Restaurant Operations Manager Jobs in Gurnee, IL

In addition to no night shifts and our fully chef-curated menu, our #1 priority has always been our people. We care about our customers, and we care about you! That's where our YOU FIRST culture begins - each day, we put our employees first and strive to make them happy. They are empowered with an independence to make decisions that will help provide an exceptional breakfast, brunch, or lunch experience for their customers. In fact, we like to say, we love our employees more than bacon. And that says a lot.

All employees are eligible for the following:

• One Shift - No Night Shifts. Ever.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a great company and great people!
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program
• 401(K) Retirement Savings Program (must be employed for 60 days and must be 21 years of age to participate)*
• As a Restaurant Operations Manager, you will be eligible for quarterly bonus payment based on restaurant's performance.
• Life Insurance*
• Short Term Disability*
• Long-Term Disability*
• Dental*
• Vision*
• Health Insurance*
• Bright Horizon - back up child and elder care*
• Spot Insurance*
• Supplemental Insurance (accident, critical illness, indemnity) *
• Meal Discount
• Complimentary premium access to the Calm App, plus 5 gift subscriptions
• Unlimited access to medical and behavioral telemedicine through Cirrus MD
• Tuition Reimbursement & High School Diploma Program
• Perks at Work (over 30,000 discounts on purchases for travel, fitness, auto event tickets & more)
• Childcare Discount Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO)

*Employees must enroll within 30 days for hire and the benefit begins the 1st of the month following 60 days of employment

First Watch Managers love mornings and the smell of bacon, and most importantly, they have an innate passion for serving others. We're not just talking great customer service or amazing food (although customers and food are also high on our list). We hire managers that coach and develop team members who, in turn, fall in love with serving others - and thus the beautiful cycle of restaurant life continues.

We have immense pride in our food which is why we don't subscribe to the old BOH versus FOH management structure. At First Watch, each manager is responsible for supervising both kitchen operations and the overall dining experience.

• Learns and supports our You First culture and core values
• Puts their supervisory skills to work, making sure daily operations runs according to plan and with high standards
• Understands that we source great food for a reason and that our recipes must be followed
• Knows the restaurant sales and traffic goals - and works to exceed them
• Coaches and observes the First Watch Five Steps of Service being implemented at every table
• Understands the background story of our 10 Commitments - and puts them into action
• Responds with a sense of urgency to both customer and employee concerns
• Communicates and takes immediate ownership of repair and maintenance issues
• Is certified in food safety - and identifies and coaches in all areas of safe food handling
• Is continuously scouting for and interviewing candidates to join our team
• Keeps our company assets secure; including computers, point of sale, security systems and equipment
• Understands the key responsibilities of every position in the restaurant
• Puts an immediate stop to any inappropriate behavior, investigates as needed
• Trains, coaches, and develops team members daily
• Recognizes performance that goes above and beyond
• Accounts for all daily revenues and deposits
• Completes our admin duties - and gets required paperwork in on time

First Watch is the leading Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using the freshest ingredients available. Guided by its 'Follow the Sun' culinary philosophy, First Watch's chef-driven menu rotates multiple times per year to feature the highest-quality flavors at their peak, offering elevated executions of classic favorites, fresh juices like the Kale Tonic, and fan favorites such as the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl and signature Million Dollar Bacon. For every kid's meal served, First Watch proudly donates a portion to organizations and causes making a positive impact in our communities - raising approximately $2.3 million to date. A recipient of many "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" awards, First Watch was voted #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek's Readers' Choice Awards 2025, and also named 2025 and 2024's #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute - an accolade most recently featured in The Wall Street Journal - after appearing on the list in 2022 and 2023, as well. With a commitment to quality, hospitality and community, First Watch is redefining Daytime Dining across more than 660 restaurants in 33 states. For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com.

First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.