Area manager jobs in District of Columbia

We are seeking to hire a dynamic and strategic Area Director of Operations to lead multiple restaurant locations within our organization. The Area Director will oversee multiple Swahili Village locations, maintaining operational excellence, financial performance, and alignment with company culture and values. They act as the primary liaison between the corporate office and the restaurants, fostering clear communication, supporting company initiatives, and executing strategic priorities seamlessly. This role focuses on developing General Managers (GMs) while driving growth, guest experience, and team engagement. Core Areas of Responsibility: Guest Experience & Brand Standards Operational Excellence Leadership & Team Development Financial Performance & Business Growth Communication & Collaboration Community & Culture Direct Reports: General Managers of 3 Restaurants Reports to: Owner/Corporate Prerequisite Skills Minimum 3 years experience as a Director or Vice President Experience in multi-unit operations. Minimum 3 stores Ability to deal with significant operational and procedural challenges within an organization Champion of change management, aggressively seeking out opportunities to improve business and team performance, with a history of effective execution of initiatives Strong Understanding of P&L and the impact of operations on financial performance Works in an organized and process-driven manner embracing complexity and structure Able to work in groups and as an individual Ability to recognize opportunities and drive solutions to organizational issues, both at the store level as well as above-store level Proven excellence in effective communication History of developing others into leaders and brand ambassadors Willingness to immerse themselves in learning about Kenyan and East African culture Responsibilities Guest Experience & Brand Standards Champion the Swahili Village mission and brand at all time Gather and analyze guest and team feedback to drive continuous improvement Uphold brand identity and ensure alignment with our Core Values and drive performance against key business metrics Operational Excellence: Drive consistency in food quality, service standards, and overall guest experience across all locations Develop, implement, and uphold best practices and standard operating procedures across locations to maximize efficiency and execution Ensure compliance with health, safety, and labor regulations per state/national standards Partner with the Marketing and Culinary teams to maintain product integrity and innovation Triage when necessary to ensure optimal restaurant performance Leadership & Team Development: Provide guidance, mentorship, training, and accountability for GMs and their leadership teams Foster a culture of hospitality, teamwork, and professional growth, utilizing Swahili Village training collateral and assets Support hiring, training, and talent development to maintain a high-performing team Ensure strong communication and collaboration between locations and leadership Financial Performance & Business Growth Own financial results across multiple locations, including sales, COGS, labor, and operating income Work with GMs to achieve budgetary and key business driver goals Identify revenue growth opportunities and cost-control strategies without compromising quality or culture Support expansion efforts, new location openings, and strategic initiatives Communication & Collaboration Serve as the primary link between ownership, leadership, and store-level teams Maintain clear and consistent communication with GMs, providing regular feedback and support Collaborate with cross-functional teams (culinary, marketing, HR, etc.) to align on company objectives Community & Culture Act as a cultural ambassador, ensuring that Swahili Village's Mission and Core Values remain at the heart of daily operations Drive engagement initiatives that support team morale and retention Deliverables Daily: Review Daily Flash Report Call each unit to check in and verify staffing, product, and equipment needs are met, and the store is on track for a smooth opening. Confirm any catering or large format orders, and verify the team is focused on the top 3 from previous audits. Weekly: Perform 1x operations audit and tie out with the GM Audit each restaurant's weekly performance and review in a timely manner with that GM Audit Inventories KBDs against revenue, prime cost, and operating margin targets, focusing on cost control measures for labor, food costs, and operating expenses Schedules for the upcoming 2 weeks Manager meetings Checklist completion percentages Training initiatives and personal development Team disciplinary forms Line Checks Labor AvS & OT Discounts, Voids, and Comps Prepare all weekly restaurant information to present in the weekly meeting with the VP of Operations Review/Approve any PTO or raise requests Period: Meet with GMs to roll out period reporting, wins, and opportunities Compile wins and outstanding team member recommendations Verify accuracy of information (Pay rates, titles, etc) for the team across all platforms, looping in HR where needed Quarterly: Perform quarterly reviews Provide HR with quarterly bonus information Review and update any Par and Prep sheets as necessary Roll any vendor reporting up to VP of Operations or ownership Attend quarterly leadership meeting and present performance, along with wins and any resource requests for your restaurants Verify completion of all reviews and 1-on-1's at each restaurants Annual: Conduct annual GM reviews, providing HR with performance results along with raise requests Pay Level Compensation Range: $140,000 to $190,000 / year base pay Bonus Allocation Range: 15-30% of base salary with quarterly and annual targets Benefit Package: The company provides comprehensive health benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Coverage includes the employee and may extend to eligible dependents, with premiums paid in part or in full by the company. Details of coverage, waiting periods, and carrier options will be outlined in the company's benefits policy. In lieu of direct enrollment in the company's group health plan, the employee will receive a monthly health benefit allowance equivalent to the employer's contribution toward a manager-level health insurance plan. This allowance is intended to offset the cost of private or marketplace health insurance and will be included as a taxable benefit in the employee's compensation package. Annual safari trip to Kenya. Commensurate with achieving performance goals, an annual trip to Kenya to learn more about the culture and the people and enjoy all of the incredible natural beauty the country has to offer. Compensation Review: Conducted annually in the end-of-year performance review to address merit or cost-of-living adjustments to base compensation and bonus %. Annual targets / ranges for merit and cost of living adjustments to base compensation are found in the Wages & Salary Ranges guide.