DIR, FINE DINING

Compass Group USA; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Personal Leave

Job summary

Compass Group USA, through its Flik Hospitality brand, is seeking a Fine Dining Operations Director for a high-end dining account in the Newark, NJ area. This role leads the client relationship and oversees the overall operation, driving excellence in guest experience and service standards.

The ideal candidate has strong fine dining leadership experience, a track record of achieving KPIs, and the ability to develop and coach a diverse team across FOH and BOH.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3–5 years of management experience.
• 5+ years in fine dining operations leadership (hotel/restaurant/multi-unit).
• Strong leadership, organization, and attention to detail.
• Proven personnel management and succession planning.
• Experience with food purchasing and inventory control.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large account team to deliver elevated client and guest experiences.
• Oversee daily FOH and BOH operations for a fine dining restaurant.
• Provide attentive service and address guest needs promptly.
• Ensure program standards and KPIs (profitability, safety, engagement) are met.
• Communicate progress and risks across the organization.
• Develop the account and manage performance evaluations and succession planning.
• Own financial results and ensure accurate reporting.
• Enforce policies and conduct unit audits.

Skills

Executive leadership

Operations management

Food service knowledge

HACCP knowledge

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office

POS software

Job description

What makes FLIK click

What makes FLIK click? Our people. The decisions, actions and attitudes of our associates earn the trust and loyalty of our clients every day. We know how to pick them and we know how to grow them. It starts with hiring people who share our passion for food and hospitality. Once we find the right talent, we encourage, value and recognize their contributions.

We keep our people renewed, excited and engaged by providing hands‑on training and educating them about the latest trends. We give them a stake in successfully raising the bar. Our people love what they do and they love sharing their passion. Join our team and see the FLIK difference. Where a job isn’t merely a job but the start of a career where you can flourish.

Job Summary

Working as a Fine Dining Operations Director, you will serve as our point of contact for the client for your location, as well as lead the team and manage the overall operation. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to oversee the operations of our upscale dining establishment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in fine dining management, exceptional leadership skills, and a passion for delivering a premium guest experience. This role requires a critical thinker who can drive operational excellence, enhance customer satisfaction, and ensure the highest standards of service and quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads, manages, and encourages a complementary team at a large account, with the goal of providing an elevated experience for the client, and our guests
• Oversees the daily FOH and BOH operations, including a fine dining restaurant
• Provides attentive service, anticipating guest needs and addressing any concerns promptly
• Ensures program standards are implemented in operation and expectations are met
• Drives and develops self and team towards building strong relationships with the client(s) and achievement of key performance indicators (profitability, safety, employee engagement, guest engagement, etc.)
• Communicate progress, risks, and escalations appropriately at all levels of the organization, or multiple departments, and businesses
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and facilitates change
• Cultivates a culture of transparency, understanding, education, safety, and accountability
• Ensures adherence to local, state, federal, and company policies, and conducts unit audits to ensure conformance for key areas (e.g. financials, sanitation)
• Champions development within the account; conducts performance evaluations, along with succession planning, has full understanding of all roles within the operation
• Owns the financial results for the locations, and works with leadership to ensure accuracy for reporting
• Ensures consistent and fair administration of all policies and procedures

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three (3-5) years of management experience
• Minimum of 5+ years of fine dining operations leadership experience (hotel/restaurant/multi-unit)
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills, and must possess attention to detail
• Effective problem solving and conflict management skills
• Proven success with personnel management (hiring, supervision, evaluation and succession planning)
• Proven track record of consistently meeting company goals in compliance with company/client policies and procedures
• Ability to multi-task as well as stay on task and concentrate with constant interruptions
• Experience in food purchasing, food costs and inventory control
• Must be knowledgeable on HACCP controls along with proper storage and use of food
• Monitor compliance with health and fire regulations regarding food preparation and serving
• Conformity to the highest standards of personal integrity and ethical behavior
• Excellent computer skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and POS software

Associates at Flik Hospitality are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks and requirement associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.