Head of Brand ( F&B Ops)

About the Company

One of the most Iconic QSR is entering the Indian market with a vision to build the country’s most loved American Chinese brand. We are looking for a dynamic and entrepreneurial Brand Head / Head of F&B Operations to lead the India business launch, operational excellence, customer experience, and scalable growth.This leader will be responsible for building the India operating model from the ground up — including store operations, people capability, SOPs, customer experience, food quality, profitability, and multi-city expansion. The role requires a strong blend of strategic thinking, execution rigor, brand-building capability, and deep understanding of the Indian QSR ecosystem.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Business & Brand Leadership
• Lead the India market launch and scale-up strategy for Panda Express.
• Build and execute the annual business plan, revenue targets, and operational KPIs.
• Drive brand positioning while adapting global standards to Indian consumer preferences.
• Partner with leadership teams on expansion roadmap, growth strategy, and market penetration.
• Operations Excellence
• Set up and oversee end-to-end restaurant operations across all India locations.
• Develop SOPs, operational playbooks, audit systems, and quality controls.
• Ensure consistency in food quality, service standards, hygiene, and customer experience.
• Monitor operational KPIs including sales, food cost, labor cost, throughput, wastage, and profitability.
• New Store Openings & Expansion
• Lead pre-opening and launch activities for new stores.
• Coordinate with design, procurement, training, and supply chain teams for seamless execution.
• Build scalable operational frameworks for rapid expansion across metros and tier-1 cities.
• Team Building & Capability Development
• Hire, train, and mentor high-performing operations and restaurant leadership teams.
• Build a strong culture of accountability, ownership, and guest-first service.
• Develop succession planning and leadership pipelines for regional operations.
• Customer Experience & Brand Growth
• Drive customer satisfaction, loyalty, and repeat business metrics.
• Work closely with marketing teams on promotions, launches, digital campaigns, and delivery partnerships.
• Leverage consumer insights and analytics to improve menu performance and guest engagement.
• Financial & Commercial Ownership
• Own P&L for India operations.
• Drive store-level profitability and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost optimization.

Skills and qualifications

• 15–18+ years of experience in QSR, restaurant chains, or large-format F&B operations.
• Strong experience in scaling multi-unit restaurant operations across India.
• Prior experience with international QSR brands preferred.
• Experience in launch/start-up environments is highly desirable.

What's On Offer

• What's on Offer
• Opportunity to lead the India launch and scale-up of Panda Express, one of the world's largest American Chinese QSR brands.
• Full ownership of building and shaping the India business, including operations, customer experience, people strategy, and growth.
• High-visibility leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for business performance and P&L.
• Chance to establish operating frameworks, build teams from the ground up, and drive multi-city expansion.
• Exposure to a global brand while adapting and localizing the concept for the Indian market.
• Significant influence on brand strategy, market penetration, and long-term growth plans.
• Entrepreneurial environment with the opportunity to create a lasting impact on a high-growth consumer business.
• Work closely with global and India leadership teams to define the future of the brand in one of the world's fastest-growing QSR markets.