Operations Manager

About this opportunity

Operations Manager – Restaurant Operations & Development Company: Shape Restaurant Group Location: Al Ain, UAE Employment: Full-Time | On-Site Career Level: Management About Shape Shape is a growing healthy casual dining restaurant group committed to delivering exceptional food quality, guest experiences, and operational excellence. We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Operations Manager who can lead, develop, and continuously improve both Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) operations across our restaurant concepts. This position goes beyond traditional restaurant supervision. The successful candidate must be capable of building operational systems from the ground up, developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), establishing performance standards, and creating a structured, scalable restaurant operation. Key Responsibilities 1. Operational Development & SOP Creation Develop, document, implement, and continuously improve SOPs covering all FOH and BOH activities. Establish operational manuals, workflows, checklists, quality standards, and control procedures. Identify operational weaknesses and develop practical solutions to improve efficiency and consistency. Build standardized systems that support existing restaurants and future business expansion. Conduct regular operational audits and implement corrective action plans. 2. Front of House (FOH) Excellence Develop guest service standards covering welcoming, order-taking, table service, complaint handling, and overall guest experience. Establish service sequences, staff grooming standards, and operational readiness checklists. Improve service efficiency, table turnover, order accuracy, and customer satisfaction. Train and develop restaurant teams to consistently deliver Shape's service standards. 3. Back of House (BOH) Excellence Work closely with the Executive Chef to develop and implement kitchen operational procedures. Establish food preparation, storage, hygiene, food safety, and quality-control standards. Improve kitchen workflow, production efficiency, inventory management, and waste reduction. Ensure consistent food presentation, portion control, and product quality. Monitor compliance with applicable food safety and hygiene requirements. 4. Team Development & Training Develop structured training programs for FOH and BOH employees. Establish competency assessments, performance evaluations, and accountability frameworks. Coach restaurant managers, supervisors, and operational teams. Develop training materials, onboarding procedures, and continuous improvement programs. 5. Performance Management & Cost Control Establish and monitor operational KPIs covering guest satisfaction, service speed, food quality, labor productivity, food waste, and cost efficiency. Analyze operational performance and recommend improvements. Optimize staffing, scheduling, inventory controls, and resource utilization. Prepare regular operational reports and improvement plans for General Management. 6. Business Growth & Operational Readiness Support new restaurant openings, menu launches, and operational improvements. Ensure operational readiness across staffing, equipment, training, and service procedures. Develop scalable operating standards that can be replicated across multiple locations and concepts. Collaborate with the General Manager, Executive Chef, Marketing, and other departments to achieve business objectives. What We Are Looking For We are looking for an operational leader who combines hands-on restaurant experience, strong process-development capabilities, and a continuous improvement mindset . The ideal candidate should not only manage daily restaurant operations but also be capable of building the systems, developing the people, and implementing the standards required to take Shape to the next level. Candidates with demonstrated experience independently developing and implementing FOH and BOH SOPs will be strongly preferred.