Assistant Restaurant Manager

Dobbies; Ashford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Dobbies is seeking an Assistant Restaurant Manager to enhance the dining experience in their restaurant. This role involves overseeing daily operations, managing a committed team, ensuring compliance with health regulations, and driving commercial success while fostering a customer-centric environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Uncapped store discounts

Access to Wagestream for financial wellbeing

Confidential support and virtual GP access

Ongoing development via Dobbies Academy

Qualifications

• Proven experience in restaurant management.
• Ability to manage stock controls and comply with health & safety regulations.
• Capable of identifying training needs and effectively coaching teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee fast-paced restaurant operations, managing both kitchen and front of house.
• Lead a team focused on customer experience and operational excellence.
• Implement stock management and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Skills

Hospitality

Commercial awareness

Stock control

Team leadership

Adaptability

Positive change management

Job description

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Our Assistant Restaurant Managers play an essential role in delivering an exceptional experience across our Restaurants – delivering tasty food, maintaining operational standards, smashing commercial targets, and ensuring food hygiene, whilst assisting the Restaurant Manager.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the fast-paced restaurant operation, taking responsibility for both the kitchen and front of house operation.
• Lead an engaged team, focused on delivering a great customer experience and making it work for our customers.
• Ensure strict compliance with health and safety regulations at all times.
• Implement effective stock management controls to minimise wastage and ensure the kitchen has everything needed to serve our customers.
• Support the delivery of in-store events, including seasonal highlights such as Breakfast with Santa, and regular fixtures like Afternoon Teas.
• Communicate effectively with central support teams to maintain smooth operations and provide feedback to improve our business.
• Work as part of the Garden Centre Management team to deliver a safe working environment, a commercially successful store, and a great place to work for colleagues.

Who we are looking for

• You will bring passion for hospitality with proven experience in restaurant management.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of budgets, profitability, sales driving, and improving ways of working.
• A proven ability to manage stock controls and adhere strictly to health & safety regulations.
• Ability to identify training needs and effectively coach and train all levels to ensure teams deliver a first-class customer experience and a safe environment.
• Adaptability to act quickly and enthusiastically to changing priorities, workloads, and new regulations.
• Positivity in managing change, leading the team through each session with care and motivation to deliver the best.
• Demonstrate our values at all times — being one team, continuously improving, bringing a smile, living and breathing gardens, and making it work for our customers.

What we offer

• Generous annual leave entitlement, with holidays flexible around statutory days off.
• Uncapped store discounts, including 50% off in our Restaurants, 25% off in the Garden Centre, and 10% off in our food halls.
• Access to Wagestream to support financial wellbeing, including early earnings access, savings, and financial advice.
• Access to Retail Trust for confidential support, virtual GP, free counselling, and retail rewards through our employee wellbeing platform.
• Access to Dobbies Academy for ongoing development via eLearning and training programs.
• A thriving, passionate, diverse culture committed to making it work for our customers.

About Us

At Dobbies, we’re proud to have a history dating back to 1865. Founded by James Dobbie, we are the only garden centre retailer with stores in every nation across the UK.

Our passion for gardens and plants makes us unique. We showcase this through our own brand and branded products, concession partners, and services. We champion garden living all year round.

Many stores feature a restaurant or coffee shop, offering a relaxed environment for refreshments and meals.

We organize events and experiences that bring communities together, and support a national charity that involves both colleagues and customers in fundraising efforts.

We are committed to being a great place to work. We encourage colleagues to be their best selves, share wins, and celebrate success. Together, we make it work for our customers.