Quality Assurance Manager - Restaurants

OTG Management; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

OTG Management at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is seeking a General Manager of Operational Compliance. This hands-on role drives safety, sanitation, and quality across airport restaurants and markets, partnering with Operations to uphold OTG standards and regulatory requirements.

You will lead audits, coach salaried leaders and crew, and ensure follow-through on corrective actions, while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement across the operation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of senior managerial experience in multi-unit concepts
• 1–3 years of retail experience (convenience store) a plus
• Proficient knowledge of P&L budgeting and forecasting
• Strong culinary background and fine dining experience are a plus

Responsibilities

• Partner with Operations to ensure locations operate in compliance with OTG, Port Authority, Health Department and other standards
• Conduct routine audits, inspections, and validations of food safety, workplace safety, and quality assurance
• Train, coach, and develop salaried leaders and hourly crew on safety, procedures, sanitation, and compliance systems
• Lead follow-up on audit findings, corrective action plans, and deficiencies to ensure timely completion
• Coordinate with Facilities, Maintenance, vendors, and cross-functional teams to resolve issues impacting compliance
• Validate operational systems including logs, sanitation, cleaning schedules, equipment maintenance, and opening/closing procedures
• Prepare for and execute NSF, Health Department, Port Authority inspections
• Promote an inspection-ready culture and sustained compliance
• Monitor trends, identify opportunities, and implement corrective actions to improve execution
• Prepare recaps, corrective action plans, and progress updates with deadlines
• Serve as hands-on resource for locations needing coaching or improvement
• Foster organization, ownership, planning, validation, and accountability
• Organize tracking and reporting of projects, training and compliance

Skills

Leadership

P&L budgeting

Communication

Training

Problem solving

Education

Degree in hospitality or culinary field

Job description

Job Title: General Manager, Operational Compliance

Location: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Department: Operations

Compensation: $75k - $85k

Reports to: Airport Director

Who We Are

On the Go has elevated the dining and retail experience for travelers by bringing together world-class hospitality, award-winning dining concepts, and forward-thinking technology. With more than 300 unique dining and retail locations across North America’s busiest airports, we’re fueled by a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences—made possible every day by our incredible Crewmembers. At On the Go, people truly come first. We invest in our teams, and foster growth in an exciting, fast-paced environment where everyone can shine.

How We Do Business

How we work is just as meaningful as what we accomplish. Our Values—Care, Continuous Improvement, Quality, and Teamwork—guide the way we show up for our guests and for each other. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and uplifting workplace where people feel respected, empowered, and encouraged to bring their full selves to work.

Why This Job Is a Big Deal!

The General Manager of Operational Compliance is a hands-on operational leader responsible for driving excellence in Food Safety, Workplace Safety, Fire Safety and Quality Assurance across all airport restaurants and markets.

Unlike a traditional restaurant General Manager, this role does not oversee a single business unit.

Instead, this leader partners directly with the Operations team to strengthen execution across the airport through coaching, training, validation, and follow-up.

The position is highly visible within the operation, spending the majority of time in the field working alongside General Managers, Executive Chefs, Managers, and hourly crew members to ensure OTG's operational standards are consistently executed.

The primary objective of this role is to build a culture of safety, accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement through leadership presence, validation, coaching, and sustained follow-through.

In this Role you will…

• Partner with Operations to ensure all locations consistently operate in compliance with OTG, Port Authority, Health Department, NSF, Property Management, and all other regulatory and company standards.
• Conduct routine operational audits, validation walkthroughs, and restaurant inspections to verify execution of Food Safety, Workplace Safety, Fire Safety, Quality Assurance, cleanliness, organization, and operational standards.
• Train, coach, and develop salaried leaders and hourly crew members on food safety, workplace safety, operational procedures, sanitation, and all compliance-related systems.
• Lead and manage follow-up on all audit findings, inspections, corrective action plans, and operational deficiencies, ensuring actions are completed on time, root causes are addressed, and improvements are sustained.
• Coordinate with Facilities, Maintenance, vendors, and cross-functional support teams to ensure repairs, equipment issues, work orders, and other operational items impacting compliance are resolved in a timely manner.
• Validate operational systems including temperature logs, sanitation practices, cleaning schedules, equipment maintenance, opening and closing procedures, safety documentation, and all other required operational records.
• Partner with restaurant leadership to prepare for and successfully execute NSF, Health Department, Port Authority, Property Management, and other operational inspections.
• Reinforce a culture of inspection readiness by ensuring locations are maintained to OTG standards every day rather than preparing only for scheduled inspections.
• Monitor compliance trends, identify recurring opportunities, and implement sustainable solutions that improve operational execution and reduce repeat findings.
• Prepare written recaps, corrective action plans, progress updates, and compliance trackers while ensuring all follow-up items are completed by their established deadlines.
• Serve as a hands‑on operational resource for locations requiring additional coaching, validation, leadership support, or focused operational improvement.
• Foster a culture of organization, ownership, planning, validation, follow‑through, and accountability that ensures OTG's operational standards are consistently achieved.
• Organize tracking and reporting of all projects, training and compliance

Qualifications

• Degree in hospitality or culinary field is preferred
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of senior managerial experience in multi‑unit concepts
• 1 – 3 years of retail experience (convenience store) a plus
• Proficient knowledge of P&L budgeting and forecasting
• Strong culinary background and fine dining experience are a plus
• Commitment to service of customers, crew, co‑workers, and management
• Demonstrated dependability, personal drive, and leadership, ability to lead by example
• High level of integrity, work ethic, passion, and commitment to OTG values
• Ability to train, delegate, coach, and aid in the development of crewmembers
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Must be able to work varied hours/days, nights, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather conditions

Equal Opportunity Employer

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.