Restaurant Operations Manager

First Watch is a renowned leader in the Daytime Dining industry, specializing in serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Known for its unwavering commitment to using the freshest ingredients and a chef-driven menu, First Watch has established itself as a hallmark of quality and innovation. The company’s culinary philosophy, dubbed "Follow the Sun," reflects its dedication to providing seasonal and peak-flavor dishes. This dynamic approach ensures that customers enjoy elevated versions of classic favorites as well as innovative options like the Kale Tonic juice, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and the signature Million Dollar Bacon. With over 660 restaurants spanning 33 states, First Watch is not only a nationally recognized brand but also a community-focused organization that donates a portion from every kid’s meal to impactful causes, raising approximately 2.3 million dollars to date. This dedication to community support and consistent quality has earned First Watch numerous accolades, including "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" awards, and recognition as the #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek's Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Furthermore, it has been named the #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute for several years, a prestigious honor that highlights First Watch's profound commitment to its employees and organizational culture. This accolade was even highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, underscoring the company's reputation as an outstanding place to work.

The Role of Restaurant Operations Manager at First Watch is integral to maintaining the company’s high standards of service and food quality. Unlike traditional restaurant management models that separate front-of-house and back-of-house duties, First Watch’s managers oversee the entire operation. This holistic managerial responsibility includes supervising kitchen operations, ensuring adherence to the chef-curated menu and recipes, and managing the overall dining experience for guests. The position is designed for dynamic leaders who have a passion for mornings, excellent food, and especially for serving others. First Watch Manager candidates are expected to be nurturing coaches, empowering their teams to deliver exceptional customer service and embrace the company’s You First culture—a philosophy that prioritizes employee happiness and autonomy.

Responsibilities as a manager cover a broad spectrum, including ensuring that daily operations run seamlessly and according to high standards, motivating staff, understanding and exceeding restaurant sales and traffic goals, and handling customer and employee concerns with urgency and care. Managers are also committed to upholding health and safety standards through proper food handling and certification, securing company assets, and actively participating in recruitment by scouting new talent. Additional duties include enforcing behavioral standards, offering daily coaching, overseeing financial accountability such as revenue and deposits, and completing administrative tasks punctually.

First Watch emphasizes work-life balance by offering no night shifts, affirming its promise of a one-shift workday, which provides a healthy lifestyle for employees. The employer offers a competitive quarterly bonus program linked to restaurant performance, enhancing the opportunity for career growth within a supportive and vibrant work environment. The benefits package at First Watch further demonstrates its dedication to worker wellbeing, including 24/7 employee assistance programs, 401(k) retirement plans, comprehensive insurance coverage (life, short-term disability, long-term disability, dental, vision, and health), back-up care services, supplemental insurance options, meal discounts, wellness app subscriptions, telemedicine access, tuition reimbursement, and generous paid time off. This extensive offering helps solidify First Watch as an employer of choice in the hospitality industry.

First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. It complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages potential and current employees to communicate their accommodation needs. This inclusive work culture alongside the You First philosophy creates a workplace environment where managers and their teams can thrive, deliver exceptional guest experiences, and contribute positively to the community and company success.