Director of Operations : EMEA

Location: Europe x Uk

Start: ASAP

Salary: A,140.000 + bonus + more incentives

Languages: English + any other European language is a bonus

I am seeking a commercially minded and hands:on Director of Operations : EMEA to support the next phase of growth for a fast:scaling global QSR brand.

This senior role will lead Operations and People strategy across established markets and new market entries, partnering closely with franchisees, regional operations leaders, and central functional teams.

You will act as a strategic adviser, operational expert, and key decision:maker, helping markets build the capability, systems, and infrastructure required for sustainable growth.

The ideal candidate is culturally astute, commercially focused, and comfortable operating in a fast:paced, high:growth environment. You will combine strategic thinking with practical restaurant experience, spending time where it matters most: in the restaurants.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Excellence

• Build a culture of operational excellence that delivers outstanding consumer experiences, repeat visits, loyalty, and advocacy.
• Define and execute the regional Operations Strategy, establishing the processes, routines, and systems required to improve sales growth and bottom:line conversion.
• Drive performance across OSAT, speed, accuracy, consistency, food safety, quality, service, and operational audit scores.
• Analyse restaurant P and Ls and identify opportunities to improve sales, margins, labour productivity, cost control, and profitability.
• Conduct performance deep dives and gap analyses, leading targeted remedial action, coaching, and training interventions.
• Identify opportunities to simplify operations, remove barriers, and improve execution across the restaurant network.

Franchise and Market Leadership

• Partner closely with franchisees and their operations teams to build capability, strengthen infrastructure, and support scalable growth.
• Provide operational expertise across compliance, brand standards, training, sourcing, franchising, concept development, and restaurant execution.
• Build trusted relationships with franchise partners and work collaboratively to diagnose issues and develop practical solutions.
• Provide governance and regional oversight to ensure operating standards, systems, and tools are implemented consistently.
• Support successful restaurant growth in established markets and lead impactful new:market openings across the region.
• Manage regional operational issues and crisis situations with speed, sound judgement, and a solutions:focused approach.

Growth and Innovation

• Lead regional growth initiatives in collaboration with central functional leaders.
• Support the development of BOH optimisation, tech:enabled kitchens, equipment innovation, value engineering, and the regional Drive:Thru proposition.
• Collaborate with Marketing to increase market share, revenue, and profitability sustainably.
• Partner with functional teams on initiatives including the Learning Management System, technology stack, global design standards, new product development, and concept design.
• Use market insights, operational data, and business intelligence to inform future growth strategies.

People and Capability

• Champion a People First culture across the region.
• Lead holistic people planning, including capability mapping, bench planning, talent development, engagement, and succession planning.
• Build, coach, and inspire a high:performing regional operations team.
• Create meaningful development opportunities that enable individuals and the wider business to exceed expectations.
• Work extensively with regional Operations Directors and international operations teams to drive consistency, alignment, and excellence.
• Deliver on:the:job coaching and training where required.

Measurement and Governance

• Establish appropriate operational, people, training, and commercial metri