Operations Manager

Bite Talent; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£5,000 car allowance

Company car scheme

Private healthcare

Life assurance

33 days annual leave

Birthday day off

Gym discounts

Cycle-to-work

Career progression

Free chicken

Job summary

Bite Talent is seeking an Operations Manager for a leading UK chicken QSR brand. You will lead a portfolio of restaurants, develop General Managers and uphold high standards of service, food quality and profitability.

In this hands-on role you’ll drive sales growth, coach teams, and ensure safe, compliant operations across locations, while building a strong internal talent pipeline for succession and future leadership.

Qualifications

• Proven multi-site operational leadership experience in QSR, casual dining or fast-paced hospitality.
• Strong commercial mindset with ability to manage multi-site P&L and budgets.
• Track record of delivering sales, profit and KPI targets.
• Experience in recruitment, people development and succession planning.
• Ability to interpret financial and operational data and translate into action.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day performance of multiple restaurant locations with full accountability for results.
• Coach and develop General Managers to build high-performing restaurants.
• Deliver against KPIs focusing on sales growth, profitability, labour, food costs and standards.
• Recruit, develop and retain great people; build internal talent pipelines.
• Create an engaging culture with energy, recognition and accountability.
• Ensure food quality, service, cleanliness and presentation meet standards.
• Analyse performance and convert insights into action plans.
• Manage budgets and cost controls to improve profitability.
• Ensure regulatory, food safety and company compliance.
• Collaborate with central support teams to remove barriers and enable success.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives for efficiency and guest experience.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

Commercial mindset

P&L management

People development

Recruitment & succession planning

Data-driven decision making

Operational excellence

Customer experience

High standards & accountability

Job description

Operations Manager – QSR | Leading Chicken Brand

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with one of the UK’s leading and fastest-growing chicken QSR brands to find an exceptional Operations Manager who knows how to lead people, build great teams and deliver consistently strong commercial results.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Area Manager, Area Coach, District Manager or Regional Manager from QSR, hospitality or casual dining who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

You’ll take ownership of a portfolio of restaurants, leading and developing your General Managers while creating a culture where people enjoy coming to work, customers receive an outstanding experience and commercial performance continues to grow.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll be visible in your restaurants, close to your teams and confident using the numbers to identify opportunities and drive sales, profitability and operational excellence.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the day-to-day performance of multiple restaurant locations, with full accountability for operational and commercial results.
• Coach, challenge and develop General Managers to build consistently high‑performing restaurants.
• Deliver against key KPIs, with a particular focus on sales growth, profitability, labour, food costs and operational standards.
• Recruit, develop and retain great people while building a strong internal talent and succession pipeline.
• Create an engaging, high-energy culture where teams feel motivated, recognised and accountable.
• Keep the customer at the heart of every decision, continually improving service, experience, reviews and guest feedback.
• Ensure consistently excellent standards across food quality, service, cleanliness and restaurant presentation.
• Analyse restaurant and area performance, identify opportunities and turn insights into clear action plans.
• Manage budgets and cost controls while identifying opportunities to improve restaurant profitability.
• Ensure restaurants operate safely and in line with all regulatory, food safety and company requirements.
• Work closely with central support teams to remove barriers and give restaurant teams what they need to succeed.
• Implement operational policies and standards consistently across your area.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that make restaurants more efficient, commercially successful and enjoyable places to work and visit.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll already have a strong track record leading multiple sites within QSR, casual dining or a similarly fast-paced hospitality business.

You’ll also bring:

• Proven multi-site operational leadership experience.
• A strong commercial mindset and confidence managing a multi-site P&L.
• A track record of delivering sales, profit and operational KPIs.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to coach, motivate and inspire General Managers and their teams.
• Significant experience in recruitment, people development, performance management and succession planning.
• The ability to interpret financial and operational data and turn it into practical actions.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills.
• High standards and a genuine passion for delivering an outstanding customer experience.
• Good knowledge of food safety, health & safety and regulatory compliance.
• A leadership style that combines high standards, clear accountability and plenty of energy.

Most importantly, you’ll be someone who leads from the front. You’ll know that great restaurant performance starts with great people, and you’ll be equally comfortable developing a future leader, challenging an underperforming restaurant or getting into the detail of the numbers.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join one of the most exciting and fastest-growing chicken QSR brands in the UK, at a stage where talented operators can make a genuine impact on the future of the business.

The package includes:

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• £5,000 car allowance
• Company car scheme
• Private healthcare
• Life assurance
• 33 days annual leave
• Birthday day off
• Benefits platform including gym discounts and cycle-to-work options
• Excellent career progression opportunities
• And, naturally, plenty of free chicken!

A Place for Everyone

The business is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people are respected, supported and able to be themselves.

Applications are welcomed from people of all backgrounds, with candidates assessed on their experience, potential and ability to succeed in the role.