Operations Manager - New Opening - London

Chaiyo Restaurants, in partnership with JKS Restaurants, is seeking a talented and passionate Operations Manager to lead an extraordinary new chapter — a landmark fine dining Thai restaurant opening in Central London. If you’re ready to be part of one of the most exciting new openings in London’s culinary scene, working alongside a world-class team committed to delivering exceptional food and genuine Thai hospitality at the very highest level, we want to hear from you.

Chaiyo was born from Chef Luke Farrell's near two-decade love affair with Thailand — its food, its spirit, and its people. Having opened Plaza Khao Gaeng on Tottenham Court Road and Borough Market, Speedboat Bar in Chinatown and Notting Hill, Chaiyo has built a reputation for restaurants that carry the true soul of Thai life into the heart of London. Each venue is an expression of a culture Luke has called home, celebrated through vibrant food, warm hospitality, and an infectious passion for sharing it all.

Central to Chaiyo's ethos is Luke's Ryewater Nursery in Dorset, where a growing collection of tropical greenhouses supplies the restaurants with the brilliantly fresh herbs and aromatics that are essential to genuine Thai cooking — an extraordinary commitment to quality and provenance that sets Chaiyo apart. Now, in partnership with JKS Restaurants — one of the UK’s most celebrated and ambitious restaurant groups — Chaiyo is taking a bold new step: a fine dining Thai concept with huge ambitions, set to become one of London’s most talked-about openings.

The Role

We’re looking for an Operations Manager with a strong background in fine dining restaurants, preferably Michelin Star. As Operations Manager, you will have a hands-on role in the opening of daily operations of the restaurant, working closely with the Operations Director and support teams. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the senior management team and ensuring consistent culture and values;
• Recruiting, training and retaining senior staff to ensure they and their teams deliver the highest levels of hospitality in a consistent manner;
• Implementing and maintaining operating systems, controls and processes to ensure efficiencies and synergies across the restaurant sites;
• Oversight and ultimate responsibility for the financials, GPs and general P&L across the restaurant;
• Proactively looking to maintain the reputation of the brand; consistency of products and efficiency of costs across sites;
• Maintaining a thorough knowledge of the day-to-day operations, guest feedback and financials of the business;
• Working with the Directors in identifying areas of growth for the business.

Prerequisites for the role:

• Previous experience as an Operations Manager overseeing entire restaurant operations in the fine dining/Michelin Star space;
• A hospitality led, people first view to running restaurants, along with a willingness to take a hands-on approach to the role;
• Thorough knowledge of food and beverage operations;
• Willingness to lead by example and get involved in the day-to-day operations of individual sites where required;
• Strong understanding of restaurant commercials and financials, including but not limited to, general lease terms and opening costs, pre-opening and steady state budgets, restaurant P&Ls, day-to-day controls mechanisms. This will need to be demonstrated via previous involvement in restaurant openings spanning pre-lease negotiations to post-opening;
• Prior experience with stock, EPoS, HR, reservations and delivery systems.

Benefits

• Dine Out Allowance - Quarterly peer to peer at competitor restaurants
• Lunch for 2 after probation
• Up to 50% off dining across JKS restaurants
• CODE App membership - Discount at some of the UK’s best restaurants
• Self care salary - £1,200 additional salary to spend on your self care.
• Discounted gym membership with up to 25% off at 4,000+ venues across the UK
• 24/7 Doctor & prescription services for peace of mind healthcare
• 8 free counselling sessions to support your mental wellbeing
• Employee Assistance Program providing confidential support when you need it
• Health, legal, money and debt support services available
• Up to 55% off cinema tickets
• Up to 25% off UK attractions (London Eye, Thorpe Park, SEA LIFE, and more)
• Up to 15% cashback at 70+ major retailers across the UK
• Wagestream - stream a portion of your pay earlier when you need it
• Access to financial advice to help with your financial planning
• Company donations for your involvement with charities
• Wedding gift & newborn care package - celebrating your big occasions
• Staff parties & long service awards recognising your commitment
• Employee referral scheme - earn up to £600 per referral
• Additional holiday for every year with us (rising to 30 days)

The Group

JKS Restaurants was founded by siblings Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi in November 2008. The group has received critical acclaim and industry recognition since its inception, including 8 Michelin stars, 4 Michelin Bib Gourmands. The JKS portfolio currently includes Michelin Starred restaurants Trishna, Gymkhana, Kitchen Table, Sabor, Legado and Ambassadors Clubhouse; as well as cult favourites Hoppers, Brigadiers, Berenjak, Plaza Khao Gaeng, Speedboat Bar and Bibi. JKS Restaurants offers a unique chance to either pursue a career in fine dining or develop within casual trend focused cuisine, with opportunities across all disciplines for those looking to progress their careers within a people focused, collaborative hospitality group.