Restaurant Leader

Firehouse Subs, founded by real firefighters, is known for its hearty, flavor-packed subs and welcoming team environment. We are currently seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Single-Unit Restaurant Leader to join our organization. The ideal candidate is customer-focused, dependable, and eager to contribute in a fast-paced food service environment.

The Restaurant Leader is the operational manager of a Firehouse Subs restaurant and is fully accountable for delivering outstanding financial results, operational excellence, and exceptional guest experience.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Restaurant Leader guides all restaurant operations while developing Assistant Managers, Shift Supervisors, and Team Members. This role is responsible for achieving sales, profitability, labour productivity, food and paper cost targets, operational compliance, and team engagement while creating a culture focused on hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

The Restaurant Leader serves as the face of Firehouse Subs within the local community while promoting the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and building lasting guest relationships.

Primary Responsibilities:

Financial Performance

• Own the restaurant Profit & Loss statement.
• Achieve all Food Cost, Paper Cost and Labour Cost targets.
• Monitor daily, weekly and period financial results.
• Analyze sales trends and implement action plans to improve profitability.
• Manage controllable expenses while maintaining brand standards.
• Maximize restaurant profitability without compromising guest experience.

Operations Excellence

• Ensure execution of all Firehouse Subs operational standards.
• Deliver exceptional product quality, speed of service and cleanliness.
• Maintain excellent food safety and sanitation standards.
• Ensure restaurant equipment and facilities remain in excellent condition.
• Lead all restaurant inventory processes and ensure accurate inventory counts.
• Investigate inventory variances and implement corrective action plans.

Guest Experience

• Own restaurant OSAT (Overall Satisfaction) performance.
• Review guest feedback daily.
• Resolve guest concerns promptly and professionally.
• Coach team members to consistently deliver exceptional hospitality.
• Develop action plans to continuously improve guest satisfaction scores.

Compliance & Audits

• Lead restaurant readiness for all Steritech (REV) audits.
• Maintain audit scores exceeding company expectations.
• Ensure compliance with:
• Firehouse Subs Brand Standards
• Food Safety
• Occupational Health & Safety
• Employment Standards
• Local Health Authority regulations

Public Safety Foundation

• Lead all restaurant fundraising initiatives.
• Drive PSF donation incidence and contribution goals.
• Educate team members on the Foundation's mission.
• Inspire guests to support the Public Safety Foundation.

Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, interview and hire outstanding team members.
• Develop Assistant Managers for future promotion.
• Conduct coaching sessions and performance reviews.
• Build strong employee engagement and retention.
• Foster an accountable, respectful and high-performing culture.
• Create development plans for emerging leaders.

Scheduling & Labour Management

• Produce efficient labour schedules.
• Optimize staffing levels based on sales forecasts.
• Control overtime and labour variances.
• Maintain excellent productivity metrics.

Community Leadership

• Build relationships within the local community.
• Support local marketing initiatives.
• Promote catering and community events.
• Represent Firehouse Subs professionally at all times.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The Restaurant Leader is accountable for:

• Restaurant Sales Growth
• Food Cost %
• Paper Cost %
• Labour Cost %
• Restaurant Profitability
• OSAT Score
• Steritech REV Audit Score
• Public Safety Foundation Donations
• Team Turnover
• Training Completion
• Inventory Accuracy
• Speed of Service
• Catering Sales Growth

Qualifications

• 3+ years of restaurant management experience
• Previous experience leading restaurant management teams
• Strong understanding of restaurant financial statements
• Experience managing labour scheduling and inventory
• Excellent coaching and leadership abilities
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills
• Proven ability to improve restaurant profitability
• Valid Class 5 Driver's License
• Food Safe Level 1 (Level 2 preferred)
• Preference given to those with Firehouse Subs experience but not required

What Success Looks Like

A successful Restaurant Leader builds a restaurant where:

• Guests love visiting.
• Team members enjoy working.
• Financial goals are consistently achieved.
• Firehouse Subs standards are exceeded.
• Future leaders are developed.

Firehouse Subs® is a fast-casual restaurant brand built around a passion for Hearty & Flavorful Food, Heartfelt Service, and Public Safety. Known for steaming hot subs piled high with quality meats and cheeses, Firehouse Subs combines great food with a genuine commitment to creating memorable guest experiences and serving the communities where we operate.

Today, Firehouse Subs is the fastest-growing QSR brand in Canada, with a rapidly expanding network of locally owned and operated restaurants across the country. Through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation®, the brand continues its commitment to supporting firefighters, first responders, and public safety organizations. At Firehouse Subs, our people are at the heart of what we do, and we are passionate about building strong teams, developing great leaders, and making a positive difference in the communities we serve.