Head of Operations - Lifestyle Café Group

Head of Operations - Homegrown Saudi Café Chain

Driving Growth. Ensuring Excellence. Elevating the Brand.

About the Role:

We are seeking a highly experienced Head of Operations to oversee and elevate all operational aspects of a fast-growing homegrown Saudi café chain, this includes multiple outlets as well as a central kitchen. The ideal candidate must have proven experience in scaling café or fast-casual brands, operational excellence, leadership, systems development, and franchise expansion readiness.

The role requires a hands-on operational leader with strong commercial understanding, team management capabilities, and the ability to build scalable systems that support long-term growth and brand consistency.

Key Responsibilities:

* Oversee daily operations across all multi-branch Café outlets and central kitchen

* Build and implement strong SOPs and operational systems

* Ensure consistency in quality, service, food safety, and customer experience

* Improve operational efficiency and cost control

* Monitor branch performance, sales, wastage, labor, and profitability

* Lead, train, and evaluate branch managers and operational teams

* Develop reporting structures and accountability systems

* Work closely with HR and recruitment on staffing requirements

* Prepare the brand operationally for future expansion and franchising

* Establish franchise-ready systems, manuals, workflows, and operational standards

* Improve guest experience and strengthen brand consistency across all locations

* Coordinate with marketing, supply chain, procurement, and finance departments

Core Competencies

Operational Excellence • Commercial Acumen • Leadership • Brand Management • Stakeholder Engagement • Problem Solving

* Minimum 7–10 years experience in F&B operations management

* Experience managing multiple outlets and/or central kitchens

* Strong leadership and people management skills

* Experience in café, fast casual, or scalable restaurant concepts preferred

* Strong understanding of franchise systems and operational scaling

* Experience creating SOPs, training manuals, and operational structures

* Strong financial and analytical understanding (P&L, food cost, labor cost, etc.)

* Ability to work in a fast-paced growth environment

* Arabic and English preferred

Ideal Background:

Candidates with experience from recognized café chains, scalable restaurant brands, with an uncerstanding of GCC markets will be preferred.

Hands-on experience preparing brands for franchising, including franchise operational manuals, systems, and scalability frameworks is required to be succesfull in the role.