F&B Operations Excellence Manager

F&B Operations Excellence ManagerTHE ROLEAt August Café, we believe great hospitality is built on great systems.We are looking for a highly organized, analytical, and execution-focused Founder’s Office & Operations Excellence Manager to work directly with the founders and help build the next stage of our business.This is not a conventional restaurant operations role.This is a role for someone who enjoys bringing structure to chaos, building systems from scratch, solving operational bottlenecks, driving accountability, and ensuring important projects actually get completed.You will work closely with the founders across every area of the business—from restaurant operations and central kitchen production to HR, finance, procurement, training, audits, maintenance, reporting, and expansion readiness.Your success will be measured by one thing:How much more effectively the business operates because of the systems, processes, and accountability structures you build.⸻WHO WE AREAugust Café is an award-winning neighbourhood café brand founded in Mumbai in 2018.Today, we operate multiple business units including:* August Café Lokhandwala* August Café Khar* Central Kitchen Production Facility* Main Store & Procurement OperationsWe are currently in an exciting phase of professionalizing our systems, strengthening our leadership team, and building the foundation required for long-term scale.As a founder-led business, we move quickly, challenge assumptions, and care deeply about quality, hospitality, product innovation, and operational excellence.⸻YOUR TEAMYou will work directly with:* Founders & Directors* Multi Unit Manager* Production Managers* HR Team* Finance Team* Procurement & Store Teams* Restaurant Leadership TeamsYou will operate as a cross-functional leader and internal problem solver, helping departments execute projects more effectively and creating systems that improve consistency across the organization.⸻YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR1. Founder’s Office & Strategic Project ExecutionDrive key business initiatives from planning to completion.Examples include:* New process rollouts* Training programs* Audit systems* HR projects* Operational improvements* Technology implementations* Expansion readiness projectsYou will create project plans, assign ownership, track progress, and ensure execution deadlines are met.⸻2. SOP Development & Process ExcellenceBuild, document, improve, and maintain company-wide systems and SOPs.This includes:* Restaurant Operations SOPs* Central Kitchen SOPs* HR Processes* Procurement Processes* Maintenance Systems* Inventory Controls* Compliance Checklists* Training FrameworksYou will ensure that knowledge is documented and not dependent on individuals.⸻3. Operational Audits & ComplianceDesign and implement structured audit systems across all business units.This includes:* Operations audits* Hygiene audits* Maintenance audits* SOP compliance audits* Training audits* Documentation auditsYou will establish reporting mechanisms and drive corrective action follow-ups.⸻4. Dashboard & Reporting SystemsDevelop management reporting tools that provide clarity to leadership.This includes:* KPI Dashboards* Department Scorecards* Project Trackers* Audit Reports* Action Item Trackers* Monthly Review PacksYou should be comfortable using Excel, Google Sheets, and modern productivity tools to create visibility across the business.⸻5. Cross-Functional CoordinationAct as a bridge between departments and help remove execution bottlenecks.You will work closely with:* Operations* Production* HR* Finance* Procurement* Maintenanceto ensure priorities move forward without founder intervention at every step.⸻6. Training & Capability BuildingSupport the implementation of structured learning systems.This includes:* Training calendars* Certification programs* Competency assessments* Training records* Learning auditsYou will help build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.⸻7. Continuous Improvement ProjectsIdentify recurring operational challenges and recommend better ways of working.Examples:* Reducing wastage* Improving inventory controls* Improving communication systems* Strengthening maintenance processes* Increasing productivity* Standardizing workflowsYou should naturally look for opportunities to improve efficiency.⸻8. Founder Capacity & Business ScalabilityOne of your primary objectives will be reducing founder dependency.Success in this role means:* Better systems* Better accountability* Faster execution* Clearer reporting* Fewer operational bottlenecksallowing founders to focus on strategy, growth, product development, and business expansion.⸻WHO YOU WILL REPORT TOYou will report directly to the Founders & Directors.This role will have significant exposure to business strategy, decision-making, leadership discussions, and future expansion planning.⸻WHO YOU AREExperience* 5–10 years of professional experience* Experience in multi-unit retail, hospitality, food service, QSR, cloud kitchen, restaurant chains, consumer businesses, or operationally intensive businesses* Experience leading projects, process improvement initiatives, or operational excellence programs* Experience building systems rather than simply operating within existing systems⸻Technical SkillsYou are comfortable with:* Excel and Google Sheets* Dashboard creation and reporting* SOP documentation* Project management tools* Process mapping* Root cause analysis* Operational audits* Cross-functional stakeholder managementExperience with hospitality systems is a plus but not mandatory.⸻Personal AttributesWe are looking for someone who:* Thinks in systems, not shortcuts* Enjoys solving complex operational problems* Has exceptional follow-through* Is highly organized and detail-oriented* Is comfortable working directly with founders* Can influence people without formal authority* Takes ownership without waiting for instructions* Can challenge assumptions respectfully* Loves building structure where none exists⸻THIS ROLE IS NOT FOR YOU IF* You are looking for a shift management role* You prefer routine work over problem-solving* You need constant supervision* You avoid accountability conversations* You are uncomfortable with ambiguity and fast-changing priorities* You are only interested in strategy and not execution⸻WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHSBy the end of your first year, you will have:* Established a company-wide SOP library* Built audit systems across all business units* Created leadership reporting dashboards* Improved project execution across departments* Reduced operational bottlenecks* Increased accountability across teams* Enabled founders to spend significantly more time on strategic priorities⸻COMPENSATION* ₹12–18 Lakhs CTC per annum* Performance-linked growth opportunities* Direct mentorship from founders* High visibility and impact across the organization* Opportunity to play a key role in scaling a growing hospitality brand⸻LOCATIONMumbai, MaharashtraRegular travel between business units may be required.⸻HOW TO APPLYIf you are excited by the challenge of helping build systems, drive execution, and scale a growing hospitality business, we’d love to hear from you.Please apply with:* Updated Resume* Current CTC* Expected CTC* Notice Period* A brief note explaining why you believe you are the right fit for this role