Head of Operations | Johannesburg, Gauteng | Permanent

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
Lead regional performance. Build a stronger restaurant network through commercially disciplined operations, exceptional execution and confident leadership. Edge Executive Search is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead a large, geographically dispersed restaurant portfolio across South Africa’s inland provinces. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this senior leadership role carries accountability for regional profitability, sales performance, guest satisfaction, brand standards and operational excellence. You will lead and develop a team of District Managers, translating business strategy into measurable restaurant-level results. From improving same-store sales and restaurant EBITDA to reducing operational losses and turning around underperforming restaurants, you will drive performance through sound commercial judgement, consistent execution and effective leadership. You will also coordinate regional support functions to ensure that facilities, training, loss prevention, marketing, development and employee relations work towards shared operational priorities. Our client is an established international quick-service restaurant brand operating a substantial restaurant network across South Africa, including company-operated, franchise and joint-venture locations. The business is focused on profitable growth, consistent customer experiences and strong operational standards. This is an opportunity to influence regional performance at scale while developing the next generation of operational leaders in a demanding, fast-paced trading environment. **What You'll Do** - Lead, coach and performance-manage District Managers across the Inland region, establishing clear targets, accountability and development plans. - Own regional financial performance, including sales, same-store sales growth, gross profit, labour costs, food and paper costs, stock variances and restaurant EBITDA. - Prepare regional budgets and monthly forecasts, monitor performance against targets and provide accurate weekly and monthly reports to the Chief Operating Officer. - Identify underperforming and loss-making restaurants, work with Business Intelligence and District Managers to establish root causes, and implement measurable turnaround plans. - Drive consistent execution of brand standards, food safety, occupational health and safety requirements, restaurant audits and corrective actions. - Improve guest satisfaction, speed of service, labour productivity, stock control, waste management and overall restaurant execution. - Develop District Manager succession plans and strengthen the capabilities of restaurant managers through effective coaching, performance management and talent development. - Coordinate regional support functions to align maintenance, loss prevention, training, marketing, restaurant development and employee relations with operational priorities. - Support new restaurant openings, refurbishments and the regional rollout of new systems, products and campaigns. - Maintain constructive relationships with franchise and joint-venture partners, landlords, contractors, bargaining councils and other relevant stakeholders. - Monitor market trends and competitor activity, identify operational risks and recommend evidence-based improvements to the Chief Operating Officer. - Work collaboratively with the Head of Operations – Coastal to maintain consistent operating standards across both regions. **What You Bring** - A degree or diploma in hospitality, retail, business management or a related discipline. - At least eight years of experience in quick-service restaurant operations or multi-unit hospitality or retail operations. - At least three years of experience leading eight or more District Managers, Area Managers or equivalent multi-unit managers across a region. - A demonstrable track record of improving restaurant performance and turning around underperforming operations. - Experience working with franchise or joint-venture partners to maintain operating standards. - Strong commercial and financial acumen, including restaurant profit and loss management, budgeting, forecasting, food and paper costs, labour productivity and EBITDA. - Experience managing employee relations matters and working with bargaining councils. - Working knowledge of labour legislation, food safety, occupational health and safety requirements and restaurant compliance standards. - The ability to interpret operational data and act on KPIs such as same-store sales, gross profit, labour percentage, guest satisfaction and audit scores. - Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, planning and stakeholder management skills. - A strategic and analytical approach, combined with the ability to make practical decisions in a fast-paced, field-based environment. - High levels of integrity, resilience, accountability and commercial focus. - Fluency in English; an additional South African language is advantageous. - A valid driver's licence and willingness to travel extensively across the Inland region. - The ability to be based in Johannesburg. A postgraduate business qualification, such as an MBA, would be advantageous. **What Success Looks Like** - Sustainable improvement in regional sales, same-store sales growth, gross profit and restaurant EBITDA. - Consistent performance against approved budgets, forecasts and operational KPIs. - Measurable improvement in underperforming restaurants through structured turnaround plans. - Stronger labour productivity, tighter food and paper cost control, and reduced stock variances, waste and operational losses. - Consistently high standards of food safety, brand execution, restaurant audits and guest satisfaction. - A capable, accountable and self-reliant District Manager team with a credible succession pipeline. - Effective coordination of regional support functions, with clear priorities and timely resolution of restaurant-level issues. - Successful new restaurant openings and regional rollouts delivered to the required standards and timelines. - Consistent operating standards across the Inland and Coastal regions. If you have the experience to lead a complex restaurant network, develop high-performing operational leaders and deliver sustainable commercial results, this is an opportunity to make a significant regional impact. # 2. Client Blurb Our client is a recognised international quick-service restaurant group with an established presence in South Africa and a substantial network of company-operated, franchise and joint-venture restaurants. The business operates in a competitive, high-volume trading environment where guest experience, operational consistency, food quality and cost discipline are central to performance. Its focus on profitable growth creates opportunities for experienced leaders who can strengthen restaurant execution, develop talent and deliver measurable commercial outcomes across a geographically dispersed operation. # 3. Keywords Head of Operations, Regional Operations Management, Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR), Multi-Unit Operations, Restaurant P&L Management, EBITDA and Profitability, District Manager Leadership, Restaurant Turnaround, Franchise Operations, Food Safety and Brand Standards.