Senior Franchise Operations Manager - UK & Europe

Role Overview

An expanding global beverage franchise brand is undergoing a strategic transformation by assuming direct control over its home market operations and revising its approach across various European territories. The company is seeking an accomplished Operations Manager to guide this transition locally.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage daily operational activities across the home market locations as they transition to direct ownership, including oversight of an Area Manager and their store teams.
• Implement the brand's audit, compliance, and operational standards throughout the estate, coordinating closely with the central brand excellence team.
• Facilitate new store openings by delivering practical pre-opening training during a period of organizational change.
• Serve as the operational liaison across several international markets, requiring approximately 30% travel, to foster consistency across markets with varying levels of maturity.
• Support the early phases of franchise and market development strategies, though full ownership of this agenda will not occur in the first year.
• Collaborate directly with senior leadership to enable them to concentrate on strategic growth and development initiatives.

Candidate Profile

• Demonstrated expertise managing multi-site operations within franchise, quick service restaurant (QSR), or retail-hospitality sectors.
• Comfortable operating across multiple international markets; international exposure is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Proactive, independent problem solver capable of researching challenges and proposing actionable solutions without extensive supervision.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to thrive in an evolving, leaner business environment lacking a fully developed corporate infrastructure.
• Skilled at building strong relationships with a small, close-knit senior leadership team.
• Motivated by the opportunity to create and develop new operational frameworks rather than maintaining established systems.

Why Join

This is a unique chance to become part of a fundamental transformation initiative, influencing the design and expansion of the operating model while advancing the role as the business grows.