Operations Manager

About the Role Colada Hospitality Collective (5C) is a growing multi-concept hospitality group anchored by Colada Shop, a Cuban-inspired café with multiple DMV locations, and expanding into additional concepts under the 5C umbrella. We're looking for an experienced Multi-Unit Operations Manager to own the day-to-day performance of our locations — championing our culture, protecting our guest experience, and building the systems that let us scale across concepts. This is a high-ownership role designed for a hospitality operator who thrives in fast-moving environments, can flex across different brand expressions, and leads with both rigor and heart.

What You'll Own Store Operations & Performance Oversee daily operations across all Colada Shop locations, ensuring consistent standards in service, quality, and cleanliness Conduct regular site visits and operational audits; identify gaps and implement corrective action plans Own location-level P&L performance in partnership with ownership — monitor labor, COGS, and controllable expenses Develop and enforce SOPs across FOH and BOH, from opening/closing procedures to food safety protocols Drive accountability through KPI tracking, shift reporting, and regular ops reviews People Leadership Directly lead a team of store managers; coach, develop, and hold them accountable to performance standards Partner on hiring, onboarding, and training for hourly and management roles across locations Champion a positive, performance-oriented culture that reflects Colada Shop's values and brand identity Address employee relations issues with fairness, documentation, and sound judgment; escalate to ownership or counsel as needed Maintain scheduling practices that balance guest coverage, labor targets, and team wellness Guest Experience Act as a brand steward — ensure every location delivers the warmth, quality, and consistency that defines Colada Shop Monitor guest feedback channels (reviews, surveys, direct feedback) and drive service recovery and continuous improvement Identify recurring experience gaps and build training and process responses to address them systemically Repairs & Maintenance (R&M) Serve as the primary point of contact for all facility, equipment, and maintenance needs across locations Triage and coordinate repair requests — assess urgency, engage vendors, and ensure timely resolution with minimal service disruption Maintain an R&M tracker for each location: open work orders, vendor contacts, service history, and warranty records Build and manage relationships with preferred vendors (HVAC, plumbing, equipment service, pest control, etc.) — negotiating response times and pricing Conduct routine walkthroughs to identify preventive maintenance needs before they become emergency repairs Track R&M spend against budget; flag overruns and identify opportunities to reduce recurring costs Systems, Compliance & Growth Lead rollout of new initiatives, menu updates, equipment, and technology changes across locations Ensure all locations are compliant with health department regulations, local labor law, and company policy Partner with ownership on new store openings and operational planning for expansion Maintain inventory controls, vendor relationships, and ordering cadences in coordination with location teams Support for 5C Concept Expansion Serve as an operational resource for the Director of Operations as 5C Hospitality develops and launches additional concepts beyond Colada Shop Assist with pre-opening planning, SOP development, and staffing infrastructure for new concept locations Adapt and translate existing operational frameworks to fit new brand contexts while maintaining group-wide standards Participate in cross-concept ops reviews, surfacing learnings from Colada Shop that apply to the broader portfolio Support the Director of Operations with special projects, vendor negotiations, and strategic initiatives across the 5C portfolio Who You Are 5+ years of hospitality or food & beverage experience, with at least 2 years managing multiple locations or a high-volume operation A natural leader who builds trust quickly, communicates directly, and holds teams to high standards with empathy Highly organized and systems-minded — you don't just solve fires, you prevent them Comfortable with numbers: you can read a P&L, identify cost drivers, and take action on what you see Experienced with scheduling, payroll, and workforce management platforms (experience with Toast, 7shifts, or similar a plus) Knowledgeable about DMV labor law, food safety certifications (ServSafe preferred), and HR basics Bilingual in English and Spanish is a meaningful plus Available for a flexible schedule that includes weekends and occasional early mornings or evenings More detail about Colada Shop - The Wharf part of Colada Shop, please visit https://culinaryagents.com/entities/310280-Colada-Shop---The-Wharf