Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW
The African Operations Manager - (New Markets) is responsible for leading Hungry Lion's operational
expansion into new African territories. This role ensures each new market launches with strong
operational foundations, local capability, and brand-consistent execution from Day 1. The role bridges
expansion strategy, operations readiness, cross-functional coordination, and coaching of in-country
teams to ensure rapid, stable, and scalable growth. This role requires extensive travel across Africa.
KRAs 1. New Store Opening Readiness

• During periods of rapid expansion and multi-market entry, the Operations Manager's role pivots heavily to ensure new locations are operational and ready for business:
• Manage the formal handover process from the project team to operations, conducting site inspections and compiling a comprehensive snag list of problem items for immediate rectification
• Oversee the rigorous testing of all kitchen and operational equipment, as well as IT hardware and software systems (e.g., Point of Sale, inventory management, network connectivity)
• Ensure all required opening stock is available and properly received via coordination with Procurement
• Conduct practical, hands-on training sessions alongside the Training department for new managers and staff, monitoring their progress closely during the pre-opening phase
• Co-ordinates new store opening team support

2. Financial Performance

• Gross Profit (GP) Margin Oversight: Drive and maintain target GP margins across all operational countries by monitoring sales and managing costs effectively
• Stock Management: Oversee inventory levels to optimise stock and minimise waste, ensuring effective supply chain logistics and communication with the Procurement team
• Cost Control: Identify and address areas of inefficiency, implementing company processes to reduce operational expenses and manage waste effectively, which directly contributes to higher profitability

3. Operational and Brand Standards Excellence

• Brand Standards: Ensure rigorous adherence to brand standards, focusing on consistency in product quality, speed of service, and overall customer experience
• Customer Feedback: Ensure that customer feedback received on all platforms is addressed timeously and efficiently
• Compliance Audits: Conducts regular compliance audits of each store

4. Staffing and Talent Management

• Staffing: Ensuring stores are optimally resourced. Liaise with HR regarding required staff numbers and collaborate with Training on effective program deployment
• Interviews: Conducts in-country, in-person interviews of shortlisted candidates
• In-country practical training: Conducts in-country, practical training of successfully theory-trained candidates

5. Regulatory Governance

• Ensure all markets operate within food safety regulations, and business compliance requirements
• Verify all required operational licences and permits are in place before trading commences
• Mitigate operational risks associated with local regulatory environments and health/safety standards

REQUIREMENTS

• 5+ years of International multi-unit food and beverage management with exposure to emerging markets
• Direct experience opening new stores and launching new markets
• Experience developing front-line leaders and running training/onboarding programmes
• Food and beverage or Hospitality certification or relevant in-house certification
• Executive Management Diploma is an advantage

COMPETENCIES
Core Skills:
1. Strong operational systems knowledge
2. Pragmatic Problem-Solving Skills: Must be able to see problems simply and find effective solutions.
3. Business Development Skills: Must be top-line driven, ability to grow business, particularly in turnover.
4. Industry and Local Knowledge: Must understand local network, who's who in the Retail industry,
relevant legislation and government contacts.
5. Interpersonal Skills: Must be a people person, good with people, firm and fair.
6. Technology Skills: Computer literate/management of various tech-enabled platforms
7. Coaching and Capability Building Skills: Ability to uplift new, inexperienced teams
8. Marketing and Selling Skills: Enforce and protect brand equity
9. Supply Chain Management: Rotation and management of stock levels/stock control
10. Data analytical skills
Personal Attributes:
1. Customer Centric Mindset: Ensures every element of operations enhances customer experience
2. Travel: Comfortable with extensive travel across Africa
3. Personal Ethics: Must be honest with themselves and everyone around them
4. Fair and Just: Must be fair as a person in all business dealings, and with all employees
5. Passionate about the Business: Must love/enjoy what they do
6. Drive: Must have a winning attitude/mentality
7. Results-Oriented: Enjoys being measured and being judged by financial and operational performance results
8. Proactive Initiator: Must be pro-active, a self-starter and can see and grasp opportunities
9. Goal Driven: Begin with the end in mind; must know what they want at the end, personally and for the business
10. Multicultural Skills: Must be able to operate and interact in a multicultural environment
11. Resilience and Tenacity: Must be able to sustain motivation and commitment to goals in good times and bad; roll with the punches
12. Unstructured Situations: Ability to flex and adapt in unstructured and new environments and to create order and stability
13. Self-Reliant: Ability to operate on own, create and sustain own networks and key relationships

Skills Required