Chief Operating Officer

Position

As Chief Operating Officer, you will have a clear mandate to strategically develop a beloved, founder-led group. Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working closely with the co-founders, you'll be a key member of the executive team. This isn't a desk job—we're looking for a hands-on COO. You'll drive performance and consistency across all company-owned and franchised locations while building the operational systems that will allow Umamido and Roru brands to expand across Europe.

Your key responsibilities:

• Operational leadership: You'll oversee the daily operations of all 20 shops, including the Umamido and Roru locations in Belgium (Brussels, Antwerp, Leuven, and Ghent) and the 6 franchised locations in Switzerland. Your mission is to ensure the highest standards of food quality, customer experience, and operational excellence.
• Strategic growth: Design the essential tools and processes that will enable Umamido and Roru to grow rapidly across Europe without sacrificing quality, consistency, or control. This is about building fast and fixing fast, with a bias for action—you won't wait to be told what to do.
• Financial stewardship: Take full ownership of the P&L, managing budgets, controlling costs, and ensuring profitability across all business units. You will translate financial goals into clear operational execution.
• Management: Directly manage and coach the district and training managers, fostering a performance-driven culture through clear expectations, accountability, and hands-on guidance. The goal is to develop strong local leaders who can thrive autonomously.
• Collaborative partnerships: Work closely with the Finance, HR, F&B, Marketing, and central production teams to ensure seamless coordination and execution of company goals.
• Franchise support: Provide structure, guidance, and the necessary tools to help franchise partners succeed. You will also challenge them to meet the high brand standards and deliver an exceptional customer experience across different regions.

Profile

• You have a minimum of 15 years of experience in the hospitality or food sector, with a proven track record of multi-unit leadership and scaling operations while maintaining quality and team engagement.
• You have strong financial skills, with experience in full P&L ownership.
• You have a solution-oriented mindset and the ability to inspire others to adopt the same approach.
• You are a forward-thinking leader who drives results. You quickly translate ideas into action and are highly proactive.
• Your leadership style is based on coaching, and you're skilled at developing and holding local leaders accountable.
• You are comfortable with international complexity and naturally connected to the daily operations, leading by example.
• You are bilingual in English and French. Proficiency in Dutch is a plus.

Offer

• A leadership role in one of Europe's most promising Japanese hospitality companies.
• The autonomy to strategically build, shape, and expand operations.
• The chance to lead two successful brands that are already thriving and poised for significant growth.
• A competitive compensation package that reflects the importance of your role.

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