Director of Operations – Fast Casual Sandwich Restaurant Concept

An emerging hospitality platform is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead the launch and day-to-day operations of a growing fast casual sandwich restaurant concept. This role is designed for an entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives in early-stage environments and is excited about building a multi-unit platform from the ground up.

The Director of Operations will play a critical role in opening the first location, initially serving as the General Manager to establish operational standards, build the founding team, and ensure a successful launch. Once the store is stabilized, the Director of Operations will develop a succession plan and transition leadership to a newly recruited or developed General Manager.

This position will attend a six-week corporate training program to gain in-depth knowledge of the brand’s systems, standards, and operational approach before leading the opening and future expansion.

The long-term objective of this role is to support the development of a multi-unit operating platform capable of scaling to 15+ locations, while building strong teams, operational systems, and a high-performance culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the restaurant platform, ensuring operational excellence, consistency, and strong financial performance.
• Oversee the successful opening and launch of the first restaurant location, including team hiring, training, and operational setup.
• Initially operate as the General Manager of the first location, setting standards and establishing strong operating practices.
• Develop and implement a succession plan by recruiting or developing a General Manager once the location is stabilized.
• Recruit, train, and develop restaurant leadership teams, including General Managers and Assistant Managers.
• Build scalable operational systems and processes to support future multi-unit expansion.
• Ensure strong labor management, scheduling discipline, and cost control across operations.
• Maintain high standards of guest service, food quality, and operational execution.
• Lead new store openings and expansion initiatives across additional markets as the platform grows.
• Partner with ownership to shape the operating culture, leadership development strategy, and long-term growth plans.
• Monitor operational performance through key metrics and KPIs to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in multi-unit fast casual or QSR restaurant operations.
• Proven experience managing multiple restaurant locations (typically 4–10+ units).
• Strong background in new store openings or restaurant launch operations.
• Demonstrated success in recruiting, developing, and retaining General Managers and leadership teams.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing labor, cost controls, and operational performance.
• Experience building teams and operational systems within a growing restaurant platform.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to operate independently and take ownership of results.
• Strong leadership, communication, and team development skills.
• Comfortable working as a player-coach, especially during early-stage growth.

Operations Environment

• The first location is planned to open in New Hyde Park, NY, with additional expansion planned across the surrounding region.
• Restaurants typically open with approximately 25 team members, stabilizing at 15–20 employees once operations mature.
• Operating hours are expected to be approximately 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM.

Compensation & Opportunity

• Competitive base salary
• Performance-based bonus tied to operational KPIs
• Opportunity for equity participation as the platform grows
• Leadership role in building a scalable multi-unit restaurant organization

This is a builder role for a hands-on operator who wants to help create a restaurant platform from the ground up—someone who is passionate about developing teams, establishing strong operational standards, and growing a multi-unit restaurant business.