Director of Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

A high-caliber Director of Operations is needed to lead day-to-day operations across a New York City and New Jersey portfolio of restaurants and hospitality concepts.

This role is designed for a seasoned operator who can balance leadership, culture-building, systems, accountability, and financial performance.

The Director will partner closely with the VP of Operations and oversee a team that includes HR support (via Chief of Staff), Finance (via Financial Controller), and on-site operational leaders.

This is a hands-on role with strategic visibility-ideal for someone who knows how to run exceptional restaurants, build strong teams, and elevate both guest and employee experience.

Operational Leadership & Execution

Oversee day-to-day operations across all properties in NYC and NJ.

Drive consistency, discipline, and excellence in service, hospitality, and guest experience.

Partner with GMs, Chefs, and Hourly Leadership to ensure each venue meets company standards.

Conduct regular site visits, service observations, and operational walk-throughs.

People, Recruitment & Training

Lead recruitment standards for management and hourly teams.

Invest in training, development, and coaching to elevate performance at every level.

Collaborate with the VP of Ops to build, refine, and implement training tools, SOPs, and steps-of-service documents.

Shape and protect a strong internal culture-high standards, zero ego, exceptional hospitality.

HR & Team Support (with Resources)

Work directly with the Chief of Staff on HR issues, corrective action, performance management, and employee relations.

Ensure compliance with labor laws, scheduling practices, employee onboarding, and workplace standards.

Champion a culture of accountability, communication, and support.

Financial Oversight

Take full financial ownership of each assigned business, including weekly and monthly results.

Oversee financial controls with support from the Financial Controller.

Review P&Ls, flash reports, weekly labor, COGS, and controllables to ensure alignment with budget.

Manage weekly cash reconciliation and payroll accuracy across locations.

Partner with GMs and Chefs to ensure responsible ordering, inventory, and operating expenses.

Systems, Structure & Process

Collaborate with the VP of Operations to build and refine SOPs, training manuals, and internal resources.

Maintain operational standards around service steps, ambiance, cleanliness, and staff readiness.

Ensure consistent use of systems (POS, reservations, scheduling tools, HRIS, etc.) across all venues.

Drive process improvements that improve financial performance, guest satisfaction, and team cohesion.

Culture & Hospitality

Act as a culture carrier-modeling excellence, humility, clarity, and hospitality daily.

Create environments where guests feel cared for and employees feel supported and empowered.

Work closely with leadership to continually elevate service and hospitality across all venues.

Qualifications

5-10+ years of progressive operational leadership in multi-unit hospitality.

Proven people leadership and team development experience.

Strong understanding of restaurant financials, payroll, and operational controls.

High operational IQ : service-obsessed, detail-oriented, standards-driven.

Ability to be present across multiple venues weekly in a fast-paced environment.

Strong communication skills with the ability to inspire while holding teams accountable.

Experience with POS, scheduling, HR, and reporting systems.

Leadership style rooted in integrity, clarity, and hospitality.

Loves hospitality

Sets and protects standards

Builds strong teams

Owns the numbers

Thrives in high-expectation environments

Wants to grow with a rapidly scaling group