Country General Manager

COREcruitment Ltd; Randstad; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

COREcruitment Ltd. is seeking a Country General Manager to lead Dutch operations for a growing restaurant chain. You will own strategy, profitability, and expansion, reporting to the owners of a private international group. This is a senior, end-to-end leadership role with direct accountability.

Ideal candidates will have multi-site leadership in branded hospitality, fluency in Dutch and English, and a proven ability to scale operations and drive like-for-like growth across a Benelux pathway.

Qualifications

• Proven multi-site leadership in restaurant chains with full P&L accountability.
• Fluent Dutch and English, spoken and written.
• Based near central-Netherlands head office with a valid driving licence.
• Deep experience in Dutch F&B landscape: leases, landlord relations, permits.
• Track record of building and retaining strong management teams.
• Commercial sharpness and decisive leadership within a group context.

Responsibilities

• Formulate strategy and Dutch market roadmap with anAnnual Operating Plan.
• Track market dynamics, competitors, consumer behavior and regulatory shifts.
• Own the P&L for the Netherlands and drive profitability.
• Coach and mentor area managers, general managers, and marketing talent.
• Uphold brand standards, hospitality, and food safety across locations.
• Direct local marketing with group lead and local agencies.
• Oversee supply chain, distribution and supplier relationships.
• Represent the brand with municipalities, landlords, regulators.
• Drive expansion by securing new real estate with head office support.
• Engage with group ownership and European expansion strategy.

Skills

Multi-site leadership

Dutch fluency

P&L ownership

Franchise experience

Leadership development

Commercial acumen

Job description

Job title: Country General Manager - growing restaurant chain

Location: Netherlands

Salary: € Competitive

Proficiency in Dutch language

For our client, an international quick-service restaurant company, we are looking for a Country General Manager as the ultimate leader of our Dutch operations. The role will report directly to the owners of a privately held, international restaurant group. This is an end-to-end ownership role where you will design and drive the strategy for the Netherlands, overseeing profitability, sales, team development, physical locations, and key stakeholder partnerships—including landlords, local government, suppliers, and the franchisor.

As the highest-ranking executive in the country, your scope will naturally expand alongside the company's growth, with clear potential to oversee the broader Benelux territory in the future.

The organization stands at a pivotal, high-growth crossroads. With substantial untapped potential in the Netherlands, your immediate mission is to spearhead the next phase of development: scaling operations, launching new Dutch locations, and initiating expansion into adjacent territories. You will steer this journey backed by visionary, hands-on owners who are deeply committed to investing in both the brand and its leaders.

Key responsibilities:

• Formulate strategy. Craft the Dutch market roadmap and Annual Operating Plan, spearheading execution through your team with guidance from group functional experts.
• Track market dynamics. Keep a close pulse on competitors, consumer behaviour, and regulatory shifts to uncover strategic opportunities and pivot plans as needed.
• Own the P&L. Drive financial performance across the Netherlands to maximize profitability and deliver consistent, long-term like-for-like sales growth.
• Coach and mentor. Lead and hold accountable your area managers, general managers, and marketing talent, establishing the scalable processes, bench strength, and capabilities required for a growing portfolio.
• Uphold excellence. Maintain uncompromising brand standards, exceptional guest hospitality, and rigorous food safety across all locations in collaboration with the franchisor.
• Direct local marketing. Oversee the Dutch marketing strategy in partnership with the group marketing lead and local agencies, scaling both digital engagement and delivery channels.
• Optimize supply chain. Oversee regional distribution and supplier relationships to ensure seamless alignment across operations, marketing, and supply chains for every menu launch and promotion.
• Represent the brand externally. Serve as the primary point of contact for municipalities, landlords, regulators, and key vendors, ensuring every restaurant remains fully compliant and well-maintained.
• Drive expansion. Identify, evaluate, and secure new real estate, collaborating closely with the head office's construction division from initial site acquisition to grand opening.
• Engage with leadership. Report directly to group ownership and actively contribute to shaping the broader European expansion strategy.

Key requirements:

• Proven multi-site leadership experience in restaurant chains, fast casual or branded hospitality - ideally within a franchise system - with full P&L accountability for a group of restaurants
• Fluent Dutch and English, spoken and written
• Living within easy reach of the business's central-Netherlands head office, and a valid driving licence
• Real experience of the Dutch F&B commercial landscape: multi-site operations, landlord relationships, leases, municipalities, permits and supplier management in the foodservice sector
• A track record of building and retaining strong management teams, and of creating a culture that makes good people stay
• Commercial sharpness, organisation and decisiveness - the confidence to run a country, the judgement to know when the business cannot yet afford something, and the humility to operate as part of a wider group
• Ambition, for the business and for yourself

Other details about the role:

True leadership and influence. A high-impact country director position with direct access to group ownership, giving you the autonomy to define the strategy, scale the business, and build your ideal team.

An iconic, beloved brand. Represent a fast-growing, globally recognized restaurant name with massive, untapped potential and market headroom across the region.

A major expansion journey. Spearhead the entire Benelux growth story, using the Netherlands as your foundational launchpad and flagship market.

Complete operational backing. Focus on core growth supported by a dedicated shared service centre.

Job title: Country General Manager - growing restaurant chain

Location: Netherlands

Salary: € Competitive

Proficiency in Dutch language