Top 12 Restaurant Operations Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, a well-crafted resume highlighting key skills is essential for aspiring restaurant operations managers. Showcasing a blend of managerial prowess and industry-specific expertise on your resume can significantly elevate your prospects in landing your desired role.

Restaurant Operations Manager Skills

1. P&L Management
2. Inventory Control
3. Staff Training
4. Customer Service
5. POS Systems
6. OpenTable
7. Scheduling (7Shifts)
8. Food Safety (ServSafe)
9. Vendor Negotiations
10. Event Planning
11. Marketing (Mailchimp)
12. Compliance Monitoring

1. P&L Management

P&L Management, in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager, refers to the process of overseeing and optimizing the Profit and Loss statement by managing revenues and controlling costs to ensure the restaurant's financial health and profitability.

Why It's Important

P&L (Profit and Loss) Management is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it directly impacts the restaurant's financial health by identifying areas of high costs and low revenue, enabling informed decisions to optimize operations, reduce waste, and enhance profitability.

How to Improve P&L Management Skills

Improving P&L (Profit and Loss) Management for a Restaurant Operations Manager involves several key strategies:

1. Cost Control: Rigorously manage food costs, labor costs, and overheads. Utilize inventory management systems to prevent wastage and overstocking. ToastTab offers insights on managing food costs effectively.

2. Revenue Management: Enhance revenue through menu optimization, pricing strategies, and promotion of high-margin items. Tools like Menu Engineering Worksheet can aid in this process.

3. Financial Monitoring: Regularly review financial statements and compare actual performance against budgets and forecasts. Utilize tools like QuickBooks for efficient financial tracking.

4. Operational Efficiency: Streamline operations to reduce waste and improve service speed. Implementing systems like KDS (Kitchen Display Systems) can boost kitchen efficiency.

5. Employee Training: Invest in staff training to improve service quality and efficiency, leading to better customer satisfaction and repeat business. Resources like ServSafe offer comprehensive training programs.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly improve the P&L management of their restaurant.

How to Display P&L Management Skills on Your Resume

2. Inventory Control

Inventory control in a restaurant setting involves managing and optimizing the stock of food, beverages, and supplies to meet customer demand without overstocking or running out, ensuring cost efficiency and minimizing waste.

Why It's Important

Inventory control is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager to ensure optimal stock levels, minimize waste, maintain food quality, and manage costs effectively, enabling smooth and profitable restaurant operations.

How to Improve Inventory Control Skills

Improving inventory control in a restaurant setting involves a combination of accurate tracking, efficient ordering, and waste reduction. Here's a concise guide:

1. Implement an Inventory Management System: Utilize software that allows for real-time tracking of stock levels, expiration dates, and usage patterns. Toast and Square offer robust solutions tailored for restaurants.

2. Conduct Regular Audits: Schedule daily or weekly physical counts of your inventory to ensure accuracy against your digital records. This helps in identifying discrepancies early. WebstaurantStore provides a useful guide on how to conduct these audits effectively.

3. Train Your Staff: Ensure all team members understand the importance of accurate inventory tracking and are trained in the proper use of inventory management tools. RestaurantOwner.com offers resources on staff training and inventory practices.

4. Optimize Your Menu: Analyze sales data to identify and reduce the number of low-selling items, thereby minimizing waste and simplifying inventory needs. TouchBistro has insights on using performance metrics to optimize your menu.

5. Establish a Relationship with Suppliers: Work closely with your suppliers to ensure timely deliveries and negotiate better prices or terms. Frequent communication can also help in adjusting order sizes according to your inventory needs. Foodable Network provides tips on negotiating with suppliers.

6. Leverage Forecasting Tools: Use historical data and forecasting tools to predict future inventory needs, especially for seasonal items or during special events. This helps in reducing overstock and understock situations. 7shifts explains how forecasting can improve your inventory control and labor management.

7. Implement Portion Control: Standardize recipes and portion sizes to ensure consistent food quality and cost management. This also helps in predicting inventory needs more accurately. Gordon Food Service offers advice on portion control as a key to cost control.

By applying these strategies, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly improve inventory control, leading to more efficient operations and increased profitability.

How to Display Inventory Control Skills on Your Resume

3. Staff Training

Staff training in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager involves educating and equipping the restaurant team with the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviors to effectively perform their roles, enhance service quality, ensure compliance with safety standards, and improve overall restaurant performance.

Why It's Important

Staff training is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager as it ensures employees are skilled and knowledgeable, leading to improved service quality, enhanced customer satisfaction, increased efficiency, and adherence to safety and health regulations, ultimately contributing to the restaurant's reputation and profitability.

How to Improve Staff Training Skills

Improving staff training in a restaurant setting involves a strategic approach tailored to enhance skill sets, ensure consistency in service, and foster a positive work culture. Here are concise strategies for a Restaurant Operations Manager:

1. Identify Training Needs: Assess both front-of-house and back-of-house operations to pinpoint specific training requirements. National Restaurant Association provides insights on identifying and addressing these needs.

2. Leverage Technology: Utilize online training platforms for flexible learning schedules. Tools like Typsy offer tailored courses for hospitality staff.

3. Implement Hands-On Training: Encourage learning by doing. This approach helps staff retain information and skills. For tips, see Toast's guide to effective restaurant training.

4. Foster a Culture of Continuous Learning: Encourage feedback and provide opportunities for staff to grow. Harvard Business Review discusses the importance of integrating learning into the daily work culture.

5. Evaluate and Adapt: Regularly assess the effectiveness of your training program and make necessary adjustments. Tools like SurveyMonkey can help gather feedback from staff.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly enhance the efficiency, morale, and performance of their team.

How to Display Staff Training Skills on Your Resume

4. Customer Service

Customer service in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager involves ensuring patrons receive high-quality service and a memorable dining experience through efficient management of staff, swift resolution of any issues, and maintaining the highest standards of food and environment quality.

Why It's Important

Customer service is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it directly influences customer satisfaction, repeat business, and word-of-mouth reputation, all of which are essential for the restaurant's success and profitability.

How to Improve Customer Service Skills

Improving customer service in a restaurant setting involves a multifaceted approach focusing on training, feedback, and personalization. Here are concise strategies:

1. Train Staff Regularly: Conduct continuous training sessions for your staff to keep them updated on best practices in service excellence. Focus on communication skills, problem-solving, and product knowledge. National Restaurant Association provides resources on training.

2. Implement Feedback Systems: Utilize customer feedback tools such as comment cards, online surveys, and social media monitoring to gather insights on your service. Websites like SurveyMonkey can facilitate this process.

3. Personalize Customer Experiences: Strive to personalize the dining experience for repeat customers by remembering their preferences and making recommendations based on their past orders. Forbes highlights the importance of personalization.

4. Respond Promptly to Complaints: Address customer complaints swiftly and effectively, turning negative experiences into positive ones. This can build trust and loyalty. Harvard Business Review offers strategies on handling complaints.

5. Leverage Technology: Utilize technology to streamline operations and enhance customer service. This can include online reservations, mobile ordering, and digital payment options. Toast provides insights into restaurant technology solutions.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly improve customer service, leading to increased satisfaction and loyalty.

How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume

5. POS Systems

A POS (Point of Sale) system is a comprehensive tool for managing restaurant operations, including order processing, payment transactions, inventory management, and sales reporting, facilitating efficient service delivery and business analysis.

Why It's Important

POS systems streamline and enhance restaurant operations by efficiently managing sales, inventory, and customer orders, ensuring accurate transactions, real-time data analysis, and improved customer service, ultimately boosting profitability and operational efficiency.

How to Improve POS Systems Skills

To improve POS systems for a restaurant, a Restaurant Operations Manager should focus on the following areas:

1. Integration: Ensure your POS system integrates seamlessly with inventory management, online ordering, and accounting software. Integration simplifies operations and reduces manual errors. Square and Toast are examples of POS systems with strong integration capabilities.

2. User-Friendly Interface: Opt for a POS system with an intuitive, easy-to-navigate interface to reduce training time and improve staff efficiency. Lightspeed offers a user-friendly interface designed for quick learning.

3. Customization: Customize the POS system to suit your restaurant's specific needs, including menu changes, table layouts, and pricing adjustments. TouchBistro provides highly customizable options tailored to individual restaurant needs.

4. Mobility: Implement mobile POS (mPOS) systems to increase efficiency, allowing staff to take orders and process payments directly from the table. Revel Systems offers robust mobile POS solutions.

5. Reporting and Analytics: Choose a POS system with comprehensive reporting tools to track sales, inventory, and customer preferences, facilitating informed business decisions. ShopKeep provides detailed analytics and reporting features.

6. Security: Ensure the POS system complies with PCI DSS standards to protect customer payment information and reduce fraud risk. Verifone and Square are known for their strong security measures.

7. Customer Support: Select a POS provider with 24/7 customer support to address any issues promptly, minimizing downtime. Toast is renowned for its exceptional customer service.

By focusing on these key areas, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly improve the efficiency and functionality of their POS system, enhancing overall restaurant operations.

How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume

6. OpenTable

OpenTable is an online reservation platform that allows customers to book tables at restaurants, offering restaurant operations managers tools for reservation management, guest management, and operational insights to enhance dining service and increase efficiency.

Why It's Important

OpenTable is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it streamlines reservations, enhances guest management, and provides valuable insights into dining preferences and trends, ultimately improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.

How to Improve OpenTable Skills

To enhance OpenTable for a Restaurant Operations Manager, consider the following concise recommendations:

1. Optimize Reservation Management: Leverage OpenTable's Reservation Management features to better align table availability with customer demand, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction.

2. Utilize Guest Management Tools: Implement OpenTable's GuestCenter to track guest preferences, visit history, and special occasions for personalized service, leading to improved customer loyalty.

3. Engage in Marketing Insights: Employ OpenTable's Marketing Insights to understand dining trends and customer behavior, tailoring marketing strategies to attract more diners.

4. Adopt Shift Planning Solutions: Use OpenTable's tools for Shift Planning to efficiently schedule staff according to forecasted business volumes, enhancing service quality while controlling labor costs.

5. Feedback and Reviews Analysis: Regularly review customer feedback and ratings on OpenTable to identify areas for improvement and to celebrate successes, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Implementing these strategies can help a Restaurant Operations Manager significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of OpenTable's usage, enhancing both customer satisfaction and restaurant performance.

How to Display OpenTable Skills on Your Resume

7. Scheduling (7Shifts)

Scheduling (7Shifts) is a tool designed for restaurant operations managers to efficiently create, manage, and communicate staff schedules, optimizing workforce allocation to meet the demands of the business while considering employee availability and preferences.

Why It's Important

Scheduling with 7Shifts is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it ensures optimal staff allocation for efficient service delivery, helps control labor costs, and improves employee satisfaction through predictable and fair work schedules, ultimately enhancing overall restaurant performance and customer satisfaction.

How to Improve Scheduling (7Shifts) Skills

To improve scheduling with 7Shifts for a Restaurant Operations Manager, follow these concise steps:

1. Assess Staff Availability:Ensure all staff members have updated their availability in 7Shifts, allowing for easier schedule creation that accommodates everyone's needs. How to manage availability.

2. Utilize Templates:Create schedule templates for different types of shifts or weeks. This saves time and ensures consistency in scheduling. Using templates.

3. Leverage the Auto-Scheduler:Take advantage of 7Shifts' Auto-Scheduler feature, which automatically generates schedules based on staff availability, roles, and business needs. Auto-Scheduler guide.

4. Communicate Clearly:Use 7Shifts' communication tools to inform your team about schedule updates or changes promptly. Clear communication reduces confusion and conflicts. Communication tools.

5. Analyze Reports:Regularly review 7Shifts' labor reports to understand staffing needs better and adjust schedules accordingly to optimize labor costs. Analyzing reports.

By following these steps, you'll streamline scheduling processes, improve staff satisfaction, and enhance overall restaurant operations.

How to Display Scheduling (7Shifts) Skills on Your Resume

8. Food Safety (ServSafe)

Food Safety (ServSafe) refers to the guidelines and practices designed to ensure that food served in restaurants is safe to eat. This involves managing food handling, storage, preparation, and serving procedures to prevent foodborne illness. For a Restaurant Operations Manager, it entails overseeing the implementation of these safety standards, training staff on proper food safety practices, and ensuring compliance with health codes and regulations to protect customers and maintain the restaurant's reputation.

Why It's Important

Food Safety, exemplified by ServSafe standards, is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it ensures the health and safety of customers by preventing foodborne illnesses, maintains the establishment's reputation, and complies with legal regulations, thereby avoiding potential fines and closures.

How to Improve Food Safety (ServSafe) Skills

To improve Food Safety in a restaurant, a Restaurant Operations Manager should focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Training and Certification: Ensure all staff, especially those handling food, are trained and certified in food safety practices. Consider utilizing the ServSafe program for comprehensive training.

2. Implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Develop and enforce SOPs for critical food safety practices, including handwashing, cross-contamination prevention, and temperature control. The FDA's Food Code provides guidelines that can be adapted into SOPs.

3. Regular Audits and Inspections: Conduct regular internal audits and prepare for external inspections to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Utilize resources from the National Restaurant Association for best practices.

4. Equipment Maintenance: Ensure that all food preparation and storage equipment are regularly maintained and calibrated. Proper functioning equipment is crucial for maintaining safe food temperatures and preventing contamination.

5. Vendor Quality Assurance: Partner with reputable suppliers and conduct regular quality checks on all incoming food products. Establish criteria for supplier selection that includes food safety standards.

6. Customer Feedback: Monitor and address customer feedback related to food safety promptly. This can help in identifying and rectifying potential food safety issues before they escalate.

By focusing on these key areas, a Restaurant Operations Manager can significantly improve food safety in their establishment, ensuring the health and satisfaction of their customers.

How to Display Food Safety (ServSafe) Skills on Your Resume

9. Vendor Negotiations

Vendor negotiations in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager involve the process of discussing, bargaining, and agreeing on terms and prices with suppliers for goods and services needed for the restaurant's operations, aiming to secure the best possible deals to reduce costs and ensure quality and reliable supply.

Why It's Important

Vendor negotiations are crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because they ensure the restaurant secures quality products at competitive prices, directly impacting food costs, menu pricing, and overall profitability. Effective negotiations also foster reliable supplier relationships, vital for consistent supply and managing operational expenses efficiently.

How to Improve Vendor Negotiations Skills

Improving vendor negotiations as a Restaurant Operations Manager involves a combination of research, communication skills, and relationship management. Here's a concise guide:

1. Research & Prepare: Understand the market prices, and your restaurant's needs. Have clear objectives and alternatives. Harvard Business Review offers insights on negotiation preparation.

2. Build Relationships: Establish a positive, ongoing relationship with vendors. Relationship-building is key to favorable terms. Forbes highlights the importance of strong business relationships.

3. Communicate Clearly: Be clear about your needs and constraints. Effective communication is vital. MindTools provides strategies for clear communication.

4. Be Flexible and Creative: Look for win-win solutions. Flexibility in negotiations can lead to better outcomes. Inc. offers tips on effective negotiation strategies.

5. Leverage Volume: Use your purchasing volume for leverage in negotiations for better prices or terms.

6. Monitor Performance: Regularly assess vendor performance and revisit terms as necessary. Continuous improvement is key. Smartsheet provides an overview of effective vendor management.

By mastering these areas, you can significantly improve your negotiation outcomes with vendors, leading to better prices, quality, and service for your restaurant.

How to Display Vendor Negotiations Skills on Your Resume

10. Event Planning

Event planning, in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager, involves organizing and coordinating all aspects of events hosted within the restaurant, including menu selection, staffing, setup, execution, and guest satisfaction, to ensure a successful and memorable experience.

Why It's Important

Event planning is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager as it ensures organized and efficient coordination of resources and services, leading to enhanced customer satisfaction, increased revenue opportunities, and strengthened brand reputation.

How to Improve Event Planning Skills

Improving event planning, especially for a Restaurant Operations Manager, involves key strategies that ensure seamless execution and memorable experiences for guests. Here are concise steps to enhance your event planning process:

1. Define Objectives Clearly: Start with a clear understanding of the event's purpose and outcomes. Event Goals Setting can guide you in aligning your strategies accordingly.

2. Know Your Audience: Tailor the event to meet the expectations and preferences of your target audience. Understanding Demographic Factors can enhance attendee satisfaction.

3. Budget Management: Efficient budgeting prevents overspending and helps allocate resources wisely. Tools like Mint can assist in tracking expenses.

4. Vendor Coordination: Establish strong communication and relationships with vendors. The Cvent Supplier Network is a platform to find and manage vendor contacts.

5. Staff Training: Ensure your team is well-prepared and understands their roles. Resources like Typsy offer hospitality-focused training.

6. Leverage Technology: Use event management software for tasks like guest registration and feedback collection. Eventbrite is a popular choice for managing ticketing and registrations.

7. Marketing and Promotion: Use social media and email marketing to spread the word. Hootsuite and Mailchimp can automate and streamline these efforts.

8. Feedback Loop: Collect feedback during and after the event to identify areas for improvement. SurveyMonkey is a tool for creating and analyzing surveys.

By focusing on these areas, Restaurant Operations Managers can significantly improve the planning and execution of events, leading to enhanced guest satisfaction and operational success.

How to Display Event Planning Skills on Your Resume

11. Marketing (Mailchimp)

Marketing, in the context of using a platform like Mailchimp for a Restaurant Operations Manager, involves creating and sending targeted email campaigns to promote the restaurant's menu, special events, and offers directly to customers' inboxes, aiming to enhance customer engagement, loyalty, and ultimately, increase footfall and revenue.

Why It's Important

Marketing, particularly through platforms like Mailchimp, is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager because it enables direct and personalized communication with customers, helping to promote specials, events, and updates, thereby driving patronage, building loyalty, and ultimately boosting revenue.

How to Improve Marketing (Mailchimp) Skills

To enhance your restaurant's marketing efforts using MailChimp, follow these concise strategies:

1. Segment Your Audience: Divide your subscribers based on their preferences, past orders, or visit frequency. This allows for more personalized email campaigns. Learn about segmentation.

2. Automate Email Campaigns: Utilize automated emails for birthdays, anniversaries, or after a customer's first visit to keep your restaurant top of mind. Explore automation with Mailchimp.

3. Use High-Quality Images: Incorporate appealing images of your dishes to entice subscribers. Ensure the photos are high resolution and professionally taken. Check Mailchimp’s guidelines.

4. Leverage Social Media Integration: Promote your email sign-up page on your restaurant’s social media profiles. Use Mailchimp's social media tools to create cohesive campaigns. Integrate with social media.

5. Analyze and Adapt: Regularly review campaign reports to understand what works and what doesn’t. Adjust your strategy based on open rates, click-through rates, and conversion. Understand your reports.

By implementing these strategies, you can enhance customer engagement and ultimately drive more business to your restaurant.

How to Display Marketing (Mailchimp) Skills on Your Resume

12. Compliance Monitoring

Compliance monitoring, in the context of a Restaurant Operations Manager, involves regularly checking and ensuring that all restaurant activities adhere to relevant legal regulations, health and safety standards, and internal policies to protect the business, staff, and customers.

Why It's Important

Compliance monitoring is crucial for a Restaurant Operations Manager as it ensures that the restaurant consistently meets legal, health, and safety standards, thus protecting customers, staff, and the business from potential risks, fines, and reputational damage.

How to Improve Compliance Monitoring Skills

To improve Compliance Monitoring as a Restaurant Operations Manager, focus on the following concise steps:

1. Utilize Technology: Adopt compliance monitoring software specifically designed for the food industry to track and manage compliance tasks efficiently. Tools like ComplianceMate streamline monitoring and ensure standards are met.

2. Regular Training: Conduct recurring training sessions for staff on the latest health and safety regulations, as well as internal compliance policies. Utilize resources from ServSafe for up-to-date training materials.

3. Checklists and Audits: Implement daily, weekly, and monthly compliance checklists. Regularly schedule internal audits to assess and improve compliance practices. Resources like Jolt offer digital checklist solutions tailored for restaurants.

4. Feedback Loop: Create a system for staff to report compliance issues or suggestions anonymously. This encourages a culture of compliance and continuous improvement.

5. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of the latest regulations and compliance standards by regularly visiting official websites like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for updates on food safety regulations.

By integrating these strategies, you can enhance compliance monitoring in your restaurant, ensuring a safer environment for both staff and customers.

How to Display Compliance Monitoring Skills on Your Resume