Head of Operations

As Head of Operations, you will lead operations across our 64-restaurant Pizza Hut dine-in business, while also partnering directly with our Republic of Ireland delivery franchisees to drive performance and uphold brand standards.

You will be responsible for driving consistent, high-performing operations, embedding Yum tools and frameworks, and ensuring our teams and franchise partners in Ireland deliver exceptional results. This role requires an inspiring, commercially astute leader with experience of working across a blend of QSR and FCD assets, as well as omni channel product delivery and the digital world. A deep understanding of partnering with franchisees to deliver high performance and compliance would be advantageous. 

You'll be a key member of the leadership team — driving performance, building capability, and ensuring our business grows sustainably with a growth mindset at its core.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of 8 Area Managers, ensuring operational delivery and consistent guest experience across all UK restaurants. 
• Work with Area Managers to implement, and maintain consistent labour models that balance service excellence, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Ensure full operational utilisation of all Yum systems, tools, and brand standards across the network.
• Drive excellence in execution, guest experience, and profitability through clear KPIs, coaching, and accountability.

Safety, Brand, and Culture Leadership

• Demonstrates personal leadership in brand protection, food safety, and health & safety execution.

• Ensures that every restaurant team understands that safety and brand standards are non-negotiable operational priorities, not separate compliance activities.

• Partners with support functions to embed safety culture and operational excellence at every level of the business.

Franchise Partnership (Republic of Ireland)

• Act as the primary operational partner for franchisees in the Republic of Ireland, responsible for maintaining the top-to-top relationship.
• Support and challenge franchise partners to achieve strong financial and operational performance while maintaining brand integrity.
• Share insights between dine-in and delivery formats to maximise efficiency, learning, and growth across both markets.

Functional Leadership

• Line management responsibility for the Area Managers and Field Facilities Manager to ensure smooth operations, compliance, and resilience across the business.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and digital teams to deliver integrated business performance and continuous improvement.
• Ensure strong business continuity and supply reliability through proactive planning and risk management.

People & Culture

• Build and inspire a high-performing operations team that lives the brand's culture and values.
• Champion a growth mindset, fostering innovation, learning, and leadership development.
• Drive succession planning and capability building at all levels.

Collaboration with Yum Brands

• Act as the operational conduit to Yum, ensuring alignment with all brand initiatives, tools, and systems.
• Lead the embedding of Yum's operational programs and performance management frameworks.
• Represent the franchise group at Yum operational forums, sharing insights and best practices

About You

• A strong coach, with the ability to lead through ambiguity and a period of transformation. 
• Proven senior operations leadership within a large-scale branded restaurant, QSR or FCD businesses and models.
• Analytical and able to make data-led decisions. 
• A self-starter, able to run independently with light-touch support from the CEO 
• Strong operational understanding of multiple asset types, including omni channel product delivery and aggregator partnerships preferable 
• Demonstrated success working within a franchise model, either as a franchisor leader or in partnership with franchise operators.
• Highly skilled in labour model design and workforce planning, balancing efficiency with great service.
• Excellent communicator and influencer with strong commercial acumen and people leadership.
• Collaborative, resilient, and driven by continuous improvement and innovation.
• Comfortable travelling across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Key Performance Outcomes 

• Financial Performance: Deliver budgeted sales, EBITDA, and cost targets across all company-operated restaurants.

• Customer Satisfaction: Achieve and exceed guest experience KPIs 

• Operational Standards: Maintain consistent adherence to Yum and Pizza Hut operational tools, service standards, and brand systems.

• Food Safety & Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance with food safety, health and safety, and audit requirements.

• People & Culture: Maintain high engagement scores, strong retention, and robust development of operational leaders.

• Franchise Partner Success: Build trusted relationships with franchisees, driving mutual growth and brand consistency across the Republic of Ireland.

Package

• Competitive base salary up to £90,000 annually (Grade 10)
• Annual performance-based bonus (dependent on company-wide performance)
• Company car allowance
• Private medical insurance & Income Protection 
• Pension contributions & salary sacrifice scheme