You’re a thoughtful, hands-on hospitality leader who brings both warmth and sound judgment. You’ve led complex, guest-facing operations through opening and beyond, and know how to turn an ambitious vision into a business that runs well. You’re equally comfortable building systems, developing your team, and spending time on the floor with guests. Above all, you believe great food and genuine hospitality bring people together—and want to build a place people love to visit, work, and return to.
Pre-Opening & Opening Readiness
Partner with CookUnity’s internal teams, the Owner’s Representative, operational design partners, and other external collaborators through build-out and opening readiness.
Support the setup of vendor and service partnerships required for launch and ongoing operations.
Co-develop and implement SOPs, opening procedures, service standards, and operational best practices to support consistency and efficiency from day one.
Lead hiring, onboarding, and training preparation for the opening team.
Coordinate operational testing, service rehearsals, and overall launch readiness across all guest-facing areas.
Operations & Business Performance
Lead and oversee all aspects of day-to-day Flagship operations, ensuring operational efficiency and a consistently strong guest and team experience.
Serve as the Flagship’s lead business operator, with primary accountability for financial performance, labor management, cost controls, and overall operational health.
Work in close partnership with the Executive Chef as peer leaders of the Flagship, maintaining clear ownership of their respective areas while sharing accountability for the guest experience, team culture, and overall success of the business.
Ensure consistent execution across café service, takeaway, retail, digital ordering, and experiential events.
Drive store performance by translating business priorities into clear operational plans and ensuring consistent execution across the team.
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning for the Flagship, working closely with the Executive Chef and CookUnity leadership to align operating decisions with business goals.
Establish and monitor KPIs across operational performance, guest satisfaction, team performance, and financial results.
Manage and analyze P&L performance, identifying opportunities to improve revenue, control costs, and support the long-term health of the business.
Team Leadership & Culture
Recruit, onboard, develop, and lead a high-performing team that reflects CookUnity’s values and the hospitality standards of the Flagship.
Build a positive, inclusive, and guest-focused workplace culture from the ground up, with clear expectations around accountability, collaboration, and performance.
Implement structured training and ongoing development programs that give team members the tools, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in their roles.
Coach and develop managers and team members through regular feedback, in-the-moment guidance, and formal performance conversations.
Create an environment that supports strong communication, team engagement, retention, and opportunities for growth.
Set the tone through visible, hands-on leadership, remaining actively engaged with both the team and guests throughout daily operations.
Guest Experience & Brand Evolution
Deliver a thoughtful, consistent guest experience that reflects the Flagship’s elevated casual café positioning and extends across dine-in, takeaway, retail, digital ordering, and experiential programming.
Refine service models that integrate digital and in-person guest interactions in a way that feels intuitive, efficient, and hospitality-driven.
Maintain high standards for brand presentation, cleanliness, organization, and compliance with health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Use guest feedback, operational data, and market insights to identify opportunities to improve service, strengthen the overall experience, and inform future concept evolution.
Work cross-functionally with CookUnity’s internal teams to ensure the guest experience continues to reflect both the Flagship’s operational needs and the broader CookUnity brand.
Bar & Beverage Program
Oversee the day-to-day bar and beverage operation, including service standards, staffing, vendor and supplier relationships, inventory controls, and compliance with responsible alcohol service requirements.
Partner with the appropriate culinary and beverage resources on menu development and ongoing program strategy, ensuring the beverage offering supports the overall Flagship experience and business objectives.
Ensure bar service is fully integrated into the broader guest experience, staffing model, and day-to-day operation.
Community, Events & Brand Engagement
Partner with CookUnity’s Brand, Marketing, and Culinary teams to plan and execute tastings, experiential events, and ongoing Flagship programming that supports the launch and continued brand presence.
Build relationships with local businesses, food communities, industry leaders, and other relevant partners to strengthen the Flagship’s connection to the surrounding community.
Support programming and activations that help establish the Flagship as a distinctive CookUnity destination and create reasons for guests to return.
Monitor guest reviews, feedback, and engagement trends to identify opportunities to strengthen reputation, programming, and future brand decisions.
Qualifications & Experience
7+ years of progressive hospitality leadership experience in high-volume, guest-facing restaurant, café, retail, or experiential environments.
Direct experience opening a new restaurant or hospitality venue from pre-construction through launch is strongly preferred.
Proven ability to lead complex, concept-driven operations with a strong focus on guest experience, team performance, and operational consistency.
Strong business and strategic judgment, with experience using guest feedback, operational data, and performance metrics to refine service models and improve results.
Experience overseeing bar and beverage operations, including vendor management, compliance, inventory controls, and service execution.
Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, labor management, cost control, and P&L performance.
Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to work effectively across internal teams and external partners.
Comfort working with technology-enabled hospitality environments, including POS systems, digital ordering platforms, CRM tools, and business intelligence or reporting systems.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment while maintaining a strong focus on guest experience, team culture, and business performance.
NYC Food Protection Manager Certification required, or ability to obtain certification prior to beginning management duties at the Flagship.
Preferred Qualifications
3+ years of successful senior hospitality leadership experience in New York City.
Experience leading high-traffic, mixed-use hospitality environments that may include dining, café service, takeaway, retail, events, or other experiential components.
Experience with technology-enabled service models, omnichannel retail, and digital ordering integrations.
Pre-opening experience in a flagship, concept-driven, or first-of-its-kind location.
Compensation
All final pay rates will be determined by candidates experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.
Pay Range for this position
$150,000—$200,000 USD
If you’re interested in this role, please submit your application, and if we think you might be a fit, we'll get in touch with you. Thank you for your time!
CookUnity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to creating a community of inclusion and an environment free from discrimination or harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.
A quick note for all candidates We’ve recently seen an increase in recruitment scams across the industry, and we want to make sure you (and your data) stay safe while applying to CookUnity. We also want you to know that we take this seriously — sometimes, as part of our process, we may ask for a brief “proof of humanity” to confirm that we’re connecting with a real person, not an impersonator. Here are a few tips to help you protect yourself and know what to expect from us:
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