Restaurant Operations Manager

Firstwatch; Mooresville (NC); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(K) Retirement Savings Program

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Tuition Reimbursement

Meal Discount

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

A leading breakfast and brunch establishment in Mooresville is seeking a Restaurant Operations Manager who loves mornings and has a passion for serving guests. You will supervise daily operations, coach team members, and ensure the highest level of service. The ideal candidate will have strong supervisory skills and a food safety certification while creating a positive dining experience. Join a company recognized for its commitment to quality and community.

Qualifications

• Experience in restaurant management preferred.
• Passion for serving others is essential.
• Ability to coach and develop a team is required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise daily restaurant operations to high standards.
• Coach and observe team members in service excellence.
• Respond promptly to customer and employee concerns.
• Ensure food safety standards are maintained.

Skills

Supervisory skills

Food safety certification

Customer service orientation

Team coaching

Communication skills

Job description

Overview

Our YOU FIRST Philosophy has always been our top priority. We care about our customers, and we care about you! We put our employees first and empower them with the independence to make decisions that will help provide an exceptional breakfast, brunch, or lunch experience for our guests.

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

• 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 – backup 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

About the Position

First Watch Managers love mornings and the smell of bacon, and most importantly, they have an innate passion for serving others. Our managers coach and develop team members who, in turn, fall in love with serving others – creating a beautiful cycle of restaurant life. Managers at First Watch supervise 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, ensuring daily operations run 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 the freshest ingredients available. Guided by its “Follow the Sun” culinary philosophy, our chef‑driven menu rotates five times a year to feature the highest‑quality flavors at their peak, offering elevated executions of classic favorites, fresh juices like the Kale Tonic, and fan favorites such as the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl and signature Million Dollar Bacon. For every kid’s meal served, we proudly donate a portion to organizations and causes. We have received numerous local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” awards, and were voted 2025’s #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards. First Watch was also named 2025 and 2024’s #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute.

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