Restaurant Operations Manager

First Watch Restaurants, Inc.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

First Watch seeks a passionate Restaurant Operations Manager to lead our teams in delivering exceptional daytime dining experiences. The ideal candidate will excel in coaching, food safety, and maintain high operational standards, while fostering a positive work environment. We emphasize employee satisfaction to ensure our teams thrive in serving our customers effectively.

Benefits

401(K) Retirement Savings Program

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Meal Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Health Insurance

Qualifications

• Proven managerial experience in a restaurant setting.
• Strong coaching and development skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and operations management.

Responsibilities

• Supervising both kitchen and dining operations.
• Coaching and developing team members.
• Ensuring high standards of food safety and customer care.

Skills

Coaching

Supervisory Skills

Customer Service

Food Safety

Education

Certification in food safety

Job description

Overview

Our YOU FIRST Philosophy

In addition to no night shifts and our fully chef-curated menu, our #1 priority has always been our people. We care about our customers, and we care about you! That’s where our YOU FIRST culture begins – each day, we put our employees first and strive to make them happy. They are empowered with an independence to make decisions that will help provide an exceptional breakfast, brunch, or lunch experience for their customers. In fact, we like to say, we love our employees more than bacon. And that says a lot.

A Few of The Perks (and not just the coffee!)

All employees are eligible for the following:

• One Shift - No Night Shifts. Ever.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a great company and great people!
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• 401(K) Retirement Savings Program (must be employed for 60 days and must be 21 years of age to participate)*
• As a Restaurant Operations Manager, you will be eligible for quarterly bonus payment based on restaurant's performance.
• Life Insurance*
• Short Term Disability*
• Long-Term Disability*
• Dental*
• Vision*
• Health Insurance*
• Bright Horizon - back up child and elder care*
• Spot Insurance*
• Supplemental Insurance (accident, critical illness, indemnity) *
• Meal Discount
• Complimentary premium access to the Calm App, plus 5 gift subscriptions
• Unlimited access to medical and behavioral telemedicine through Cirrus MD
• Tuition Reimbursement & High School Diploma Program
• Perks at Work (over 30,000 discounts on purchases for travel, fitness, auto event tickets & more)
• Childcare Discount Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

*Employees must enroll within 30 days for hire and the benefit begins the 1st of the month following 60 days of employment

Responsibilities

About the Position

First Watch Managers love mornings and the smell of bacon, and most importantly, they have an innate passion for serving others. We’re not just talking great customer service or amazing food (although customers and food are also high on our list). We hire managers that coach and develop team members who, in turn, fall in love with serving others – and thus the beautiful cycle of restaurant life continues.

We have immense pride in our food which is why we don’t subscribe to the old BOH versus FOH management structure. At First Watch, each manager is responsible for supervising both kitchen operations and the overall dining experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Learns and supports our You First culture and core values
• Puts their supervisory skills to work, making sure daily operations runs according to plan and with high standards
• Understands that we source great food for a reason and that our recipes must be followed
• Knows the restaurant sales and traffic goals – and works to exceed them
• Coaches and observes the First Watch Five Steps of Service being implemented at every table
• Understands the background story of our 10 Commitments – and puts them into action
• Responds with a sense of urgency to both customer and employee concerns
• Communicates and takes immediate ownership of repair and maintenance issues
• Is certified in food safety – and identifies and coaches in all areas of safe food handling
• Is continuously scouting for and interviewing candidates to join our team
• Keeps our company assets secure; including computers, point of sale, security systems and equipment
• Understands the key responsibilities of every position in the restaurant
• Puts an immediate stop to any inappropriate behavior, investigates as needed
• Trains, coaches, and develops team members daily
• Recognizes performance that goes above and beyond
• Accounts for all daily revenues and deposits
• Completes our admin duties – and gets required paperwork in on time

Who We Are

First Watch is the leading Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu rotates five times a year and includes elevated executions of classic favorites alongside specialties such as its Quinoa Power Bowl, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation fresh juice and signature Million Dollar Bacon. After first appearing on the list in 2022 and 2023, First Watch was named 2024’s #1 Most Loved Workplace in America by Newsweek and the Best Practice Institute. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet. First Watch operates more than 580 First Watch restaurants in 31 states. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.

First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.