Operations Manager – Food Retail

Surrey & Southwest London
Up to £63,000

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager who knows how to drive performance, lead from the front, and keep standards high without overcomplicating things.

This is a hands-on leadership role across a multi-site operation in Surrey and South West London. You’ll be responsible for ensuring every site is operating at its best across customer experience, team performance, operational standards, and commercial results.

This isn’t a role for someone who just tracks performance. It’s for someone who actively improves it.

About the business

This is a well-established, fast-paced hospitality business with a strong presence across London and the South East.

The brand is known for its focus on quality, consistency, and customer experience, with a loyal customer base and a strong reputation in the market.

It operates a growing multi-site estate and places a strong emphasis on standards, operational excellence, and team development. The environment is hands-on, energetic, and performance-driven, with a clear expectation of ownership at every level.

We are open to candidates from branded restaurants, branded food-led pub groups, coffee-led businesses, and QSR operators. The key is strong multi-site exposure and a track record of delivering consistent performance in fast-paced environments.

This is a business where detail matters, execution matters, and leadership on the ground has a direct and visible impact.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and supporting a group of site managers to deliver consistent performance
• Driving sales, service, and operational standards across all locations
• Identifying issues early and resolving them quickly
• Coaching and developing teams to improve capability and consistency
• Ensuring all sites are well-run, disciplined, and aligned to expectations
• Working closely with senior leadership to deliver business goals
• Bringing structure, accountability, and focus into every visit

What we’re looking for

• Strong multi-site or high-performing single-site operations experience
• Comfortable being out in the field and leading from the front
• A natural leader who can influence, coach, and challenge effectively
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of performance drivers
• Calm under pressure with a strong sense of ownership
• A problem-solver who takes accountability rather than avoiding it

What success looks like

• Consistently strong site performance across the estate
• Improved standards, energy, and customer experience
• Confident, capable site leadership teams
• A clear culture of accountability and delivery