Restaurant Operations Manager

Fresh Kitchen is revolutionizing the concept of fast food by offering real, scratch-made food prepared with high-quality, wholesome ingredients you can trust. Their commitment to using 100% pure olive oil instead of seed oils, hand-cut vegetables, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, responsibly sourced seafood, and entirely gluten-free recipes sets them apart in the fast-casual dining sector. This dedication to quality and health-conscious choices is encapsulated in their motto, 'Good Food Forever.' The company has an ambitious vision to expand to 100 remarkable restaurants by the year 2034. Alongside a strong emphasis on exceptional food quality and operational performance, Fresh Kitchen places great importance on nurturing a vibrant people-centric culture and building enduring relationships with guests and employees alike.

As a Restaurant Operations Manager at Fresh Kitchen, you will play a vital leadership role in overseeing the front-of-house and general restaurant operations, ensuring every guest receives a memorable and positive experience from the moment they enter until they leave. Your responsibilities will focus on multiple core areas including guest experience, shift execution, managing digital and off-premise orders, and fostering a cohesive team culture to drive efficiency and enthusiasm across the restaurant.

This position is not for a manager who simply oversees from the sidelines. It requires hands-on leadership, active involvement, and real-time coaching to set the bar for hospitality standards that make Fresh Kitchen guests feel welcomed, valued, and eager to return. As you collaborate closely with the Managing Partner and the Culinary Operations Manager, you will ensure smooth coordination between the front and back of house, especially during busy periods with high volumes of online orders and catering requests.

Owning the guest journey is a key part of your role — making the entire experience seamless, friendly, fast, and consistent with the Fresh Kitchen brand. You will maintain the dining room and key guest areas in a guest-ready state at all times, manage peak time traffic flow effectively, and handle guest concerns with empathy, urgency, and ownership. By using guest feedback for coaching and continuous improvement, you foster an environment that is clean, inviting, and consistently on-brand.

Building and leading a high-performing front-of-house team is another essential aspect of the role. You will cultivate a connected, engaged team culture through hands-on leadership while maintaining high standards. Partnering in hiring, onboarding, and training efforts, you contribute to developing strong bench strength and future leaders. Your approach demonstrates accountability, positivity, and a sense of urgency that inspires the team.

A modern Fresh Kitchen operations manager also embraces digital channels as integral to the guest experience. You ensure online orders match the in-store quality and speed, manage smooth and organized pick-up flows, and balance digital and physical volume effectively. Additionally, you proactively communicate and execute flawlessly on catering and large orders, enhancing customer satisfaction and operational flow.

Running shifts independently with confidence is a must. You maintain tight standards regarding food safety, cleanliness, and branding, and foster collaboration between front and back of house throughout service peaks. Identifying bottlenecks in service or order flow and implementing improvements is a part of your continuous quest for operational excellence.

Leadership at Fresh Kitchen is characterized by high standards combined with genuine care. You will lead by example, coach in the moment, stay calm under pressure, and pay attention to details that protect the brand. Your leadership brings pace, positivity, and learning that uplifts the entire team.

To be successful, you will bring at least 4 years of management experience in a fast-paced, high-volume restaurant, a passion for hospitality and food quality, and confidence in making food-related decisions. You should be comfortable in a dynamic environment, skilled in communication and problem-solving, and willing to obtain ServSafe certification if not already certified. Physical stamina to stand and move for long shifts in varying temperatures is essential.

Fresh Kitchen offers a salary ranging from $65,000 to $75,000 along with comprehensive benefits including group health, vision, dental, and a 401(k) match. Employees enjoy a positive culture, free meals, and progressive paid time off with balanced scheduling. The company also emphasizes work-life balance by limiting workweeks to 50 hours and provides closure for nine holidays to spend meaningful time with family. This is a genuine career path for leaders looking to grow within a values-driven, vibrant brand known for food and culture they can be proud to represent.