Director of Operations

Director of Operations

Fine Dining Restaurant Group – Charleston, South Carolina

Base Salary:$180,000–$220,000
Annual Bonus Opportunity:Up to 25%
Benefits:Fully paid health insurance for employee and family, mileage reimbursement, company computer, and comprehensive benefits package

Position Overview

A highly respected fine dining restaurant organization based in Charleston, South Carolina is seeking an accomplishedDirector of Operationsto provide strategic and operational leadership across a sophisticated, high-volume restaurant portfolio.

This is a significant senior leadership position responsible for an organization encompassing approximately1,500 employees, 160 salaried managers, and a Regional Executive Chef.

The successful candidate will be an experienced restaurant operator who understands thatpeople are the engine that drives the business. We are seeking a leader who can deliver outstanding financial and operational results while building a culture where talented people are developed, challenged, recognized, and given opportunities to grow.

The Director of Operations will have broad responsibility for restaurant operations while partnering closely with executive leadership on people development, human resources, financial performance, organizational planning, and the continued evolution of the company.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across the company's fine dining restaurant operations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a management organization that includes approximately160 salaried leadersand supports a workforce of approximately1,500 employees.
• Partner closely with theRegional Executive Chefto ensure exceptional execution, consistency, quality, and collaboration between culinary and front-of-house leadership.
• Establish and maintain uncompromising standards for hospitality, food quality, service, cleanliness, and the overall guest experience.
• Develop senior restaurant leaders and create a strong pipeline of future General Managers, Executive Chefs, and multi-unit leaders.
• Maintain a visible presence in the restaurants and develop strong relationships with managers and team members at every level of the organization.
• Drive restaurant-level financial performance, including sales growth, labor management, cost controls, profitability, budgeting, forecasting, and achievement of company objectives.
• Evaluate operating results and develop action plans to improve underperforming areas while recognizing and expanding successful practices.
• Participate in recruiting, selection, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, employee relations, and other keyHuman Resources responsibilities.
• Work closely with HR leadership to maintain a positive, professional, accountable, and people-focused workplace.
• Ensure company policies, operating procedures, employment practices, safety requirements, and brand standards are consistently executed.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, communication, training, and organizational effectiveness.
• Support new restaurant openings, market expansion, and other strategic initiatives as the company continues to grow.
• Serve as a trusted senior leadership partner capable of balancing the needs of the business with the needs of its people.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate is apeople-first leaderwith significant experience overseeing complex, multi-unit restaurant operations.

This individual understands that exceptional financial performance and exceptional hospitality begin with attracting, developing, and retaining great people. The Director of Operations should be comfortable holding leaders accountable while simultaneously creating an environment built around communication, respect, development, and opportunity.

We are looking for someone who is equally comfortable reviewing a P&L, developing a General Manager, working through an employee-relations issue, partnering with culinary leadership, or spending time in a restaurant talking with employees and guests.

Qualifications

• Significant senior-level leadership experience withinfine dining, upscale dining, polished casual, luxury hospitality, or a comparable high-touch restaurant environment.
• Proven success leading a substantial multi-unit restaurant organization.
• Experience managing and developing General Managers and other senior restaurant leaders.
• Strong understanding of restaurant financials, including P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, labor, food and beverage costs, and profitability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, geographically dispersed teams while maintaining consistent operating and hospitality standards.
• Strong background in leadership development, succession planning, recruiting, retention, and employee relations.
• Working knowledge of HR practices and the ability to partner effectively with Human Resources leadership.
• Exceptional communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• A leadership style centered onpeople, accountability, integrity, hospitality, and results.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the restaurant organization.

Compensation & Benefits

This position offers an executive-level compensation package designed to attract an exceptional restaurant operations leader:

• Base salary of $180,000–$220,000, based on experience and qualifications
• Annual bonus opportunity of up to 25%
• Fully paid health insurance for the employee and family
• Mileage reimbursement
• Company-provided computer
• Additional company benefits and executive-level support

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take on a highly influential leadership position with a successful fine dining organization that believes its people are its greatest competitive advantage.

The Director of Operations will have the resources and authority to make a meaningful impact on the organization while helping shape its culture, develop its future leaders, improve operational performance, and position the company for continued long-term growth.

For the right restaurant executive, this is more than an operations position. It is an opportunity to lead a substantial organization while building a culture wheregreat people create great restaurantsand great restaurants create exceptional business results.

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