Area Director of Operations
Mothersauce Partners, Washington, District of Columbia, us, 20022
Overview
We are seeking to hire a dynamic and strategic Area Director of Operations to lead multiple restaurant locations within our organization. The Area Director will oversee
++multiple Swahili Village locations,++
maintaining operational excellence, financial performance, and alignment with company culture and values. They act as the primary liaison between the corporate office and the restaurants, fostering clear communication, supporting company initiatives, and executing strategic priorities seamlessly. This role focuses on developing General Managers (GMs) while driving growth, guest experience, and team engagement.
Core Areas of Responsibility
Guest Experience & Brand Standards
Operational Excellence
Leadership & Team Development
Financial Performance & Business Growth
Communication & Collaboration
Community & Culture
Direct Reports
General Managers of 3 Restaurants
Reports to
Owner/Corporate
Prerequisite Skills
Minimum 3 years experience as a Director or Vice President
Experience in multi-unit operations. Minimum 3 stores
Ability to deal with significant operational and procedural challenges within an organization
Champion of change management, aggressively seeking out opportunities to improve business and team performance, with a history of effective execution of initiatives
Strong Understanding of P&L and the impact of operations on financial performance
Works in an organized and process-driven manner embracing complexity and structure
Able to work in groups and as an individual
Ability to recognize opportunities and drive solutions to organizational issues, both at the store level as well as above-store level
Proven excellence in effective communication
History of developing others into leaders and brand ambassadors
Willingness to immerse themselves in learning about Kenyan and East African culture
Responsibilities Guest Experience & Brand Standards
Champion the Swahili Village mission and brand at all time
Gather and analyze guest and team feedback to drive continuous improvement
Uphold brand identity and ensure alignment with our Core Values and drive performance against key business metrics
Operational Excellence:
Drive consistency in food quality, service standards, and overall guest experience across all locations
Develop, implement, and uphold best practices and standard operating procedures across locations to maximize efficiency and execution
Ensure compliance with health, safety, and labor regulations per state/national standards
Partner with the Marketing and Culinary teams to maintain product integrity and innovation
Triage when necessary to ensure optimal restaurant performance
Leadership & Team Development:
Provide guidance, mentorship, training, and accountability for GMs and their leadership teams
Foster a culture of hospitality, teamwork, and professional growth, utilizing Swahili Village training collateral and assets
Support hiring, training, and talent development to maintain a high-performing team
Ensure strong communication and collaboration between locations and leadership
Financial Performance & Business Growth
Own financial results across multiple locations, including sales, COGS, labor, and operating incomeWork with GMs to achieve budgetary and key business driver goals
Identify revenue growth opportunities and cost-control strategies without compromising quality or culture
Support expansion efforts, new location openings, and strategic initiatives
Communication & Collaboration
Serve as the primary link between ownership, leadership, and store-level teams
Maintain clear and consistent communication with GMs, providing regular feedback and support
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (culinary, marketing, HR, etc.) to align on company objectives
Community & Culture
Act as a cultural ambassador, ensuring that Swahili Village’s Mission and Core Values remain at the heart of daily operations
Drive engagement initiatives that support team morale and retention
Deliverables Daily:
Review Daily Flash Report
Call each unit to check in and verify staffing, product, and equipment needs are met, and the store is on track for a smooth opening. Confirm any catering or large format orders, and verify the team is focused on the top 3 from previous audits.
Weekly:
Perform 1x operations audit and tie out with the GM
Audit each restaurant’s weekly performance and review in a timely manner with that GM
Audit
Inventories
KBDs against revenue, prime cost, and operating margin targets, focusing on cost control measures for labor, food costs, and operating expenses
Schedules for the upcoming 2 weeks
Manager meetings
Checklist completion percentages
Training initiatives and personal development
Team disciplinary forms
Line Checks
Labor AvS & OT
Discounts, Voids, and Comps
Prepare all weekly restaurant information to present in the weekly meeting with the VP of Operations
Review/Approve any PTO or raise requests
Period:
Meet with GMs to roll out period reporting, wins, and opportunities
Compile wins and outstanding team member recommendations
Verify accuracy of information (Pay rates, titles, etc) for the team across all platforms, looping in HR where needed
Quarterly:
Perform quarterly reviews
Provide HR with quarterly bonus information
Review and update any Par and Prep sheets as necessary
Roll any vendor reporting up to VP of Operations or ownership
Attend quarterly leadership meeting and present performance, along with wins and any resource requests for your restaurants
Verify completion of all reviews and 1-on-1’s at each restaurants
Annual:
Conduct annual GM reviews, providing HR with performance results along with raise requests
Pay Level
Compensation Range: $140,000 to $190,000 / year base pay
Bonus Allocation Range: 15-30% of base salary with quarterly and annual targets
Benefit Package: The company provides comprehensive health benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Coverage includes the employee and may extend to eligible dependents, with premiums paid in part or in full by the company. Details of coverage, waiting periods, and carrier options will be outlined in the company’s benefits policy.
In lieu of direct enrollment in the company’s group health plan, the employee will receive a monthly health benefit allowance equivalent to the employer’s contribution toward a manager-level health insurance plan. This allowance is intended to offset the cost of private or marketplace health insurance and will be included as a taxable benefit in the employee’s compensation package.
Annual safari trip to Kenya. Commensurate with achieving performance goals, an annual trip to Kenya to learn more about the culture and the people and enjoy all of the incredible natural beauty the country has to offer.
Compensation Review: Conducted annually in the end-of-year performance review to address merit or cost-of-living adjustments to base compensation and bonus %. Annual targets / ranges for merit and cost of living adjustments to base compensation are found in the Wages & Salary Ranges guide.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
++multiple Swahili Village locations,++
maintaining operational excellence, financial performance, and alignment with company culture and values. They act as the primary liaison between the corporate office and the restaurants, fostering clear communication, supporting company initiatives, and executing strategic priorities seamlessly. This role focuses on developing General Managers (GMs) while driving growth, guest experience, and team engagement.
Core Areas of Responsibility
Guest Experience & Brand Standards
Operational Excellence
Leadership & Team Development
Financial Performance & Business Growth
Communication & Collaboration
Community & Culture
Direct Reports
General Managers of 3 Restaurants
Reports to
Owner/Corporate
Prerequisite Skills
Minimum 3 years experience as a Director or Vice President
Experience in multi-unit operations. Minimum 3 stores
Ability to deal with significant operational and procedural challenges within an organization
Champion of change management, aggressively seeking out opportunities to improve business and team performance, with a history of effective execution of initiatives
Strong Understanding of P&L and the impact of operations on financial performance
Works in an organized and process-driven manner embracing complexity and structure
Able to work in groups and as an individual
Ability to recognize opportunities and drive solutions to organizational issues, both at the store level as well as above-store level
Proven excellence in effective communication
History of developing others into leaders and brand ambassadors
Willingness to immerse themselves in learning about Kenyan and East African culture
Responsibilities Guest Experience & Brand Standards
Champion the Swahili Village mission and brand at all time
Gather and analyze guest and team feedback to drive continuous improvement
Uphold brand identity and ensure alignment with our Core Values and drive performance against key business metrics
Operational Excellence:
Drive consistency in food quality, service standards, and overall guest experience across all locations
Develop, implement, and uphold best practices and standard operating procedures across locations to maximize efficiency and execution
Ensure compliance with health, safety, and labor regulations per state/national standards
Partner with the Marketing and Culinary teams to maintain product integrity and innovation
Triage when necessary to ensure optimal restaurant performance
Leadership & Team Development:
Provide guidance, mentorship, training, and accountability for GMs and their leadership teams
Foster a culture of hospitality, teamwork, and professional growth, utilizing Swahili Village training collateral and assets
Support hiring, training, and talent development to maintain a high-performing team
Ensure strong communication and collaboration between locations and leadership
Financial Performance & Business Growth
Own financial results across multiple locations, including sales, COGS, labor, and operating incomeWork with GMs to achieve budgetary and key business driver goals
Identify revenue growth opportunities and cost-control strategies without compromising quality or culture
Support expansion efforts, new location openings, and strategic initiatives
Communication & Collaboration
Serve as the primary link between ownership, leadership, and store-level teams
Maintain clear and consistent communication with GMs, providing regular feedback and support
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (culinary, marketing, HR, etc.) to align on company objectives
Community & Culture
Act as a cultural ambassador, ensuring that Swahili Village’s Mission and Core Values remain at the heart of daily operations
Drive engagement initiatives that support team morale and retention
Deliverables Daily:
Review Daily Flash Report
Call each unit to check in and verify staffing, product, and equipment needs are met, and the store is on track for a smooth opening. Confirm any catering or large format orders, and verify the team is focused on the top 3 from previous audits.
Weekly:
Perform 1x operations audit and tie out with the GM
Audit each restaurant’s weekly performance and review in a timely manner with that GM
Audit
Inventories
KBDs against revenue, prime cost, and operating margin targets, focusing on cost control measures for labor, food costs, and operating expenses
Schedules for the upcoming 2 weeks
Manager meetings
Checklist completion percentages
Training initiatives and personal development
Team disciplinary forms
Line Checks
Labor AvS & OT
Discounts, Voids, and Comps
Prepare all weekly restaurant information to present in the weekly meeting with the VP of Operations
Review/Approve any PTO or raise requests
Period:
Meet with GMs to roll out period reporting, wins, and opportunities
Compile wins and outstanding team member recommendations
Verify accuracy of information (Pay rates, titles, etc) for the team across all platforms, looping in HR where needed
Quarterly:
Perform quarterly reviews
Provide HR with quarterly bonus information
Review and update any Par and Prep sheets as necessary
Roll any vendor reporting up to VP of Operations or ownership
Attend quarterly leadership meeting and present performance, along with wins and any resource requests for your restaurants
Verify completion of all reviews and 1-on-1’s at each restaurants
Annual:
Conduct annual GM reviews, providing HR with performance results along with raise requests
Pay Level
Compensation Range: $140,000 to $190,000 / year base pay
Bonus Allocation Range: 15-30% of base salary with quarterly and annual targets
Benefit Package: The company provides comprehensive health benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Coverage includes the employee and may extend to eligible dependents, with premiums paid in part or in full by the company. Details of coverage, waiting periods, and carrier options will be outlined in the company’s benefits policy.
In lieu of direct enrollment in the company’s group health plan, the employee will receive a monthly health benefit allowance equivalent to the employer’s contribution toward a manager-level health insurance plan. This allowance is intended to offset the cost of private or marketplace health insurance and will be included as a taxable benefit in the employee’s compensation package.
Annual safari trip to Kenya. Commensurate with achieving performance goals, an annual trip to Kenya to learn more about the culture and the people and enjoy all of the incredible natural beauty the country has to offer.
Compensation Review: Conducted annually in the end-of-year performance review to address merit or cost-of-living adjustments to base compensation and bonus %. Annual targets / ranges for merit and cost of living adjustments to base compensation are found in the Wages & Salary Ranges guide.
#J-18808-Ljbffr