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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive operational performance and improve systems in a fast-paced food business.
- Company: Join Lean Kitchen Network, a leader in redefining the culinary landscape.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for real impact.
- Why this job: Be at the centre of innovation with global brands and cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in operations, strong commercial instincts, and data-savvy.
- Other info: High ownership and autonomy in a rapidly growing environment.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: London SE1 (Hybrid – min. 2 days in office)
Salary: £55,000 – £65,000
About Us
At Lean Kitchen Network (LKN), we’re not just making food – we’re redefining the culinary landscape. We partner with global brands like Twisted, Heinz, Doritos, PepsiCo, and Unilever to create and scale innovative food concepts. With 300+ locations across the UK, we work with kitchen operators, hotels, universities, and retailers to turn everyday spaces into high-performing food destinations. We’re now entering our next phase of growth – building the systems, data infrastructure, and operational engine to scale faster and smarter.
The Role
We’re looking for a Senior Operations Lead to sit at the centre of the business – owning how we use data, systems, and processes to drive performance. This is a high-impact, generalist role that blends operations, commercial thinking, and data. You’ll work across supply chain, partner performance, onboarding, and central reporting – while also helping us build a more scalable, tech-enabled operation. This role is ideal for someone who is:
- Operationally strong
- Commercially aware
- Curious about data, automation, and AI
- Excited to build and improve systems in a scaling business
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Operations & Performance- Drive operational performance across our network of partners, brands, and sites
- Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve revenue and margin
- Support rollout and onboarding of new sites and initiatives
- Work cross-functionally across supply chain, commercial, and ops teams
- Own and evolve central reporting across the business
- Build and/or manage dashboards (e.g. Looker Studio, Power BI)
- Translate data into clear insights and actions for internal teams
- Define what should be tracked – KPIs, benchmarks, and performance frameworks
- Work with (or help build) a data/analytics function to deliver reporting needs
- Identify and implement better systems and processes across the business
- Improve operational workflows to support scaling to hundreds of locations
- Lead continuous improvement projects across operations and supply chain
- Ensure consistency and structure in how we operate centrally
- Identify opportunities to introduce automation and AI into workflows
- Explore tools such as AI agents, automated reporting, and process automation
- Help the business become more efficient through smarter use of technology
- Stay close to emerging tools and trends, and apply them pragmatically
- Work closely with the Operations Director and senior leadership team
- Help define priorities and execute key strategic projects
- Manage stakeholders across partners, suppliers, and internal teams
- Manage and guide data/analyst resource(s)
What We’re Looking For
- Experience in a senior or mid-senior operations role (hospitality, food, retail, or similar fast-paced environments)
- Strong commercial instincts – you understand what drives revenue and margin
- Comfortable working with data, dashboards, and performance metrics
- Experience with tools like Looker Studio, Power BI, Excel, or similar
- Systems thinker – you enjoy improving how things work, not just running them
- Interest in automation, AI, and using technology to improve operations
- Able to operate as a generalist across multiple areas (ops, supply chain, data, onboarding)
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence and align teams
- Hands-on, pragmatic, and comfortable in a scaling business
Important Note on the Role
We recognise this role covers a broad scope – including data, systems, and emerging technology. While we don’t expect a deep specialist in every area, we are looking for someone who:
- Understands how these pieces fit together
- Can lead, prioritise, and problem-solve across them
- Is excited to learn and build in a fast-moving environment
Why Join LKN?
- Be part of one of the UK’s fastest-growing food platform businesses
- Work with globally recognised brands and major partners
- Play a key role in shaping how we scale the business
- High ownership, high autonomy, and real impact
- Opportunity to build future-facing capabilities (data, automation, AI)
If you’re excited by building systems, improving performance, and helping scale a modern food business – we’d love to hear from you.
Senior Ops Lead - Central Operations in London employer: Lean Kitchen Network
Contact Detail:
Lean Kitchen Network Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Ops Lead - Central Operations in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its operations. Understand their challenges and think about how your skills can help them scale smarter. This shows you're not just interested in any job, but specifically in making an impact at LKN.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Senior Ops Lead. Highlight your operational strengths and your curiosity about data and automation – these are key to impressing the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Lean Kitchen Network.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Ops Lead - Central Operations in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Operations: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for operations and how it drives performance. Share specific examples of how you've improved systems or processes in your previous roles.
Be Data-Driven: Since this role involves a lot of data and reporting, make sure to highlight your experience with tools like Looker Studio or Power BI. We want to know how you've used data to make informed decisions in the past.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the skills and experiences that align with our job description. Show us why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Ops Lead role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lean Kitchen Network
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Lean Kitchen Network's operations. Understand their supply chain, partner performance, and how they use data to drive results. Being able to discuss specific examples of operational improvements you've implemented in the past will show that you're not just familiar with the role but genuinely interested in how they operate.
✨Showcase Your Data Savvy
Since this role involves a lot of data and reporting, be prepared to talk about your experience with tools like Looker Studio or Power BI. Bring examples of dashboards you've created or insights you've derived from data. This will demonstrate your ability to translate complex data into actionable strategies, which is crucial for the Senior Ops Lead position.
✨Emphasise Your Curiosity About Technology
Lean Kitchen Network is looking for someone who is excited about automation and AI. Share any experiences where you've successfully integrated technology into operations or improved processes through innovative solutions. This will highlight your forward-thinking mindset and align with their goal of building a tech-enabled operation.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various teams, so be ready to discuss how you've effectively collaborated across departments in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and provide examples of how you've influenced stakeholders to achieve common goals. This will show that you can navigate the complexities of a scaling business.