Pre Opening Operations Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Brand

Jean-Georges Management is built on a powerful culinary foundation and has evolved into a reputable and award-winning restaurant group. From inception, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten placed emphasis on the importance of providing the very best in culinary and tailored hospitality, which has resulted in the success of an acclaimed constellation of international restaurants. With over 60 restaurants located worldwide, we continuously strive towards excellence and rely on the support of our culinary and hospitality team members to contribute to our worldwide operations.

Position Summary

The Director of Operations will serve in a dual-capacity leadership role supporting both new development initiatives and operational oversight of Jean-Georges owned restaurant properties in New York. This position works directly alongside the COO and CEO on strategic growth projects, restaurant development initiatives, operational planning, and execution, while also overseeing operational leadership across select owned restaurant properties. The role requires a highly organized hospitality leader with strong operational instincts and project management capabilities, capable of managing complex projects from early planning through opening while keeping teams organized, accountable, and moving forward.

Essential Responsibilities
1. New Projects, Development & Strategic Initiatives

Executive Partnership & Strategic Support

• Work directly alongside the COO and CEO to support strategic company initiatives, development projects, and long-term growth planning • Assist in evaluating new restaurant, hotel, and hospitality opportunities from operational and strategic perspectives • Participate in ownership meetings, development discussions, operator presentations, and project strategy sessions • Serve as a key operational liaison between executive leadership and project teams

Project Management & Development Coordination

• Help lead and manage project timelines, deliverables, meeting follow-ups, and project organization across multiple active development projects • Coordinate communication between operations, culinary, finance, HR, design, marketing, technology, purchasing, and external consultants to ensure projects remain organized and on schedule • Maintain accountability around critical path items, project milestones, operational deadlines, and opening readiness schedules • Organize and track project deliverables to ensure timely execution and follow-through across departments

• Assist in developing project plans, opening timelines, operational checklists, and rollout plans • Support coordination of vendor relationships, consultant communication, and ownership deliverables throughout the development process • Help manage shifting priorities and ensure projects continue progressing efficiently • Prepare and organize presentations, development summaries, operational plans, budgets, and executive materials for ownership groups and senior leadership

New Restaurant Development & Pre-Opening Operations

• Support all phases of restaurant development from early concept planning through opening execution • Assist with operational programming, staffing structures, labor models, service standards, and guest experience planning • Participate in design coordination meetings relating to FOH operations, service flow, kitchens, bars, storage, reservations, guest circulation, and operational systems • Assist in development and implementation of SOPs, training programs, operational systems, and opening procedures • Coordinate operational setup processes including purchasing, systems implementation, vendor onboarding, and pre-opening logistics • Support management hiring timelines, onboarding coordination, and operational readiness planning

Strategic Budgeting & Operational Planning

• Assist with development budgets, operational startup costs, staffing forecasts, and strategic project planning • Monitor and help manage project-related budgets and timelines throughout the development process • Partner with leadership teams to ensure strategic initiatives remain organized, financially responsible, and operationally executable • Help identify operational efficiencies and scalable systems to support future company growth

Ownership & External Partner Coordination

• Participate in communication and meetings with ownership groups, developers, hotel partners, architects, consultants, landlords, and external vendors • Support preparation of operational presentations, project updates, and strategic materials for stakeholders

• Ensure consistent communication and follow-up between internal teams and external project partners

2. Strategic Oversight of Owned Restaurants – New York

Multi-Unit Operational Leadership

• Oversee operational performance and leadership support across assigned owned restaurant properties in New York • Provide guidance, structure, and support to General Managers and management teams • Ensure consistency in hospitality, service execution, cleanliness, organization, and operational standards across all locations • Maintain active presence within restaurants to support teams and operational execution

Maintenance, Facility Oversight & Ambiance Standards

• Oversee maintenance coordination and facility standards across all assigned properties • Ensure restaurants are maintained to Jean-Georges brand and presentation standards at all times • Partner with management teams to proactively identify and address maintenance, repair, and appearance-related issues • Maintain oversight of dining room presentation and overall guest-facing ambiance, including lighting levels, music standards, floral presentation, furniture condition, cleanliness, candles, and overall atmosphere • Help establish and enforce visual and operational standards guides across all restaurant locations • Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and building teams as needed to support upkeep and operational continuity

Operational Oversight & Organizational Support

• Assist restaurant leadership teams with staffing structure, scheduling oversight, operational organization, and service standards • Support implementation and enforcement of company SOPs and operational procedures • Partner with management teams to improve communication, accountability, and consistency across operations • Help identify operational inefficiencies and implement process improvements where needed • Support rollout and implementation of new operational systems, reporting structures, technologies, and company initiatives across restaurant properties as needed

• Assist in operational execution and organizational support tied to new company projects and strategic initiatives

Systems & Operational Standards

• Partner with leadership teams on operational systems including POS, reservations, labor management, reporting, and organizational controls • Assist in rollout and implementation of operational initiatives, training programs, and company standards • Drive operational consistency and organizational structure across properties

Qualifications

• 5+ years of senior restaurant operations leadership experience • Strong multi-unit operational background within high-volume or luxury hospitality environments • Experience supporting restaurant openings, development projects, and operational transitions • Strong organizational and project management skills with ability to manage multiple active initiatives simultaneously • Excellent communication, leadership, and follow-through skills • Strong understanding of hospitality operations, systems, facilities oversight, and restaurant standards • Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational execution • Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with multiple active projects

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with ownership groups, developers, and hotel partners • Experience managing restaurant development projects and pre-opening operations • Experience in luxury hospitality and multi-concept operations • Familiarity with Toast, SevenRooms, Harri, Avero, and related hospitality systems • Strong project management and organizational capabilities

Compensation

The base pay range for this position is 115,000-135,000 per year + Bonus. The determination of what a specific employee in this job classification is paid within the range depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, prior employment history/job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, etc.