Operations Manager
Are you the kind of leader who can walk into any of our locations and immediately know what's working, what isn't, and exactly what needs to happen next — then go make it happen? Do you hold high standards not because you're told to, but because you genuinely cannot accept anything less?
Chicken Maisón is a family-owned Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant group with 12+ thriving locations across Southern California — and we're growing. We're looking for a Operations Manager who will be the operational heartbeat of the entire organization: the leader our District Managers and General Managers look to for direction, accountability, and unwavering standards. This is a full-time senior leadership role for someone who is equally at home in the field and in the boardroom, and who treats compliance and safety not as a checkbox but as a foundation.
About Us
Chicken Maisón is a family-owned favorite for over 20 years. Since 2000, we've served flavorful, healthy Mediterranean cuisine across the South Bay and Long Beach. What started as a small family business has grown into 12+ beloved locations built on one promise: fresh, made-from-scratch food you'll love every day. We are not a chain that reheats food — we are a family-rooted brand built on quality, hospitality, and heart, and we're just getting started.
Operations Manager
The Operation Manager is the senior leader responsible for the performance, standards, compliance, and culture of most of our Chicken Maisón restaurant locations. This role has direct oversight of all District Managers and holds ultimate accountability for General Manager performance, store-level compliance, and safety across the entire restaurant group. The Operations Manager sets the operational tone for the organization — defining what excellence looks like, building the systems to sustain it, and developing the leaders who deliver it every day.
Pay: $100,000 – $130,000 annually ($48.07 – $62.50/hr equivalent), commensurate with experience.
Responsibilities
Multi-Unit Leadership & Field Oversight
- District Manager Oversight: Directly manage and develop all District Managers, setting clear performance expectations, conducting regular one-on-ones, and holding the DM team accountable to store-level results across the entire portfolio.
- GM Accountability: Own General Manager performance outcomes through the District Manager layer; step in directly when locations require senior-level intervention or support.
- Field Presence: Maintain consistent, visible presence across all locations — conducting site visits to assess operational health, model leadership standards, and reinforce brand culture at every level of the organization.
- Performance Management: Lead performance coaching, corrective action, and, when necessary, disciplinary processes for District Manager-level employees in partnership with HR.
- Succession Planning: Build and maintain a strong leadership pipeline from GM to DM level; identify high-potential managers and create intentional development pathways.
Store Compliance & Safety
- Enterprise Compliance: Own and enforce compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations across every location — including California labor law (overtime, meal and rest periods, final pay), health codes, and Cal/OSHA requirements.
- Health & Safety Standards: Develop, implement, and audit safety protocols and procedures across all locations; ensure all managers hold current required certifications (ServSafe, food handler cards, etc.).
- Inspections & Audits: Lead the organization's response to health department inspections, regulatory audits, and internal compliance reviews; ensure corrective actions are documented and resolved promptly.
- Incident Management: Establish and oversee a consistent protocol for workplace incidents, injuries, and safety near-misses; ensure timely and accurate reporting and follow-through.
- Policy Enforcement: Ensure that operational, safety, and employment policies are understood, applied consistently, and upheld across all locations and levels of management.
- Compliance Reporting: Maintain enterprise-wide compliance records and provide regular reporting to ownership and executive leadership on the compliance and safety posture of the organization.
Operational Excellence & Brand Standards
- Standards Ownership: Define and enforce brand standards for food quality, presentation, speed of service, cleanliness, and guest experience across all locations.
- Systems & SOPs: Develop, refine, and roll out operational policies, standard operating procedures, and training protocols that drive consistency at scale.
- Gap Analysis: Identify operational weaknesses across the portfolio and implement targeted corrective strategies; follow through to resolution.
- Technology & Tools: Ensure all locations effectively utilize restaurant technology platforms (POS, scheduling, inventory, etc.) and escalate systemic issues to ownership.
- New Location Openings: Lead or co-lead the operational launch of new restaurant locations, ensuring each opens to brand standard and with a fully trained management team in place.
Financial Performance
- P&L Accountability: Own financial performance across all locations — monitoring food costs, labor costs, and key performance metrics and driving corrective action where results fall short of targets.
- Budgeting & Forecasting: Partner with ownership and finance on annual budgets, labor forecasts, and cost control strategies across the portfolio.
- Performance Reporting: Deliver regular operational and financial reporting to executive leadership; present findings, trends, and recommended actions with clarity and ownership.
- Cost Control: Identify and eliminate waste, inefficiency, and cost overruns at both the location and portfolio level.
People Development & Culture
- Leadership Development: Build a culture of high standards and continuous improvement among the District Manager and General Manager teams; invest consistently in coaching and growth.
- Retention: Drive management team retention through clear expectations, recognition, development opportunities, and a culture of accountability and respect.
- HR Partnership: Collaborate closely with HR on employee relations matters, compliance concerns, management-level performance issues, and organizational changes.
- Culture Champion: Embody and reinforce the values of Chicken Maisón — customer service, professionalism, teamwork, consistency, and integrity — across every interaction and every location.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of progressive restaurant operations leadership experience, including direct oversight of District Managers or equivalent multi-unit leaders.
- Demonstrated track record of managing and developing multi-unit field leadership teams across 8+ locations simultaneously.
- Deep knowledge of California labor law, health and safety regulations, and Cal/OSHA requirements in a restaurant or multi-site environment.
- Proven P&L ownership and financial acumen across a multi-unit portfolio.
- Experience leading compliance programs, health department relationships, and regulatory audit responses.
- Strong coaching and people development skills; track record of building leaders and sustaining high-performing management teams.
- Excellent communication and executive presence — able to represent the organization at all levels, from crew member to ownership.
- ServSafe certification current or obtainable within 30 days.
- Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required — regular travel between all locations is expected.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality, Operations Management, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
Employment Details
Reports To: Ownership / Executive Leadership
Direct Reports: All District Managers
Work Authorization: United States (Required)
Job Type: Full-time (Exempt, Salaried)
Expected Hours: 50+ per week; evenings, weekends, and holidays as business demands
Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, 401(k), employee discount, mileage reimbursement
Work Location: In-person — regular travel across all Southern California locations required
Why This Role
This is a rare opportunity to step into the most senior field operations role at a beloved, growing brand and leave a real mark on how it runs, how it grows, and how it treats its people. If you're ready to bring the standards, the vision, and the presence this role demands — we want to hear from you.
Chicken Maisón is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.
Screening Questions
- How many years of multi-unit restaurant operations experience do you have, and how many locations were you responsible for at your peak? (Minimum 8 years and 8+ locations required)
- Have you directly managed District Managers or equivalent multi-unit field leaders? If yes, how many and for how long?
- Describe your experience with California labor law compliance and health department oversight in a restaurant environment.
- What is the largest P&L you have personally owned, and how did you drive results against it?
- Are you bilingual in English and Spanish? (Strongly preferred)
- In 200 words or less, what specifically draws you to Chicken Maisón and what would you do in your first 90 days in this role?
Pay: $100,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
Work Location: In person
