Operations Manager - New Market Entry and Expansion

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Operations Manager - New Market Entry and Expansion is responsible for leading Hungry Lion’s operational
expansion into new African territories. This role ensures each new market launches with strong
operational foundations, local capability, and brand-consistent execution from Day 1. The role bridges
expansion strategy, operations readiness, cross-functional coordination, and coaching of in-country
teams to ensure rapid, stable, and scalable growth.  This role requires extensive travel across Africa.

KRAs

1. New Store Opening Readiness

• During periods of rapid expansion and multi-market entry, the Operations Manager's role pivots heavily to ensure new locations are operational and ready for business:
• Manage the formal handover process from the project team to operations, conducting site inspections and compiling a comprehensive snag list of problem items for immediate rectification
• Oversee the rigorous testing of all kitchen and operational equipment, as well as IT hardware and software systems (e.g., Point of Sale, inventory management, network connectivity)
• Ensure all required opening stock is available and properly received via coordination with Procurement
• Conduct practical, hands-on training sessions alongside the Training department for new managers and staff, monitoring their progress closely during the pre-opening phase
• Co-ordinates new store opening team support

2. Financial Performance

• Gross Profit (GP) Margin Oversight: Drive and maintain target GP margins across all operational countries by monitoring sales and managing costs effectively
• Stock Management: Oversee inventory levels to optimise stock and minimise waste, ensuring effective supply chain logistics and communication with the Procurement team
• Cost Control: Identify and address areas of inefficiency, implementing company processes to reduce operational expenses and manage waste effectively, which directly contributes to higher profitability

3. Operational and Brand Standards Excellence

• Brand Standards: Ensure rigorous adherence to brand standards, focusing on consistency in product quality, speed of service, and overall customer experience
• Customer Feedback: Ensure that customer feedback received on all platforms is addressed timeously and efficiently
• Compliance Audits: Conducts regular compliance audits of each store

4. Staffing and Talent Management

• Staffing: Ensuring stores are optimally resourced. Liaise with HR regarding required staff numbers and collaborate with Training on effective program deployment
• Interviews: Conducts in-country, in-person interviews of shortlisted candidates
• In-country practical training: Conducts in-country, practical training of successfully theory-trained candidates

5. Regulatory Governance

• Ensure all markets operate within food safety regulations, and business compliance requirements
• Verify all required operational licences and permits are in place before trading commences
• Mitigate operational risks associated with local regulatory environments and health/safety standards

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of International multi-unit food and beverage management with exposure to emerging markets
• Direct experience opening new stores and launching new markets
• Experience developing front-line leaders and running training/onboarding programmes
• Food and beverage or Hospitality certification or relevant in-house certification
• Executive Management Diploma is an advantage

COMPETENCIES

Core Skills:
1. Strong operational systems knowledge
2. Pragmatic Problem-Solving Skills: Must be able to see problems simply and find effective solutions.
3. Business Development Skills: Must be top-line driven, ability to grow business, particularly in turnover.
4. Industry and Local Knowledge: Must understand local network, who's who in the Retail industry,
relevant legislation and government contacts.
5. Interpersonal Skills: Must be a people person, good with people, firm and fair.
6. Technology Skills: Computer literate/management of various tech-enabled platforms
7. Coaching and Capability Building Skills: Ability to uplift new, inexperienced teams
8. Marketing and Selling Skills: Enforce and protect brand equity
9. Supply Chain Management: Rotation and management of stock levels/stock control
10. Data analytical skills

Personal Attributes:
1. Customer Centric Mindset: Ensures every element of operations enhances customer experience
2. Travel: Comfortable with extensive travel across Africa
3. Personal Ethics: Must be honest with themselves and everyone around them
4. Fair and Just: Must be fair as a person in all business dealings, and with all employees
5. Passionate about the Business: Must love/enjoy what they do
6. Drive: Must have a winning attitude/mentality
7. Results-Oriented: Enjoys being measured and being judged by financial and operational performance results
8. Proactive Initiator: Must be pro-active, a self-starter and can see and grasp opportunities
9. Goal Driven: Begin with the end in mind; must know what they want at the end, personally and for the business
10. Multicultural Skills: Must be able to operate and interact in a multicultural environment
11. Resilience and Tenacity: Must be able to sustain motivation and commitment to goals in good times and bad; roll with the punches
12. Unstructured Situations: Ability to flex and adapt in unstructured and new environments and to create order and stability
13. Self-Reliant: Ability to operate on own, create and sustain own networks and key relationships