The Operations Manager at RIKAS Hospitality Group is a senior leadership role responsible for the end-to-end operational excellence, commercial performance, and brand integrity of multiple branded hospitality venues across the UAE. This role requires a strategic operator with deep expertise in luxury dining, lifestyle concepts, and experiential hospitality, capable of managing complex operations while scaling performance across diverse formats.
The Operations Manager acts as the custodian of brand standards, driving profitability, people development, guest experience, and compliance in line with RIKAS vision of creating world-class hospitality concepts.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Brand Governance
- Oversee daily operations of multiple branded venues, ensuring consistent execution of brand DNA, service philosophy, and guest experience
- Translate brand standards, SOPs, and group strategies into measurable operational outcomes
- Ensure flawless pre-opening, soft openings, and post-launch stabilization for new concepts
- Conduct regular operational audits and performance reviews across all assigned venues
Financial & Commercial Performance
- Own full P&L accountability for assigned venues, driving revenue growth and cost optimization
- Analyze financial reports, KPIs, and forecasts to identify risks and opportunities
- Lead budgeting, financial planning, and cost control initiatives (COGS, labor, utilities, wastage)
- Collaborate with marketing and commercial teams to maximize covers, average spend, and brand visibility
People Leadership & Talent Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop Restaurant General Managers, Head Chefs, and senior leadership teams
- Drive a high-performance culture through structured training, coaching, and succession planning
- Ensure alignment with RIKAS values, leadership behaviors, and people standards
- Manage senior-level disciplinary processes, performance management, and talent retention strategies
Guest Experience & Service Excellence
- Champion exceptional guest journeys, ensuring service delivery exceeds luxury hospitality benchmarks
- Monitor guest feedback, reviews, and brand sentiment, implementing corrective action where required
- Personally handle high-profile guests, VIP relations, and critical service recovery cases
Compliance, Risk & Governance
- Ensure full compliance with UAE labor law, food safety regulations, municipality requirements, and licensing
- Oversee health & safety standards, HACCP compliance, and risk mitigation strategies
- Maintain strong relationships with regulatory bodies, landlords, and external stakeholders
Strategic Growth & Continuous Improvement
- Support group expansion by contributing operational insights to new concept development
- Identify opportunities for innovation, efficiency improvements, and technology adoption
- Work closely with culinary, design, procurement, and marketing teams to enhance brand evolution
Candidate Profile
Experience
- Minimum 812 years of progressive hospitality operations experience
- Proven experience managing multiple high-end or lifestyle F&B brands
- Strong background in UAE or GCC hospitality markets (mandatory)
- Experience with luxury, premium casual, or experiential dining concepts
Skills & Competencies
- Strong commercial and financial acumen
- Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Deep understanding of branded hospitality operations
- High emotional intelligence and cultural awareness
- Ability to operate at both strategic and hands-on levels
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field
- Advanced certifications in hospitality, leadership, or finance are an advantage
Personal Attributes
- Results-driven, detail-oriented, and brand-obsessed
- Resilient under pressure and adaptable in fast-paced environments
- Passionate about people, service excellence, and innovation
- Strong decision-maker with a growth mindset
