Operations Manager Spain - Food Retail

? Madrid, Spain | Reports to: Spain Country Manager

? Full-time | Field role (frequent nationwide store visits required)

ABOUT US

Founded in November 2018 from the dream of two friends to "feed the world with positivity and well-being," Poke House is one of the fastest-growing fast-casual brands in Europe. Today we operate over 180 locations across nine countries (Italy, the UK, Spain, France, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Romania, and the United States), combining digital innovation with modern restaurant operations. As we continue to strengthen our operations in Spain and evolve our organizational structure, we are looking for an Operations Manager Spain to lead operational performance and governance at a national level.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting directly to the Spain Country Manager, the Operations Manager Spain will be responsible for overall operational performance, consistency, and cost control for all company-owned stores in Madrid. You will act as the primary operational partner to the Country Manager, ensuring alignment between business strategy and store execution, driving performance, accountability, and operational excellence nationwide.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Operational Performance and P&L; Governance

- Take ownership of store-level operational KPIs for the entire country (sales, labor cost %, food cost %, EBITDA contribution, customer satisfaction) and monitor them continuously
- Ensure alignment with annual budget targets and contribute to operational forecasting
- Lead periodic performance reviews with Store Managers, validating action plans for underperforming stores
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase profitability and operational efficiency

Workforce Planning and Cost Optimization





- Oversee the staffing strategy across all stores in Spain
- Ensure the optimization of roster structures in line with productivity targets
- Validate labor budgets and cost control measures
- Support strategic workforce planning in coordination with HR

Operational Standards and Compliance

- Define, implement, and audit operational standards nationwide
- Ensure full compliance with Spanish food safety, hygiene, and occupational health and safety regulations
- Lead operational audits and ensure the implementation of corrective actions

Cross-Functional Leadership

- Act as the operational liaison between stores in Spain and central functions (HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Marketing, Digital)
- Co-lead with the Country Manager the implementation of HQ strategic initiatives (menu changes, price updates, digital tools, process improvements)
- Ensure consistent execution of brand standards across all points of sale

Organizational Leadership and Accountability

- Supervise and support Store Managers, strengthening their leadership capabilities and accountability culture
- Validate performance improvement plans and escalation processes
- Contribute to talent identification and succession planning within operations
- Foster a high-performance culture based on accountability, discipline, and teamwork

Reporting and Strategic Contribution

- Consolidate and present operational performance insights to the Country Manager




- Provide market intelligence and competitive feedback at a national level
- Contribute to the country's operational strategy and annual business planning

REQUIREMENTS

- 6–8 years of experience in multi-site operations within food retail, QSR, or hospitality
- Availability to travel weekly to visit our stores in Spain (e.g., Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia)
- Proven experience managing national or large regional performance
- Strong understanding of P&L; dynamics, labor cost optimization, and productivity levers
- Solid knowledge of Spanish food safety and compliance regulations
- Experience in operational transformation or organizational streamlining is a plus
- Hands-on mindset with strong analytical skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Fluent in Spanish and English

OUR OFFER

- A key leadership role within a fast-growing international group
- Direct exposure to strategic decision-making at a country level
- Opportunity to define and elevate operational standards in Spain
- Competitive compensation aligned with the seniority and impact of the role
- Professional growth in a multi-country European organization
- Employee discounts and benefits

This job offer is open to candidates of any gender, pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 198 of April 11, 2006 ("Code of Equal Opportunities between Men and Women"), as well as to people of all ages and nationalities, pursuant to Directive 2000/78/EC ("Equal treatment in employment and occupation"). For the management of the recruitment process, Poke House S.p.A. uses the services of Orbio AI (ORBIOAI S.L.), acting as a Data Processor. Orbio AI processes candidate data in accordance with our instructions and solely for the purposes described in this privacy notice.

📌 Food Retail Operations Manager (Madrid)
🏢 Poke House
📍 Madrid