Senior Operations Manager - Global QSR

Bite Talent; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus

Job summary

Bite Talent is recruiting for a Senior Operations Manager to oversee a large portfolio of franchise partners across London and the South. You will serve as the main operational and commercial liaison, coaching a mix of large multi-site operators and smaller partners to build profitability and resilience.

The role offers a real step up with opportunities to lead a team of Area Managers in the near future, requiring strategic thinking, data-driven decision making, and strong stakeholder management

Qualifications

• Strong multi-site operator with QSR or branded environment experience.
• Ambition and potential to lead a team of Area Managers.
• Commercially minded with understanding of restaurant business.
• Emotionally intelligent with influence without authority.
• Strategic and analytical; able to create solutions without a playbook.
• Direct, concise and action-focused, turning conversations into results.
• Positive and ambitious about improving a network.

Responsibilities

• Own partner relationships as the main operational and commercial contact for each portfolio partner.
• Understand partner economics and use data to drive improvements.
• Coach and develop partners, adding strategic value for larger operators.
• Identify underperforming businesses and implement agreed improvement plans.
• Support development of a stronger, more engaged partner network.
• Collaborate across the business to resolve partner-impacting issues.

Skills

Multi-site operator

QSR experience

Commercial mindset

Influence without authority

Strategic & analytical

Direct and action-focused

Team leadership potential

Franchise management experience

Job description

Our client is a well-known international QSR brand with a large, established franchise network across the UK. They're appointing a Senior Operations Manager to lead a significant portfolio of franchise partners across London and the South.

This isn't a traditional area management role.

You'll be the main relationship between the brand and a group of independent business owners. Some run large, sophisticated multi-site businesses.

Others are smaller operators who need more coaching and support. You'll influence through credibility rather than hierarchy, and help each partner build a stronger, more profitable business.

The timing is good. The network is evolving, with a clear focus on raising capability, performance and partner alignment. This is a chance to shape what better looks like, not just maintain it.

It's also a genuine step up. The business wants someone ready to grow with it, who can deliver in this role now and has the potential to lead a team of Area Managers in the near future.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Partner relationships: become the main operational and commercial contact for each partner in your portfolio.
• Commercial performance: understand the economics of each partner's business, and use data and commercial judgement to improve it.
• Capability building: coach and develop partners where it's needed, and add strategic value for larger operators.
• Performance improvement: identify struggling businesses and put realistic, agreed improvement plans in place, then follow them through.
• Network development: support the move towards a stronger, more engaged and sustainable partner network.
• Internal collaboration: work across the business so issues affecting your partners get resolved quickly.

ABOUT YOU

• A strong multi-site operator from QSR or a comparable branded environment
• Ready for your next step up, with the ambition and potential to lead a team of Area Managers
• Commercially minded, with an understanding of the business behind the restaurant
• Emotionally intelligent, able to influence without relying on authority
• Strategic and analytical, comfortable creating solutions where there's no playbook
• Direct, concise and action-focused, turning conversations into results
• Positive and ambitious about improving a network, not just criticising it

WHAT WILL SET YOU APART

• Franchise or partner management experience
• A background in a mature branded QSR business
• Experience coaching or developing other managers

WHY THIS ROLE

• A real step up from area or multi-site management
• A clear path towards leading a team of Area Managers
• Senior-level conversations with substantial business owners
• A chance to help reshape a large franchise network

THE PRACTICAL DETAIL

• Two days working from home, three days in the field
• Real autonomy across a sizeable region
• London-based candidates preferred
• Salary, plus a car allowance and bonus