At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead operations and develop systems for a growing QSR group, ensuring sustainable scale.
- Company: Dynamic, founder-led hospitality brand with a focus on quality and customer experience.
- Benefits: Competitive salary of circa £100,000 plus bonuses and benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity to work closely with the founder and influence operational excellence.
- Why this job: Join a high-performing team and shape the future of a thriving brand.
- Qualifications: Experience scaling businesses from small clusters to multi-site groups.
The predicted salary is between 95000 - 105000 £ per year.
We are exclusively recruiting a Head of Operations for a small, high-performing and growing QSR group as it shifts from established and successful into a genuine scale-up and growth phase.
Built on clear values around quality, provenance and standout customer experience, this independent hospitality brand has already built a loyal following and strong performance across a small group of London sites. With 3 new openings planned over the next 12 months and 4 the following year, with an overall goal of 10 over two years and a longer-term ambition beyond that, this business now needs an experienced operational leader to build the infrastructure that supports sustainable scale.
We’re looking for someone who has lived this journey before and has taken a small number of locations or cluster business into a larger, structured group. A builder, completer/finisher, someone who brings clarity and rigour without stripping the soul from its brand.
You’ll own operational performance across the group, building the capability, leadership structure and systems required to support ambitious multi-site growth. A key part of this role is moving the business from instinct-led excellence to repeatable, disciplined performance - introducing and refining process, reporting rhythm and operational infrastructure without losing brand personality or pace.
Working in close partnership with the founder, you’ll translate brand vision into scalable, safe and commercially robust operations. You’ll play a key role in shaping the operating model - from labour structures and reporting lines to performance cadence and new opening readiness.
You’ll lead P&L performance, labour models, cost control and KPIs across existing sites and new openings, helping define how the organisation evolves as it scales from a tight cluster into a structured multi-site group.
- Direct experience scaling from small/cluster to established multi-site group - this role will likely suit someone who has helped take a business from circa 5 sites toward 15–20+ and is motivated by doing that journey again.
- Demonstrable experience building systems and infrastructure for growth.
- Strong commercial and P&L ownership across sites.
- Experience building middle management layers and succession pipelines.
- Clear values around food quality, provenance and standout customer experience.
- High emotional intelligence and natural gravitas.
Operations and Development Executive employer: mum
Contact Detail:
mum Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations and Development Executive
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend events, and engage on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, mission, and recent developments. We want you to walk in with confidence, showing them you’re not just another candidate, but the perfect fit for their growth journey.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with tangible examples. When discussing your past roles, highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to scale operations and improve performance. We want to see how you’ve made an impact before!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. We believe it shows your enthusiasm and professionalism, which are key traits for any operations leader.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations and Development Executive
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Growth: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for scaling operations. Share specific examples of how you've successfully taken a business from a few locations to a larger group, and highlight your understanding of the journey involved.
Be Clear and Structured: We love clarity! Make sure your application is well-organised and easy to read. Use headings, bullet points, and concise language to showcase your experience in building systems and infrastructure for growth.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As we’re looking for someone to lead operational performance, don’t shy away from showcasing your leadership experience. Talk about how you've built teams, developed middle management layers, and created succession pipelines in your previous roles.
Tailor Your Application: Make your application stand out by tailoring it to our values around quality, provenance, and customer experience. Show us how your personal values align with ours and how you can contribute to maintaining our brand's soul while driving operational excellence.
How to prepare for a job interview at mum
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the brand's values and customer experience. Understand their focus on quality and provenance, and be ready to discuss how you can maintain these standards while scaling operations.
✨Showcase Your Scaling Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past where you've successfully scaled a business. Highlight your role in building infrastructure and systems that supported growth, especially if you've moved a company from 5 sites to 15 or more.
✨Demonstrate Operational Excellence
Be ready to talk about how you’ve introduced processes and reporting rhythms in previous roles. Share how you balanced operational discipline with maintaining the brand's personality and pace, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Engage with Emotional Intelligence
During the interview, showcase your emotional intelligence and leadership style. Discuss how you’ve built middle management layers and succession pipelines, and how you plan to foster a strong team culture as the company grows.