Director of Operations - Restaurant

Summary

ELIA Group is a multi-faceted, fully integrated real estate and hospitality company that acquires, develops, and manages commercial properties in landmark locations throughout the United States. In Real Estate & Development, we don’t sit back and let things happen, we make things happen! Whether we’re crafting deals or cocktails, our unparalleled attention to detail leads to award-winning real estate development and hospitality projects.

We are seeking a Director of Operations to work closely with the executive team and ensure restaurant operations are efficient and profitable while delivering unparalleled customer service. The Director of Operations will lead all aspects of business operations and venue management, events and sales, entertainment, security and procurement to ensure that the organization is on track to achieving its vision and goals.

Come join our team that has successfully negotiated transactions in excess of $1 billion and play a meaningful role in continuing ELIA’s legacy of creating unique opportunities and iconic experiences!

What You’ll Be Doing (Key Responsibilities)

As a Director of Operations, you will oversee all aspects of restaurant and hospitality operations to ensure efficiency, profitability, and exceptional customer experiences. This includes managing food and beverage quality, operational efficiencies, and vendor relationships while aligning strategies with the company’s goals. You will lead a high-performing team, driving training, and development initiatives to foster a culture of excellence. Key responsibilities include analyzing and reporting on performance metrics, optimizing budgets, and implementing standards for safety, compliance, and service. Additionally, you will work closely with stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement, address feedback, and deliver innovative solutions that enhance overall satisfaction and operational success.

Your key responsibilities include:

- Provide day-to-day leadership that drives the company to achieve and surpass financial and operational objectives set by ownership.

- Oversee all aspects of the company’s food and beverage operations, including quality control, operational efficiencies, and distributor/vendor/other partner relations

- Work with executive management team to develop and implement operational strategies that are aligned with overall business strategies.

- Create, measure, and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), driving continuous improvement and develop KPI dashboard working in collaboration with Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

- Motivate and lead a high performing team; attract, recruit, and retain top talent; provide mentorship and ongoing development to managers and supervisors.

- Visit company restaurants and evaluate overall performance, including with respect to presentations, cleanliness, compliance and program execution to company policy and procedures.

- Provide strategic and tactical guidance to develop restaurant operations, standards and guidelines including service, product preparation, sales, customer relations, safety/security, marketing, and employee development.

- Ensure policies are administered fairly and consistently, disciplinary procedures and documentation are completed according to the company handbook.

- Review financial information to determine company-wide operational performance against budget and adjust operational budgets to promote profitability.

- Manage and forecast food and beverage requirements, including preparing annual budgets, scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, initiating corrective action plans.

- Maintain a safe, secure, and healthy environment by establishing, following, and enforcing sanitation standards and procedures, while complying with legal regulations.

- Coach and support the restaurants by providing timely and consistent in-restaurant training and development, in collaboration with training and development leaders.

- Facilitate the development of creative solutions to overcome obstacles and ensure implementation to continually improve customer satisfaction results.

- Stay visible and interface with customers on a regular basis to obtain feedback on quality of product, service levels. and overall satisfaction.

- Incorporate customer satisfaction as a component of staff/operations meetings with an emphasis on generating innovative ways to continually improve results.

- Solicit team member feedback, utilize an "open door policy," and review employee satisfaction results to identify and address employee problems or concerns.

- Conduct annual performance reviews and goal setting with direct reports in collaboration with HR.

- Review customer feedback with leadership team and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken.

- Analyze service issues and identify trends to drive continuous improvement company-wide.

What We Expect of You

At ELIA, we use our unique experience and contributions to deliver more than value – we set new standards! The Director of Operations we seek is someone looking for more than a job – we want to work with someone who is as passionate as us about what we do and how we go about doing it.

Your success with us requires these qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)

- 5 years of multi-unit restaurant management/operations experience, including fine dining experience.

- Proven experience as Director of Operations or equivalent position.

- Advanced knowledge of restaurant operations and systems, proven hands-on food experience leading a multi-unit team.

- Excellent organizational and leadership abilities.

- Working knowledge of data analysis and performance/operation metrics.

- Outstanding communication and people skills.

- Knowledge of industry’s legal rules and guidelines.

- In-depth knowledge of diverse business functions and principles (e.g., supply chain, finance, customer service etc.).

- P&L accountability.

- Must be willing to travel as needed to Detroit and Nashville

- Advanced MS Office proficiency (Word, Excel, Outlook).

- Ability to travel as needed between Detroit and Nashville.

Competitive Salary and Great Benefits

At ELIA, base pay is one part of our total compensation package. Your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

You’ll also receive competitive benefits, including comprehensive medical and dental coverage, and a generous paid time off policy. Additionally, this role will be eligible for discretionary bonuses and may be eligible for commission payments.

Work Environment

We’re a bold and imaginative team with a proven record. Our robust team has extensive subject matter expertise and cohesive team chemistry in every facet of our business. We’re strategic-planners and boundary-pushers in the best possible way. It’s important to our culture to have fun while also exceeding everyone’s expectations.

This is a full-time position working in an office environment that is as unique and iconic as our business model. You will typically work Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Physical Requirements

At ELIA, we are all about setting you up for success! The physical demands described here are representative of those you must possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this role.

This is primarily an office role that requires you to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time although standing in, and moving between, work areas may be required. You will need to be able to operate a computer and other office productively machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer, for a significant part of each day. This role frequently requires you to move around our office or our other properties. This role occasionally requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 50 pounds. You will also need to be able to operate a motor vehicle to visit various properties and meeting sites and communicate effectively in person, before groups, and over the telephone.

Travel Requirements

Some travel may be expected between Detroit and Nashville, and possibly throughout the United States.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Dental insurance

- Employee discount

- Health insurance

- Paid time off

- Vision insurance

Work Location: In person