Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION: Restaurant Administration Director

Location:

Northern Ireland, UK

Reports to:

Managing Director / Owners

Department:

Administration / Operations

POSITION SUMMARY

The Restaurant Administration Director ensures the efficient, compliant, and well-coordinated running of all back?office functions across the restaurant group in Northern Ireland. This role oversees the financial, legal, regulatory, and administrative aspects of operations, supporting growth while maintaining high standards of governance, food safety, and staff welfare.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

1. Regulatory Compliance & Licensing

Ensure each restaurant is

registered with the local Environmental Health Service

. Maintain approval status for high?risk food operations (if applicable) under local food regulation. Oversee and manage compliance with Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations N.I.*: implement, maintain, and monitor a HACCP?based food safety management system.
Work proactively with Councils' Environmental Health Officers, prepare documentation for inspections, and manage any compliance remediation. Oversee the

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme

compliance and ensure hygiene rating certificates are displayed as required. Manage

alcohol licences

under the Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996*.
Ensure the restaurants' licensing conditions are met (e.g., alcohol served only ancillary to meals, in the same bill). Ensure adequate non-alcoholic drink options (including water) are always available. Oversee the display of required licensing notices (e.g., 2022 Licensing Notice Regulations). Liaise with licensing authorities, ensure timely licence renewals, and ensure adherence to the Code of Practice for responsible sale and promotion of alcohol.

2. Health & Safety Leadership

Implement, maintain, and regularly review

risk assessments

(health & safety) in all premises, covering fire safety, manual handling, slips/trips, equipment use, etc. Ensure compliance with the

Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

, working with HSENI as required. Develop and enforce safe systems of work, emergency procedures, and incident-reporting mechanisms. Ensure all employees receive health & safety training; track and refresh this regularly.

3. Financial Management & Reporting

Supervise financial administration: bookkeeping, payroll, VAT submission, and accounts preparation. Work with external accountants/auditors to ensure statutory accounts and financial procedures comply with UK and Northern Ireland regulatory standards. Prepare monthly management accounts, cash flow forecasts, and variance analyses for senior management. Monitor budgets (operational, payroll, overheads) and implement cost?control strategies where appropriate.

4. Human Resources & Administration

Oversee HR administration, including recruitment, employee contracts, on boarding, and compliance with employment law. Maintain staff records including right-to-work checks, contract details, and training certificates. Administer payroll, holiday, sick-leave, and attendance systems. Ensure staff training in food safety, licensing (alcohol), and health & safety is documented and up to date. Manage any disciplinary or grievance processes in line with employment legislation.

5. Operational Support

Provide administrative leadership to support restaurant operations (e.g., opening new branches, refurbishments). Coordinate with branch managers to support purchasing, supplier management, and contract renewals (suppliers, services, licences). Oversee document management systems (permits, licenses, compliance files, policies). Support cross?functional business projects (e.g., technology rollouts, process improvements).

6. Leadership & Team Development

Lead, mentor, and manage an administrative team (e.g., admin assistants, compliance coordinators). Build a culture of compliance, continuous improvement, and professional excellence. Represent the administrative function in senior management meetings and act as a strategic partner in planning.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Education

: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Accounting, or equivalent (preference)*

Experience

: 5+ years in an administrative leadership role, preferably in hospitality or food & beverage.

Regulatory Knowledge

: Strong understanding of Northern Ireland's food hygiene, health & safety, and licensing laws.

Technical Skills

: Proficiency in accounting software, payroll systems, HR management tools, Microsoft Office (especially Excel), and document management systems.

Leadership

: Experience managing a team, leading cross?department initiatives, and driving compliance.

Communication

: Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to liaise with regulatory authorities.

Analytical & Organisational

: Strong planning, risk?assessment, and process?improvement skills.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Highly organised, detail-oriented, and methodical. Ethical, reliable, and discreet with confidential information. Proactive, with a problem-solving mindset. Calm under pressure; able to manage multiple compliance demands simultaneously. Strong integrity and commitment to regulatory compliance and business excellence.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Full-time role, primarily based in an office, but with regular visits to restaurant locations. May require occasional out-of-hours work (for inspections, licensing renewals, or urgent issues). Travel across Northern Ireland (depending on the number of branches).

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Competitive salary (depending on experience). Benefits : Staff meals, employee discounts, holiday entitlement in line with UK / NI law, pension contributions, bonus scheme, and training opportunities.
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to 54,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Employee discount Free parking On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:

Carrickfergus BT38 8BE: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Education:

Bachelor's (preferred)
Experience:

Management: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person