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Umami Riot Experience · 9 hours ago

Director of Operations

Boston, MA

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

8+ years exp

Umami Riot is a chef-driven hospitality collective founded by James Beard Award–winning chefs. The Director of Operations is responsible for the day-to-day operational performance and financial execution of the restaurant portfolio, ensuring company standards are met while developing high-performing management teams.

Hospitality

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations across all Umami Riot concepts, ensuring consistent execution of FOH and HOH standards

Enforce systems and procedures related to service, food quality, preparation, inventory, cleanliness, and safety

Partner with Culinary Leadership to support menu execution, tastings, quality control, and operational rollouts

Support execution and consistency of beverage programs in partnership with Beverage Leadership, ensuring service standards, cost controls, and profitability targets are met

Identify operational efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities without compromising brand standards or guest experience

Oversee facilities management across all locations, including preventive maintenance, R&M, vendor relationships, and landlord coordination

Execute operating plans aligned with annual and quarterly budgets

Analyze P&Ls, sales data, labor metrics, and operational KPIs to drive performance and corrective action

Partner with General Managers to optimize staffing models, scheduling practices, and productivity

Support labor controls, payroll accuracy, and financial discipline at the unit level

Translate financial insights into clear, actionable expectations for management teams

Lead, coach, and develop General Managers and FOH management teams through regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and on-site presence

Drive management recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention in partnership with HR and the Vice President of Operations

Ensure managers are operationally disciplined, financially literate, and guest-focused

Champion training programs and ensure consistent execution of onboarding and leadership development initiatives

Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all concepts

Partner with HR to support the full employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and compliance

Ensure adherence to local, state, and federal labor, safety, and sanitation regulations

Ensure proper adoption and effective use of operational systems, including POS, scheduling, inventory, and reservation platforms

Identify gaps in training, process, or systems and lead solutions in partnership with cross-functional teams

Act as a visible ambassador of Umami Riot’s values, hospitality philosophy, and brand standards

Support execution of marketing initiatives, promotions, and events at the unit level

Monitor guest feedback and partner with management teams to address opportunities and elevate service

Ensure each concept maintains its unique identity while meeting shared operational and hospitality standards

Serve as an operational lead for new restaurant openings, owning execution from pre-opening through post-opening stabilization

Partner with Culinary, Beverage, Service & Hospitality, and Development teams to ensure operational readiness, staffing, training, and systems execution

Support implementation of opening timelines, checklists, and performance plans

Lead assigned operational projects that drive scalability, consistency, and continuous improvement across the portfolio

Qualification

Restaurant leadership experienceFinancial acumenOperational executionMulti-unit oversightFood safety standardsCoachingDevelopmentGuest experience focusCollaborative leadershipDetail-oriented