Restaurant Operations Manager-$65000 Per YEAR|Richmond,VA,USA,VA|First

First Watch is a renowned leader in the Daytime Dining sector, specializing in serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch. With more than 600 restaurants across 32 states, First Watch has made a significant mark on the culinary scene by crafting a chef-driven menu that emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their culinary philosophy, "Follow the Sun," reflects their commitment to offering dishes at peak seasonal flavors, with a rotating menu that changes five times a year. Signature menu items like the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and the popular Million Dollar Bacon have become favorites among patrons. Beyond serving delicious food, First Watch is deeply invested in their communities, donating portions of proceeds from kids' meals to organizations making positive impacts, having raised over $1.7 million to date. This commitment to quality, hospitality, and community has earned them numerous accolades, including being voted the #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards for 2025 and named the #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America in both 2024 and 2025 by the Best Practice Institute, as featured in The Wall Street Journal. At First Watch, the employee experience is central to their culture, embodied in their YOU FIRST philosophy. They prioritize their employees' happiness and empowerment, ensuring work environments without night shifts and enabling staff to make key decisions that enhance the customer breakfast, brunch, or lunch experience. This philosophy creates a supportive, independent culture where employees feel valued and cared for deeply. The Restaurant Operations Manager role plays a pivotal role within this framework. This position requires a manager who not only understands the importance of excellent customer service and outstanding food but also embraces leadership responsibilities across the entire operation. Unlike traditional restaurant management models that divide back-of-house and front-of-house duties, First Watch expects its managers to oversee both kitchen operations and the dining experience cohesively. The manager ensures that daily operations run smoothly, adhering strictly to culinary recipes and standards. They actively coach and develop team members, instilling the First Watch Five Steps of Service to guarantee exceptional customer interactions at every table. Responsibilities also include understanding and driving restaurant sales and traffic goals, quickly resolving customer and employee concerns, ensuring food safety certification and protocols, maintaining restaurant security, and managing administrative tasks like revenue accounting and paperwork. This role demands proactive recruiting and hiring to build and maintain a strong team, promoting a positive work environment where performance is recognized and inappropriate behavior is swiftly addressed. First Watch managers thrive in mornings, have a genuine passion for serving others, and prioritize creating memorable experiences for customers. They promote the YOU FIRST culture by embodying core company values and fostering a close-knit team atmosphere. With excellent benefits, including no night shifts, a quarterly performance bonus, 401(k) plans, comprehensive health and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, childcare discounts, and more, First Watch ensures its management team is supported both professionally and personally. This role represents a unique leadership opportunity to grow within a beloved, award-winning company that genuinely puts people first.

• High school diploma or equivalent
• minimum 2 years of restaurant management experience
• food safety certification
• ability to work morning shifts
• strong leadership abilities
• excellent communication skills
• problem-solving mindset
• ability to handle administrative tasks
• availability to work in a fast-paced environment