Restaurant Operations Manager

Concord, NC, USA|Onsite

Job Overview

Employment Type

Full-time

Work Schedule

Standard Hours

Day Shifts

Benefits

401(K) retirement savings program

Life insurance

short term disability

long term disability

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Meal Discount

Tuition Reimbursement

Job Description

First Watch is a premier daytime dining restaurant known for serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using only the freshest ingredients available. With over 630 locations across 32 states, First Watch is a rapidly growing and highly respected brand in the restaurant industry. Their unique "Follow the Sun" culinary philosophy ensures that the menu rotates multiple times per year to highlight seasonal flavors at their peak, offering elevated versions of classic favorites, fresh juices, and popular dishes such as the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and their signature Million Dollar Bacon. They pride themselves not only on delivering exceptional food but also on their commitment to community. For every kid's meal served, First Watch donates a portion to charities supporting local causes, raising approximately $2.0 million to date.

First Watch has earned numerous accolades, including "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" awards, voting #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025, and being named the #1 Most Loved Workplace in America by the Best Practice Institute for 2024 and 2025. This recognition highlights their dedication to quality, hospitality, and fostering a positive working environment. They continue to redefine daytime dining by blending chef-driven menus with a heartfelt commitment to customer experience.

As a Restaurant Operations Manager with First Watch, you will play a critical leadership role overseeing both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. The position involves nurturing a positive "You First" culture where employees are empowered to make decisions, leading to an exceptional customer experience that reflects the company’s core values. This role embraces the responsibility of coaching and developing team members to ensure they excel in service and operational excellence. As part of the management team, you will be responsible for the smooth daily running of the restaurant, working toward exceeding sales and traffic goals, and upholding food quality standards by strictly following recipes. You will hold a significant part of the accountability for employee growth, customer satisfaction, and ensuring safe food handling practices.

The Restaurant Operations Manager enjoys a work environment free from night shifts, enabling a balanced work-life schedule. There is a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing with access to comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k) retirement savings program, life insurance, dental and vision coverage, paid time off, and more. Additionally, managers are eligible for quarterly bonus payments based on the restaurant’s performance, recognizing their critical role in driving success. You will be expected to lead by example in adhering to company policies, resolving issues with urgency, maintaining company assets securely, and actively recruiting new team members.

This position is ideal for someone with a passion for people-focused leadership and a love for the hospitality industry. First Watch values managers who thrive in a collaborative setting where the distinction between kitchen and dining room leadership is blended into a cohesive operational approach. If you are enthusiastic about fostering an environment where both employees and guests feel valued and cared for, this role provides a rewarding opportunity to grow your career with a company committed to doing breakfast and brunch the right way.

Job Requirements

high school diploma or equivalent
food safety certification
minimum of 2 years experience in restaurant management or related field
ability to work morning shifts without night shifts
strong leadership and interpersonal skills
ability to handle a fast-paced environment
must be at least 21 years of age to participate in some benefit programs

Job Qualifications

proven experience in restaurant management or similar leadership role
certified in food safety
strong coaching and team development skills
excellent communication skills
ability to manage both front-of-house and back-of-house operations
solid understanding of food quality standards and operational procedures
ability to handle customer and employee concerns with urgency
knowledge of sales and traffic goal management
capability to train and mentor staff effectively

Job Duties

learns and supports our 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 and 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