consistency across the portfolio while recognising the unique needs of each venue and airport
• Support new venue openings, refurbishments, product launches and operational rollouts
• Work closely with Finance, HR, Marketing, Culinary, Procurement and other support teams to get things done
• Champion continuous improvement across service, productivity, systems and operating standards
• Ensure venues maintain strong food safety, WHS, licensing and airport compliance standards
• Share best practice across the network and help successful ideas scale nationally

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in a multi-site or high-volume operations management role in hospitality, retail or travel retail
• Strong commercial acumen, with confidence managing sales, labour, COGS, margin, wastage and operating costs
• A track record of coaching and developing emerging / established operational leaders
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to turn performance data into clear actions and measurable improvement
• A hands-on leadership style and the confidence to work directly with venue teams to solve operational challenges
• Experience driving consistency, standards and accountability across geographically dispersed locations
• Strong knowledge of customer experience, food safety, WHS and operational compliance
• Confidence working in fast-paced, high-volume environments with competing priorities
• Experience supporting venue openings, operational change, system rollouts or continuous improvement initiatives is highly regarded
• Airport, travel retail or large-scale Food & Beverage experience is desirable, but not essential
• Flexibility to travel regularly across the national portfolio

Perks & Benefits:

• National exposure – Lead across a diverse and growing Food & Beverage portfolio spanning 20+ concepts and 8 airports
• Staff Discounts – You'll get exclusive discounts on products in our stores + extra savings on water and hot beverages
• Career Development – Our Better Together development program offers opportunities to upskill, take on new challenges, and grow your career within our vibrant network
• Variety built into the role – No two days are the same, with a mix of venue performance, team development, new openings, operational projects and national initiatives
• Travel across the network – Get out from behind the desk and spend time with teams across our airport locations throughout Australia
• Make a visible impact – Work directly with local leaders to improve performance, strengthen teams and shape how our venues operate
• Work with diverse brands and concepts – Gain exposure across cafés, restaurants, bars, QSR and other Food & Beverage formats
• Paid Parental Leave – We proudly support growing families with up to 18 weeks of employer-funded top-up paid parental leave scheme + additional personal leave entitlements
• Employee Referral Program – Refer your awesome network to our team and if they’re hired, you’ll receive a reward + you’ll go into the running to win an end-of-year bonus
• Wellbeing Leave & Employee Assistance Program – From day one our permanent employees receive a paid Wellbeing Leave day, and everyone has access to TELUS Health – a 24/7 service offering compassionate, confidential support whenever you need it

We Value Diversity & Inclusion

LagardèreAWPL, we value diversity, inclusivity, and a collaborative work environment, where you will have the opportunity to work alongside a talented team of people who share your passion for creativity and excellence.

Join us at LagardèreAWPL and be part of a global company that celebrates creativity, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable practices.