Operations Manager: About the Role

We’re offering an exciting opportunity for a driven and commercially astute Operations Manager to join the Heartwood Collection leadership team.

We’re looking for a hands-on, entrepreneurial operator who thrives in hospitality and delivers results through people, pace, and performance. You’ll be someone who acts like an owner, spotting opportunities, solving problems fast, and driving momentum across every site you lead.

Reporting to the Operations Director, you’ll take full accountability for the P&L performance of your region. You’ll partner closely with your Area Chef and General Managers to deliver exceptional guest experiences, grow sales, and maximise profitability, all while developing capable, motivated teams who love what they do.

Operations Manager: Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire your regional teams to achieve excellence in guest experience, operational standards, and financial performance.
• Act with ownership and urgency, turning insight into action and delivering results through decisive, pragmatic leadership.
• Drive commercial performance through smart P&L management, cost control, and labour optimisation.
• Be a visible, hands-on leader: regularly in venues, coaching, supporting, and holding teams accountable.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, challenging the status quo and finding better ways of working.
• Play a key role in new openings and growth initiatives, ensuring each launch delivers on brand and commercial goals.

Operations Manager-The Ideal Candidate

• A proven multi-site operator with 3+ years’ experience in an Operations, Area, or Regional Manager role.
• Strong hospitality background—ideally from the premium pub sector, or similar high-quality, guest-focused environments.
• A commercially sharp leader who understands the levers of profitability and how to drive them.
• A natural problem-solver who acts decisively and thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Known for developing people, building high-performing teams and strong leadership pipelines.
• Entrepreneurial and adaptable, with the energy, credibility, and ownership mindset to make things happen.
• Ideally located between Surrey and Birmingham.

• Competitive salary plus quarterly performance bonus
• Company car allowance
• Private healthcare (Bupa)
• Laptop and mobile phone provided
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, with the option to buy 5 more
• Enhanced maternity and paternity packages
• Access to coaching, mentorship, and leadership development programmes
• 50% discount on food at Heartwood Inns or Brasserie Blanc
• Discounts on stays at Heartwood Rooms and retail perks via The Pantry

About Heartwood Collection

Heartwood Collection is one of the UK’s fastest-growing hospitality groups, operating the award-winning Brasserie Blanc and Heartwood Inns brands. Backed by Alchemy Partners, we’re on an ambitious growth journey—set to triple profits and expand our pub-with-rooms estate to over 500 bedrooms by 2027.

Join us, and play a defining role in shaping the next chapter of Heartwood’s success.

• Has at least three years’ experience leading a high-performing site or multiple sites.
• Demonstrates a “get-it-done” mindset, acts with pace, solves problems, and drives momentum.
• Is commercially astute and confident in managing P&L, cost control, and labour efficiency.
• Leads with credibility, energy, and authenticity, setting the standard for their teams.
• Is passionate about developing people and building a strong leadership pipeline.
• Is operationally excellent and thrives in a fast-moving, high-performance culture.
• Has experience in hospitality, ideally within the pub or premium casual dining sector.

As mentioned in the comms from Tom, first-stage interviews for internal applications will start in January 2026. In the meantime, if you would be interested in applying, please email your interest with a cover letter to Anouska on anouska.c@heartwoodcollection.com. 

Your cover letter should include answering the following questions.  

• Why do you feel you are ready to take the next step into an Operations Manager position at Heartwood?

• What skills, achievements, or experiences from your current or previous roles best demonstrate your ability to succeed in a multi-site leadership position?

• What does your current site look like with and without you present, and what succession plans do you have in place?

• What do you believe are the biggest challenges of running a region, and how would you approach overcoming them?

• How would you contribute to Heartwood’s continued growth and success as part of the Operations Team?