At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire multiple cafés, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and team happiness.
- Company: Join Dishoom, a values-led hospitality business with a warm and inclusive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy private healthcare, generous dining discounts, and wellness support.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-growing environment while nurturing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing large operations and developing high-performing teams.
- Other info: Exciting opportunities for growth and a chance to experience our unique culture in Bombay.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a hospitality leader to join our London Operations team. A rare opportunity for the right person to make a real impact! This person should naturally be a peoples’ person, always lead with warmth and purpose, and bring clarity with each decision they make. Our cafés are big operations, structurally complex in nature, and not to mention busy! We typically serve circa 10,000 covers per site each week in our central London locations. For such demanding yet truly rewarding environments for guests and team alike, we need to be sure our cafes are in the safest pair of hands.
We’re looking for someone who has the innate ability to lead, motivate and nurture our Senior Managers and their teams. It’s imperative you bring your operational know-how, drive, and people leadership to help us do every day better than the last, while strengthening our cafés as we continue to grow.
About the Role: You’ll look after multiple cafés across London (typically 3 or 4 sites), supporting our General Managers to be the very best they can be. Given the scale, complexity and growing nature of Dishoom, this opportunity is just a starting point. There is huge scope for this role to grow in responsibilities and the impact you can have on the business.
Responsibilities:
- Coach, support and guide our General Managers to create first-class, big-hearted experiences for every guest who visits, and team member who joins us.
- Partner with our General Managers to achieve commercial success in optimising cover volume, guest experience, and cost controls.
- Drive performance across key KPIs including guest and team feedback, food and drink standards and commercial objectives.
- You’ll be in the cafés supporting teams, reviewing performance, and spotting any opportunity to deepen what we do.
- Be the eyes and ears across our London cafés- ensuring they are running brilliantly and true to the experience we want, feeding back to relevant internal stakeholders where needed.
- Build a big-hearted and first-class culture.
- Set clear goals and help your teams to achieve them.
- Team happiness is key - ensuring our team are thriving, engaged and have clear pathways for growth.
About you:
- See both the big picture and the smallest details - guiding our teams to ensure we consistently deliver to the standards we expect.
- Possesses solid commercial insight and business acumen, applying a structured and thoughtful approach to all aspects of cost and control management.
- Have a genuine love for creating memorable moments for both guests and team members.
- Lead with confidence and care - making smart decisions, staying calm under pressure, and always keeping team and guests at the heart of what you do.
- Thrive in a fast-growing business, relishing variety and the chance to make a lasting impact as we continue to expand.
- Find joy in helping others shine - building teams that feel proud, connected, and cared for.
- Above all, you lead with warmth and purpose, living our value of Seva - the act of selfless service - in everything you do.
- Proven experience leading big site operations across multiple locations as an Area Manager or Operations Director within a values-led hospitality business.
- A strong track record of developing high-performing leaders and teams.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver business strategies and improve performance across key metrics.
At Dishoom, we care about supporting you and your well-being (inside and outside of work). With this, we tend to think about our team’s well-being in four different ways:
- Financial: Private Healthcare for you and your family. Enhanced family leave and pay, plus specific Dishoom-walla benefits for those growing little families. £200 monthly to spend when dining in Dishoom each month. Beyond that, enjoy 50% off during the day and 25% off in the evening for you and up to five guests. Access to our savings support and financial health planning tool. Free weekly wage advances and emergency cash if ever needed.
- Mental & Physical: All Buchas (Managers) are fully trained in mental health support & First Aid. Dedicated support from our confidential advice helpline - available to you or someone in your household - 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. On-demand GP appointments, free counselling sessions and life coaching through our wellness app. Free fitness sessions every month (including yoga and spin classes). Calling all cricket fans, we have our very own Dishoom Premier League (an in-house cricket tournament) where you get to compete with your team at Lord’s.
- Socials: Our Family Mela (summer festival), our huge Christmas celebration, and a once-in-a-lifetime educational trip to Bombay, giving you the chance to experience the culture, flavours and stories that shape all that we do!
Salary to be discussed. We’re more interested in finding the right person than ticking every box. Maybe your skills are brilliant, but don’t tick every single box or perhaps the salary might need a little tweak. If this role feels like a great fit for you (or almost does!), we’d love to hear from you. At Dishoom- everyone is welcome. We are committed to having an inclusive and diverse workplace and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, identities and experience to apply for roles with us.
Area Manager / Operations Manager employer: Dishoom Limited
Contact Detail:
Dishoom Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Manager / Operations Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the hospitality industry. Attend events, join online forums, or even pop into cafés and chat with managers. You never know who might have a lead on your dream Area Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your personality! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, let your warmth and passion for hospitality shine through. Share stories about how you've led teams and created memorable experiences – it’s all about making that personal connection.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Dishoom, and express your interest in working with them. A friendly email or a quick call can go a long way in getting your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Dishoom, they value Seva and creating big-hearted experiences. Think about how your leadership style aligns with their mission and be ready to discuss it during your interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Area Manager / Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Hospitality: When writing your application, let your love for hospitality shine through! Share specific examples of how you've created memorable experiences for guests and supported your teams. We want to see that you genuinely care about making a difference in our cafés.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and skills, especially those related to leading teams and managing operations. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your potential!
Highlight Your Leadership Style: We’re looking for someone who leads with warmth and purpose, so make sure to showcase your leadership style in your application. Talk about how you motivate and nurture your teams, and how you’ve successfully guided others to achieve their goals.
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. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our Dishoom family!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dishoom Limited
✨Know Your Cafés Inside Out
Before the interview, take some time to research the cafés you'll be managing. Understand their unique offerings, customer demographics, and any recent news or changes. This will show your genuine interest and help you speak confidently about how you can enhance their operations.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a hospitality leader, your ability to connect with people is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on how you motivated and nurtured them. Be ready to discuss how you create memorable experiences for both guests and team members.
✨Demonstrate Operational Know-How
Brush up on your operational management skills. Be prepared to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how you've driven performance in previous roles. Highlight your experience with cost control and optimising cover volume, as these are vital for success in this position.
✨Emphasise Your Growth Mindset
This role has huge potential for growth, so convey your enthusiasm for taking on new challenges. Share examples of how you've adapted to change in fast-paced environments and how you plan to contribute to the ongoing success and expansion of the cafés.