At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations across 40-45 restaurants, ensuring excellence in guest experience and financial performance.
- Company: Join a family-owned company passionate about people, purpose, and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a thriving restaurant brand while fostering a people-first culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in multi-site restaurant leadership and strong financial acumen required.
- Other info: Relocation assistance available; flexibility to work in various locations.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
About Blue Shock Executive Search: Blue Shock Executive Search, established in 2003, is a renowned executive search firm excelling in recruiting top‑tier candidates across restaurant, hospitality, and food service-related sectors. As industry leaders, we specialize in forging connections between exceptional talent and leading employers in Canada and the US.
Our Client: Our client is a family‑owned company with a passion for people and purpose. Founded in the UK and now thriving in Canada, we operate over 400 restaurants under four global brands. Our team of 10,000+ drives growth across new and existing markets with a focus on sustainability, opportunity, and community impact. We’re proud of our experienced leadership and the culture we’ve built—where pride and care lead to great guest experiences. Giving back is part of who we are, with our restaurants supporting causes locally and globally.
Director of Operations Overview: The Director of Operations provides operational leadership across a defined portfolio of restaurants, ensuring consistent execution of brand standards, financial performance, and people development. The role’s purpose is to build capability, strengthen culture, and create a pipeline of future leaders while delivering an exceptional guest experience and driving sustainable business growth. This leader will oversee 40‑45 restaurants and a team of 5 direct reports. The Director of Operations oversees a portfolio of restaurants in Toronto east to Ottawa, leading Area Restaurant Leaders to deliver operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and strong financial results. This role carries full accountability for people capability, culture, and performance across hundreds of employees, while shaping strategy and driving continuous improvement in partnership with senior leadership.
Key Responsibilities:
- People Capability: Lead a people‑first culture that drives engagement across the employee lifecycle. Build a strong talent pipeline, ensuring bench strength for all management roles to support core operations and future growth. Embed a culture of continuous learning and development, unlocking individuals’ access to career growth and life skills learning experiences and fostering a culture of pride in their team’s growth and business performance.
- Operational Excellence: Coach and support Operations teams to deliver consistently with company brand standards. Strengthen operational capability through effective systems, processes, and follow‑up. Instill a high‑performance, continuous improvement mindset across the brand.
- Guest Satisfaction: Ensure teams deliver a memorable guest experience across all channels: delivery, drive‑thru, dine‑in, and takeout. Act on guest satisfaction KPIs with clear follow‑up. Implement programs and incentives that foster a guest‑first mindset and deliver outstanding results.
- Financial Performance: Deliver financial performance by meeting or exceeding planned targets. Identify and act on opportunities to grow sales and profitability. Provide business leadership to drive sound, financially responsible decision‑making. Lead and coach teams to develop strong financial acumen to deliver profitable growth in their regions. Analyze data, identify opportunities, and create action plans to deliver KPI improvements.
Experience and Education: A post‑secondary degree in business, hospitality, or a related field is preferred. Proven experience leading leaders in a multi‑site restaurant or retail environment. Strong collaboration skills with the ability to influence at all levels. Advanced financial knowledge and business acumen. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. A track record of coaching and developing leaders at multiple levels. Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities. A valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle. Flexibility to spend 75% of the time in restaurants. Relocation assistance will be considered for the successful candidate. Eligibility to work in Canada (citizen or permanent resident).
Why Work for Us: To make a difference in people’s lives, their opportunities and their communities through great tasting food and coffee. To build a global food and coffee business, rewarding an engaged and diverse workforce with career and life development opportunities, connecting with communities through great tasting food and coffee and making a difference by giving back in abundance.
Director of Operations Ontario in Wakefield employer: Blue Shock Recruitment Solutions
Contact Detail:
Blue Shock Recruitment Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Operations Ontario in Wakefield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and connect with people on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We want you to show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the perfect fit for their team. Tailor your answers to reflect their values and mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family to build confidence. We suggest focusing on common questions and your unique experiences that align with the role of Director of Operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to make it personal.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Operations Ontario in Wakefield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your passion for the restaurant and hospitality industry shine through. We want to see how your values align with our client’s focus on people and community impact.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in multi-site operations and leadership. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate their ability to drive operational excellence and guest satisfaction, so be specific about your achievements!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’re the right fit for the Director of Operations role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Shock Recruitment Solutions
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's values, mission, and recent achievements. Understanding their focus on sustainability and community impact will help you align your answers with their culture and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Director of Operations, your leadership approach is crucial. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've built strong teams and fostered a people-first culture in previous roles. Highlight your experience in coaching leaders and driving engagement across the employee lifecycle.
✨Prepare for Operational Excellence Questions
Expect questions about how you ensure operational excellence across multiple locations. Prepare to share strategies you've implemented to maintain brand standards and improve performance. Use data-driven examples to illustrate your ability to analyse KPIs and drive continuous improvement.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Since financial performance is a key responsibility, be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and identifying growth opportunities. Share specific instances where your financial decisions led to increased profitability, showcasing your business leadership skills.