Director of Operations - LE CAFE PLAGE MALIBU

🌊 WE'RE HIRING: Director of Operations - LE CAFÉ PLAGE MALIBULocation: Malibu, CaliforniaCompensation: $120,000/year (Year 1)Type: Full-time, evolutionary 3-phase roleUrgency: IMMEDIATE---WHO WE ARE:LE CAFÉ PLAGE MALIBU is a café founded in 2017, rooted in Malibu's lifestyle — the ocean, the beauty, the nature — elevated by a French touch that reflects our commitment to quality, care, and excellence.We serve:- Breakfast: Pastries, croissants, pain au chocolat, pancakes- Lunch: French baguette sandwiches, omelets, quiches, salads- Beverages: Premium coffee, tea, fresh juices- Quality pastries and viennoiseriesWe currently operate 2 locations (Malibu + Santa Monica). Our cafés are places of life where quality, hospitality, and authenticity are at the heart of everything we do.Our vision: Transform this artisanal concept into a franchised network of 50+ locations in 4-5 years, while preserving our essence and our commitment to excellence.---THE OPPORTUNITY:LE CAFÉ PLAGE MALIBU is recruiting a Director of Operations to lead our two existing cafés and play a key role in our project to develop a network of 50+ franchised locations.You'll be the operational leader on the ground, embodying our commercial vision with precision, bringing managerial expertise to our teams and financial rigor. This is a close partnership with the founders: you learn our method, you carry it, you execute it, you prove your value, and progressively take on operational responsibilities.If you have scaling experience, if you're a very demanding leader (manager) who communicates clearly, who masters P&L rigor, and seeks to build something lasting — this is for you.---YOUR STRATEGIC MANDATE:You'll take ownership of: 2 operational cafés with proven processes and recognized excellence. Your mandate: preserve this excellence while formalizing and systematizing it.You'll also create checklists, playbooks, and operational systems that will allow our future franchisees to replicate our method with precision. This is the transition from local excellence to systemic excellence, while preserving our DNA and our commitment to quality.---THE ROLE: 3-PHASE PROGRESSIONPHASE 1 (Months 1-2): Onboarding at MalibuYou master our operations, our standards, our culture. You also document all processes. You learn our work method (customer service, verifications, rigor, leadership). You build a transparent working relationship.PHASE 2 (Months 4-8): Manager Santa MonicaSanta Monica reopens — you prove you can execute yourself and thus are legitimate to lead. Manage team, P&L, quality. You recruit the 2 managers (with founders' validation). Constant communication with the founders, regular reports, visual proof.PHASE 3 (Month 8+): Full DirectorSupervise the 2 managers. Manage consolidated P&L. Drive franchise-readiness. Progressively take ownership of all operational responsibilities with full transparency with the founders (photos, reports, verifications). You also become the trainer and guardian of standards for future franchisees — you formalize, you maintain our standards, you teach them, you ensure their precise implementation in our two cafés and in the expanding network.---YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE:🏆 Fair and FirmNatural authority. You apply standards without compromise. No "buddy culture" — you lead by exemplarity and pedagogy.🏆 Leadership by ExampleYou're passionate about hospitality, you're on the ground early, present late. You wear the café uniform (black pants, café shirt, hat). You're part of the team and you lead it with tremendous dynamism. You model excellence in everything. You're very demanding about work rules, hygiene, company values.🏆 In Service of GuestsYou're exemplary in your approach. Visible. You're demanding of yourself and your team. You value quality work and correct gaps immediately.---THE IDEAL PROFILE:✅ Multi-Unit Experience5-10+ years in restaurants/cafés, managing 5-10+ locations, scaling experience, franchise understanding. You've already proven you can grow and manage complexity.✅ Very Demanding LeaderNatural authority. You develop managers. Rigor in execution. Obsession with quality. Leadership by example. High standards applied without compromise.✅ Financial ExpertiseP&L mastery. Cost analysis, margin optimization, data-driven insights. Comfortable with operational metrics.✅ Faithful Execution + VisionYou execute the founders' vision very faithfully. You also bring insights and improvements. Authentic partnership, no ego.✅ Strong CommunicationComfortable with constant communication, reports, visual proof. Transparent about challenges. Build trust through communication. Team leader who communicates very clearly.✅ CommitmentOperational availability (presence on ground 5-6 days/week). Long-term commitment (4+ years). Passion to build something lasting and meaningful.---COMPENSATION & GROWTH:💰 Year 1: $120,000/year (salaried)💰 After Year 1: Potential for increase based on operational performance, franchise impact, company growth.This is a growth role. Compensation will evolve based on demonstrated impact.---HOW TO APPLY:1. Experience: 5-10+ years multi-unit, scaling, franchise experience2. Financial Rigor: P&L expertise, cost control, analytics3. Your Vision: Why LE CAFÉ PLAGE? Leadership style?Contact us:- Email: career@lecafeplage.com- LinkedIn: [Link to Bernard's profile]---TIMELINE: We're hiring now. Quick responses appreciated.🌊 Ready to lead by exemplarity and build something lasting?---#DirectorOfOperations #Malibu #FranchiseDevelopment #Leadership #Operations #ScalingBusiness