Restaurant Development Manager / New Store Opening Manager

For 19 years, The Grill Stratford has built one of the strongest reputations in the industry through exceptional food, service and consistency. Our achievements include: No. 1 Restaurant on TripAdvisor for 3 consecutive years, nearly 4,000 Google reviews, and a 5 Star Food Hygiene Rating. We are now entering an exciting growth phase and are preparing to open multiple new company-owned and franchise locations. We are looking for an exceptional operational leader who will become a key part of our long-term growth.

This is not a traditional Restaurant Manager position. We are looking for someone who can master every aspect of our business, improve our existing restaurant, develop our management team and lead every future restaurant opening. Initially, you will spend approximately 2 to 3 months based at our Stratford restaurant, learning every operational detail, identifying improvements and helping strengthen the business. Once you have mastered our systems and standards, you will become responsible for opening every new restaurant we launch. Your mission is simple: every new restaurant must operate to exactly the same standards as our Stratford branch restaurant from day one.

Your Responsibilities

• Phase One: Master The Grill
  • Become an expert in every aspect of the restaurant, including front of house operations, kitchen operations, customer service, food quality, portion control, opening and closing procedures, cash handling, stock control, ordering, labour management, food cost management, health and safety, HACCP compliance, complaint resolution, Google and TripAdvisor reputation management.
• Improve Stratford
  • Leave our first restaurant in a stronger position than when you joined by improving operational efficiency, increasing sales opportunities, improving customer experience, developing the management team, coaching supervisors, identifying operational improvements, and maintaining our exceptional online reputation.
• Develop Future Leaders
  • Develop our existing sponsored supervisor into a confident Restaurant Manager and identify and develop future Assistant Managers and Supervisors.
• New Restaurant Openings
  • Take full operational responsibility for preparing new restaurants for opening, including recruiting the complete restaurant team, interviewing and selecting candidates, training staff, setting up kitchen and front of house operations, implementing all company systems and procedures, conducting trial service days, leading the opening period, and coaching the Restaurant Manager until they are operating confidently and independently.

The Person We Are Looking For

• Significant management experience within premium hospitality.
• Experience recruiting and building successful restaurant teams.
• Involvement in opening and launching new restaurants or extensive experience preparing restaurants for successful openings.
• Passionate about training and developing people.
• Understanding of labour management, food costs and profitability.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple projects.
• Leads by example and earns the respect of their team.
• Exceptionally high standards and attention to detail.
• Commercially minded and constantly looks for opportunities to improve revenue, customer experience and operational performance.
• Wants to build a long-term career and grow into a senior leadership role as the company expands.

Success Will Be Measured By

• Successful restaurant openings.
• Consistent standards across every location.
• Strong recruitment and staff retention.
• Development of future Restaurant Managers.
• Growth in sales and profitability.
• Maintaining outstanding customer reviews and guest satisfaction.
• Building systems that allow the business to expand without compromising quality.

This is a unique opportunity to help build one of the UK's leading premium halal restaurant brands and become a key part of our long-term leadership team.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Performance Bonus: Up to £5,000 per year based on agreed KPIs.
• Restaurant Opening Bonus: £2,500 for each successful restaurant opening.

Career Progression

This is not a role with a fixed career path. As our business expands, you will have the opportunity to progress into senior operational leadership, with increasing responsibility for future restaurant openings and the wider business.

Additional Benefits

• Genuine opportunity to build and shape one of the UK's leading premium halal restaurant brands.
• Lead every new restaurant opening and play a key role in the company's expansion.
• Work directly alongside the founder and have real influence over operational decisions.
• Autonomy to implement new ideas, systems and improvements.
• Ongoing leadership and professional development.
• Company pension.
• Paid annual leave.
• Complimentary meals whilst on duty.
• Staff discount.

We are not simply looking for an employee. We are looking for someone who wants to build something exceptional, develop future leaders and become a key part of our long-term success.