Junior Operations Manager (Food and Beverage Franchise)

Dixie Recruitment; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Junior Operations Manager for a chain of bakery and coffee franchises in KwaZulu-Natal. The role requires 2–4 years of experience in food and beverage or hospitality operations, with duties including supporting the General Manager in daily operations, ensuring brand standards, and assisting with staff coordination and training. This position offers a hands-on approach to multi-site management with a focus on operational efficiency and quality control.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years’ experience in food and beverage, coffee, or hospitality operations.
• Previous supervisory experience preferred.
• Basic financial understanding with willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Support the General Manager in daily operations across multiple franchise locations.
• Conduct store visits and operational checks.
• Monitor stock levels and assist with bakery production planning.

Skills

Experience in food and beverage

Supervisory or assistant management experience

Strong organizational skills

Good communication abilities

Basic financial understanding

Proactive and reliable

Attention to detail

Ability to prioritize tasks

Job description

Junior Operations Manager (Food and Beverage Franchise) | Mount Edgecombe

Our client is looking for a Junior Operations Manager who will support the General Manager in the day-to-day management of a chain of bakery and coffee franchises. This role is ideal for a motivated hospitality professional looking to step into multi-site operations management. The Junior Manager will assist with store operations, staff coordination, stock control, production support, and performance monitoring to ensure smooth and efficient operations across all locations.

***This role will include shift work – operating hours are 6am to 4pm Monday to Saturday

Key Requirements

• 2–4 years’ experience in food and beverage, coffee, QSR, or hospitality operations
• Previous supervisory or assistant management experience preferred
• Exposure to multi-site operations, production kitchens, or bakeries is an advantage
• Own transport preferable
• Strong organizational and time skills
• Good communication and interpersonal abilities
• Basic financial understanding with willingness to learn income statement analysis
• Ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment
• Competent with standard operational and reporting tools

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, reliable, and eager to learn
• Hands‑on and solution‑focused approach
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively with senior leadership and frontline teams

Key Responsibilities

Operational Support

• Support the General Manager in overseeing daily operations across multiple franchise locations
• Assist with ensuring brand standards, food safety, and service quality are consistently met
• Conduct store visits and operational checks, reporting issues and improvement opportunities
• Help resolve day‑to‑day operational challenges in stores

Production, Stock & Distribution

• Assist with bakery production planning and coordination
• Monitor stock levels, ordering, and inventory control to minimize waste and shortages
• Support distribution planning between production facilities and franchise locations
• Liaise with suppliers and store teams regarding deliveries and product availability

People & Rostering Support

• Assist with staff rosters to ensure adequate coverage and labor efficiency
• Support store managers with staffing issues, training coordination, and onboarding
• Help monitor staff performance, attendance, and compliance with policies
• Act as a point of contact for operational staff when required

Financial & Performance Support

• Assist in tracking sales, costs, and operational KPIs
• Help prepare basic performance reports for review by the General Manager
• Identify and report cost‑saving or efficiency improvement opportunities

Administration & Compliance

• Maintain operational documentation, procedures, and checklists
• Support compliance with health, safety, and food regulations
• Assist with audits, inspections, and internal reviews

We will be in contact with shortlisted candidates who meet the requirements detailed above. If you have not received a reply within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.

By applying, you confirm that:

• We may retain your personal information in our database for future matching of suitable opportunities
• We may contact you when suitable opportunities arise
• The information you have provided to us is true, correct and up to date