Overview
Branch Manager Jobs in Southampton, England, United Kingdom at Natty’s Jerk
Title: Branch Manager
Company: Natty’s Jerk
Location: Southampton, England, United Kingdom
Branch Manager (Opening Team) – Natty's Southampton
Location: Southampton (with initial training and development based at our Portsmouth flagship restaurant)
Start Date: Immediate start available. However, we are committed to finding the right person for this role and are willing to wait for an exceptional candidate who shares our values, vision and ambition for the business.
About Natty’s
Natty's is more than a restaurant – we're a Caribbean food experience.
Natty's was built on a passion for sharing the flavours, culture and warmth of the Caribbean through exceptional food and hospitality. What began as a family venture has grown into an award-winning hospitality brand, recognised nationally for its food, innovation and customer experience.
Today, the business is proudly owned and led by second-generation operators, Sienna and Tyrese, who continue to drive the company's growth while staying true to the values and vision on which Natty's was built.
Through incredible food, vibrant music, authentic hospitality and unforgettable experiences, we create moments that keep our customers coming back.
Following our success as Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year 2024 and the continued growth of the business, we are preparing to launch our exciting new Southampton restaurant and are looking for an exceptional Branch Manager to lead it.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced, ambitious and hands-on Branch Manager to take full operational responsibility for our new Southampton restaurant (approximately 60 covers).
This is far more than a traditional management role. You will be responsible for helping bring the restaurant to life, building an exceptional team, embedding the Natty's culture and standards, and creating an environment where both customers and team members thrive.
You will work directly alongside the owners and senior leadership team throughout the launch process and beyond, helping shape the future success of the Southampton branch.
Prior to launch, you will be required to work from our Portsmouth flagship restaurant, learning every aspect of the Natty's operation, culture, standards and expectations. This hands-on training period will ensure you are fully equipped to launch and lead the Southampton team successfully.
Applicants must be available to begin training at our Portsmouth restaurant prior to the Southampton launch.
Key Responsibilities
Restaurant Leadership
- Lead and inspire the Southampton team through positive, visible and hands-on leadership.
- Create a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork and excellence.
- Act as an ambassador for Natty's and represent the values of the business at all times.
- Set the tone, standards and expectations for the entire restaurant.
- Drive performance through coaching, mentoring and team development.
- Lead by example and never ask your team to do something you would not do yourself.
Recruitment, Training & Team Development
- Recruit, onboard and develop an exceptional opening team.
- Build a positive and high-performing culture from day one.
- Deliver structured training and ongoing development.
- Identify future leaders and create progression opportunities.
- Conduct regular performance reviews and support team growth.
- Create an environment where people feel valued, motivated and accountable.
- Focus on team retention and engagement, building a workplace where people genuinely want to stay and develop.
Customer Experience
- Deliver outstanding hospitality and customer service standards.
- Ensure every guest receives a memorable Natty's experience.
- Handle customer feedback professionally and proactively.
- Build relationships with regular customers and become a recognised face of the brand within Southampton.
- Continuously seek opportunities to improve the customer journey.
Financial & Commercial Performance
- Take ownership of restaurant sales, profitability and overall business performance.
- Manage labour costs, scheduling and productivity effectively.
- Control stock, wastage and operational costs.
- Understand and actively manage gross profit performance.
- Identify opportunities to drive revenue and improve profitability.
- Demonstrate strong commercial awareness and understand how operational decisions impact the wider business.
Operations & Compliance
- Ensure all operational systems and procedures are followed consistently.
- Maintain exceptional food safety, health & safety and compliance standards.
- Ensure all audits, paperwork and records are completed accurately and on time.
- Oversee stock control, ordering and inventory management.
- Maintain a clean, safe and organised restaurant environment.
- Ensure the restaurant consistently meets or exceeds company expectations.
Community & Brand Development
- Help establish Natty's as a destination venue within Southampton.
- Build positive relationships within the local community.
- Support local marketing initiatives and events.
- Identify opportunities to grow brand awareness and customer engagement.
- Actively contribute ideas to help the business continue to evolve and improve.
What We're Looking For
Essential
- Significant management experience within hospitality or restaurant operations.
- Experience leading large teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent people management and leadership skills.
- Outstanding customer service skills.
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Strong organisational and planning abilities.
- Experience managing labour, stock and operational costs.
- Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
- Ability to recruit, train and develop high-performing teams.
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to manage difficult situations professionally and diplomatically.
- High levels of accountability and ownership.
- Strong attention to detail.
- A proactive, hard-working and solutions-focused mindset.
- A willingness to be hands-on and lead from the front during both the launch period and ongoing operations.
Desirable
- Caribbean food, beverage or hospitality experience.
- Experience opening or launching a new hospitality venue.
- Multi-site or senior management experience.
- Local knowledge of Southampton and the surrounding area.
The Person
The successful candidate will be:
- A natural leader who earns respect through actions, not title.
- Passionate about hospitality and creating memorable experiences.
- Energetic, resilient and able to thrive under pressure.
- Creative and full of ideas, while understanding the importance of consistency and standards.
- Confident enough to challenge constructively and contribute solutions rather than simply agreeing.
- Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership.
- Diplomatic, fair and emotionally intelligent.
- Highly motivated and driven by results.
- Committed to continuous improvement.
- A culture carrier who genuinely embraces and promotes the Natty's way.
- Ambitious and excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up.
What Success Looks Like
- A fully recruited, trained and engaged team ready for launch.
- Exceptional guest satisfaction and customer loyalty.
- Strong financial performance and profitability.
- High operational and compliance standards.
- Low staff turnover and strong team engagement.
- Positive community reputation and local brand presence.
- Consistent delivery of the Natty's experience.
- A restaurant that becomes a benchmark location within the business.
Why Join Natty’s?
- Lead the launch of an exciting new restaurant from day one.
- Work directly alongside the owners and leadership team.
- Be part of an award-winning and rapidly growing hospitality business.
- Opportunity for long-term career progression as the business continues to expand.
- Play a key role in shaping the future of one of the UK's most exciting independent hospitality brands.
This is one of the most important hires we will make this year.
We're looking for a leader who wants more than just a management job. Someone who wants to build something special, develop great people, deliver exceptional guest experiences and help drive the next chapter of the Natty's story.
An immediate start is available, but we recognise that exceptional people are rarely available overnight. We are prepared to wait for the right candidate who can truly embody our culture, lead from the front and establish Southampton as a flagship Natty's location. <This message was edited>
