Restaurant Operations Manager

Raleigh, NC, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Day Shifts

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life insurance

short term disability

long term disability

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Meal Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Childcare discount

Job Description

First Watch is a leading daytime dining restaurant chain specializing in made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Established with a passion for quality and fresh ingredients, First Watch operates over 630 locations across 32 states, redefining the daytime dining experience. The company is widely respected for its chef-curated menu that rotates seasonally, showcasing elevated takes on classic favorites and innovative dishes like the Kale Tonic fresh juice, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and the signature Million Dollar Bacon. Beyond serving great food, First Watch puts a high priority on community involvement by donating a portion of proceeds from every kid's meal sold to impactful organizations, having raised approximately 2 million dollars to date. The brand's success is demonstrated by numerous accolades including 'Best Breakfast' and 'Best Brunch' awards and recognition as the #1 Best Breakfast venue by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Additionally, First Watch has earned the distinction of being the #1 Most Loved Workplace in America for two consecutive years, 2024 and 2025, an honor highlighted in The Wall Street Journal for its outstanding employee culture.

The Restaurant Operations Manager role at First Watch embodies the company’s YOU FIRST philosophy, where employees are valued above all and empowered to create exceptional dining experiences. This is a full-time position focused on managing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations, breaking traditional boundaries by fostering a unified team culture. The manager's responsibility includes coaching and developing team members who are passionate about serving others and maintaining high standards in all aspects of restaurant management. Key performance indicators involve not just sales and traffic goals but also ensuring adherence to food safety and recipe standards, embodying the company’s core values, and providing responsive leadership to both customer and employee needs. Benefits of the position include a quarterly bonus based on restaurant performance, retirement savings plans, comprehensive health benefits, and unique perks like paid time off, childcare discounts, tuition reimbursement, and wellness offerings such as premium access to the Calm App and unlimited medical telemedicine. First Watch also supports a balanced lifestyle with no night shifts, contributing to a positive work environment focused on employee wellbeing and professional growth. This position is perfect for someone who enjoys early mornings, has a passion for hospitality, and thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven workplace. The role requires a certified food safety knowledge base, strong supervisory skills, and the ability to manage multiple operational facets of the dining experience effectively. Candidates can expect to join a company celebrated for its community commitment, superior culinary experience, and award-winning employee culture that truly puts 'You First'.

Job Requirements

high school diploma or equivalent
food safety certification
prior experience in restaurant management or supervisory role
ability to work early morning shifts
strong interpersonal skills
ability to handle multiple priorities under pressure
legal authorization to work in the country

Job Qualifications

proven experience in restaurant or food service management
certified in food safety
strong leadership and coaching skills
excellent communication and problem-solving abilities
ability to manage both front-of-house and back-of-house operations
familiarity with sales and traffic goal management
commitment to upholding company core values and culture
experience in staff recruitment and training

Job Duties

learns and supports the 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