Head of Operational Excellence - Europe
London Hybrid
£80,000 - £100,000 plus bonus and excellent benefits
Some operational leadership roles keep the business running.
This one helps shape where the business goes next.
We're working exclusively with a global premium QSR brand that is expanding across Europe. Already recognised as one of the world's most exciting QSR brands, they are now investing heavily in their European leadership team.
This is a rare opportunity to join the leadership team, working directly with the Managing Director to build the operational foundations that will support the next stage of growth.
This is not a traditional Head of Operations role.
You will not be running Area Managers or Regional Directors.
Instead, you will own the systems, standards, training, new restaurant openings, operational excellence and strategic projects that allow operations to perform at their very best.
If you enjoy solving complex operational challenges, building scalable frameworks and influencing senior leaders, this could be one of the most exciting roles in the market.
The opportunity
You will lead the Operational Services function across Europe, bringing together operational training, new restaurant openings, operational standards, continuous improvement and cross functional projects.
You'll work alongside senior leaders across Operations, People, Supply Chain and Culinary, helping shape how the business grows over the next several years.
This is a genuine leadership position with significant visibility and influence.
What you'll be responsible for
- Creating and delivering the operational training strategy across Europe
- Building scalable programmes that develop restaurant teams from frontline through to General Manager
- Leading operational excellence initiatives that improve consistency, guest experience and commercial performance
- Driving new restaurant opening readiness and supporting rapid expansion
- Leading strategic cross functional projects across Operations, Supply Chain, Culinary and People
- Building operational standards, systems and processes that can scale with growth
- Leading and developing a growing Operational Services team
Who we're looking for
We're interested in senior operational leaders who have built operational capability inside large branded hospitality businesses.
This is for someone who enjoys joining the dots. Someone who can bring together Operations, People, Culinary, Supply Chain and senior leadership to solve problems, improve performance and build scalable ways of working. You'll likely already be leading Operational Excellence, Central Operations, Operations Services or Operational Training within a large multi site hospitality business, with experience influencing across functions rather than simply managing within one.
You'll probably come from branded QSR, restaurants, coffee, casual dining or wider hospitality, ideally within an international or multi country business.
You'll understand how operational training, new restaurant openings, operational standards and continuous improvement all connect to create outstanding execution across large multi site estates.
Most importantly, you'll be someone who enjoys influencing rather than directing. Someone who can bring people together, challenge constructively and build solutions that last.
What you'll need
- Significant leadership experience within branded hospitality or QSR
- Experience leading operational excellence, training or central operations functions
- Strong background in new restaurant openings and operational readiness
- Experience working across multiple countries or international markets
- Excellent stakeholder management and cross functional leadership skills
- A strategic mindset supported by strong commercial thinking and operational data
Location
This is a hybrid leadership role based in London, with regular time spent at the European Head Office and restaurants across the UK and Europe.
Applicants should be based in London or the surrounding areas.
Package
- Up to £100,000 salary
- Bonus
- Comprehensive benefits
- Hybrid working
- A genuine opportunity to shape the future of one of the world's fastest growing premium QSR brands
If you're ready to move from improving operations to defining how an entire business operates, we'd love to have a confidential conversation.