12 Director of Restaurant Operations Resume Examples for 2025

Resumes for director of restaurant operations must show leadership in the food service industry. This article offers examples of good resumes and strategic tips. Learn how to highlight skills in managing staff, ensuring food safety, and increasing revenue. Find out how to make your experience stand out to hiring managers. Get ready to improve your resume for better job opportunities.

  Compiled and approved by Liz Bowen
  Last updated on See history of changes

  Next update scheduled for

At a Glance

Here's what we see in the top resumes for director of restaurant operations jobs.

  • Show Impact With Numbers: Good resumes use metrics to show results. Examples include: boosted revenue by 20%, cut costs by 15%, improved customer satisfaction by 25%, and reduced staff turnover by 10%.

  • Use Relevant Skills From Job Description: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are inventory management, menu development, POS systems, staff scheduling, and food safety regulations. But don't include all of them, choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Leadership Roles: Show how you managed teams. Use phrases like led a team or oversaw staff to reflect your leadership.

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Where to place education

Where to place your education matters. For a director of restaurant operations, you should list your education after your experience if you are already working or have been in this field for a while. This way, the focus is on your practical skills and leadership roles you have had. Your work experience is the main dish in your resume, and your education is like a complementing side dish.

If you have recently finished a degree or a certificate that is important for managing a restaurant, like a hospitality management or business degree, put this front and center. This shows why you might have had a break from the workforce and underlines your dedication to the industry. Always show your most relevant education to restaurant management. If you have a food safety certification, list it; it’s vital in this industry.

Remember, unless you are just starting out, you don’t need to include your high school diploma. Hiring managers expect focus on practical experience and relevant higher education that prepares you for a director role.

Show your leadership skills

As a director of restaurant operations, highlight your ability to lead teams and manage multiple locations. Mention specific instances where you improved team efficiency or solved operational problems.

Include any certifications related to food safety and hospitality management. These qualifications are highly valued in the restaurant industry.

Ideal resume length

For a director of restaurant operations, you should keep your resume concise. If you have extensive experience, manage it to fit within two pages. This is enough space to show your leadership skills and operational knowledge. Focus on roles and achievements that align with operating restaurants smoothly and efficiently.

When you have less than 10 years of experience or are stepping into this role for the first time, aim for one page. Highlight your relevant skills like staff management and budget oversight. Ensure the layout is clear. Use good spacing and a readable font size so that important details stand out easily.

Demonstrate cost management

In the restaurant industry, being able to manage costs effectively is crucial. Highlight your experience in budgeting, reducing waste, or increasing profit margins.

Mention any software tools you are proficient in that are used for inventory management and scheduling. This shows you are well-versed with industry-specific technologies.

Beat the resume screener

When you apply for a job as a director of restaurant operations, your resume may first be read by a computer program called an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). To make sure your resume gets seen by a real person, follow these tips.

  • Use keywords from the job description. For example, if the job posting mentions 'inventory management' or 'staff training', make sure these terms are in your resume.
  • Include specific metrics. Talk about how you reduced costs or improved customer satisfaction in your past work. Use numbers to show the impact you had.

Customizing your resume

Your resume should show the employer that you fit the job you want. Make it clear how your skills and experience match the job for a director of restaurant operations. Use words from the job description and focus on what you can do for the company. It's best to keep your writing simple and on point.

  • List your experience with managing a restaurant's daily operations, including inventory management and staff training programs.
  • Show your ability to improve a restaurant's success. Talk about times you made a menu better or brought in more customers.
  • If you're moving from a different career, talk about your past jobs in a way that shows you can lead and manage a business. For example, mention how you led a team or made a project more efficient.

Key skills for restaurant operations roles

When crafting your resume for a director of restaurant operations position, it's crucial to showcase the right mix of skills. You should include a dedicated skills section on your resume for quick reference. Here's a list of skills that you can consider adding:

  • Inventory management
  • Supply chain coordination
  • Profit and loss analysis
  • Menu development
  • Quality control
  • Staff training
  • Customer service management
  • Vendor negotiations
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Operational efficiency

Remember, you don't need every skill listed. Focus on those that best match your experience and the specific role you're aiming for. For instance, if you have a strong background in menu development, make sure this skill is highlighted. These skills can often be integrated into your professional experience descriptions to show practical application, which is particularly important because of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for relevant keywords.

Additionally, if you have experience with industry-specific software or tools, such as POS systems or inventory tracking software, include these in your skills section. These technical skills are highly valuable and demonstrate your familiarity with the tools essential for efficiently running restaurant operations.

Show impact with numbers

When you highlight your past work, use numbers to show clear impact. Numbers help hiring managers see the real difference you made. Think about the key parts of being a director of operations in a restaurant. What numbers can tell your story best?

Here are ideas to help you find the right metrics:

  • Think about cost savings. If you found ways to cut down on waste and save money, how much did you save? Put that number in your resume. For example, 'Reduced food waste by 20%, saving the company $15,000 annually.'
  • Consider customer satisfaction. If you improved the customer experience, did you track the increase in positive reviews or repeat customers? You might write, 'Boosted customer satisfaction scores by 30% through staff training and menu updates.'
  • Look at sales growth. If your strategies helped the restaurant earn more money, quantify this increase. Maybe you can say, 'Led a team that increased yearly sales by 25%, adding $200,000 in revenue.'
  • Think about efficiency. Did you make the service faster or the kitchen run smoother? Find numbers to show this. For example, 'Implemented new scheduling system that cut down table wait times by 15%.'
  • Track team performance. If you helped your staff grow, use numbers to show progress. Maybe you can say, 'Oversaw a team of 50 staff, reducing turnover by 40% in one year.'
  • Remember inventory management. If your skills helped manage stock better, how much did you reduce excess inventory by? You could add, 'Optimized inventory, reducing overstock by 25%.'

Remember, the numbers you choose should be about your achievements. They should be easy to understand and show how you make a difference.

Show leadership and growth

As someone aspiring to manage restaurant operations, you must show evidence of your ability to lead and grow within a business. You may have climbed the ranks from a server to a manager, which is a clear sign of leadership and recognition of your skills. Here's how you can display this on your resume:

  • Include titles and roles you've held, along with the dates, to create a timeline that shows your progression. For example, 'Promoted from Assistant Manager to General Manager within two years.'
  • Highlight leadership roles, even in a temporary or project capacity, such as 'Led a team of 10 in a successful menu overhaul project.'

Think about times when you were given more responsibility or when you had to manage a team or a project. These are good signs of leadership. Even if you're not sure, consider situations where you took charge or helped to improve how things work. Include these examples:

  • Mention any awards or recognition you received for your leadership, like 'Recipient of the 2021 Leadership Excellence Award for reducing staff turnover by 30%'.
  • List specific results you achieved under your leadership, such as 'Increased restaurant revenue by 20% through strategic operational improvements.'

Showcase leadership growth

When you apply for a role in restaurant management, showing that you have moved up in your career is key. You can do this by highlighting any promotions or times you have led a team. Here's how to make sure you show your leadership clearly:

  • Include job titles and the dates you held them to show a timeline of your growth. For example, if you started as a 'shift manager' and then became an 'assistant manager' before moving into 'operations management,' list these roles in order.
  • Describe your leadership roles, even if they weren't formal promotions. For example, if you led a new restaurant opening or trained new staff, these show leadership skills.

Think about the tasks you have handled that required you to lead others or take charge of a project. These are the experiences you want to talk about. You could say something like:

  • 'Managed a team of 25 staff members, increasing overall efficiency by 20%.'
  • 'Oversaw the successful launch of two new restaurant locations, coordinating between multiple departments for a smooth opening.'

Tailoring for company size

When you apply for a role managing restaurant operations, the size of the company matters. For small companies like neighborhood bistros or local chains, show how you can wear many hats and adapt to change. You might include phrases like 'oversaw local vendor relationships' or 'developed staff training programs.' These show you can handle varied duties beyond typical management.

For larger companies such as national franchises or high-end dining groups, focus on your ability to lead big teams and manage complex systems. Phrases like 'optimized large-scale operations' or 'implemented corporate standards' demonstrate your experience with sizable enterprises. Remember to keep your language simple, so it's clear to all readers.

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