First Watch Home Office Team
We are builders of our “You First” culture and exist to support our restaurants, our people and our company’s growth.
Employee Stories

First Watch truly cares about everyone in this organization.
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My job is to make sure that my teams feel supported and have everything they need to be successful.
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If it wasn’t for my leaders believing in me and pushing me, I wouldn’t be where I am.
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At First Watch, we practice what we preach, good people equal good company.
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Why First Watch? Reason #1
Flexible work environment
We offer intentional flexibility to allow for a healthy work/life balance.
Why First Watch? Reason #2
When we feel our best, we do our best.
That’s why we offer wellness rooms, standing desks, a mother’s room and gym in the home office.




Why First Watch? Reason #3
Free lunch Fridays
What can we say? We love food. Every Friday enjoy a free catered lunch.
Why First Watch? Reason #4
We love our pawject managers
We recognize dogs can reduce stress, encourage exercise, improve teamwork and boost morale.
Home Office Positions
Director of Operations
Location:
Fairfax
The Director of Operations is responsible for supporting the mission, vision and values of First Watch through all that he/she does in their role every day. The DO’s primary purpose is to develop General Managers and restaurant management teams to build and increase sales over the previous year and improve profitability, while ensuring employee and guest satisfaction, without compromising the integrity or You First culture of the concept. The Director of Operations is responsible for the success of all First Watch operations within their span of control (5-8 direct reports and 200-300 employees).
Responsibilities
- Leads operational activities for a group of First Watch Restaurants by performing the following in accordance with Company guidelines regarding management development, sales, and profitability, planning and customer and employee relations
- Trains, coaches and develops General Managers and Operations Managers, through timely performance and observation feedback and evaluations
- Follows up on training of MIT's/CAFE’s and hourly employees. Works closely with the Training General Manager to monitor progress
- Ensures development of Operations Managers within compliance of the FW management development programs
- Through effective manpower planning executes the continuous development of the management team and ensures timely and cost effective recruitment of restaurant level management and their training within First Watch
- Ensures the maintenance of a safe and harassment free workplace in all restaurants
- Takes quick and responsible action in solving problems and able to uses reason when dealing with individual or staff performance based issues to include personality conflicts
- Develops for prior approval and then meets or exceeds the area’s budget, including capital investments, General and Administrative expenses
- Promotes First Watch outside the restaurant
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent – concentration in food & beverage, business, marketing or management is preferred
- Five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in multi unit restaurant industry operations
- Proven track record of achieving results and building & maintaining successful teams
- Passion for providing excellent service and quality
- Ability to partner and build relationships while demonstrating leadership and integrity and promoting team success
- Extensive knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices in the industry
- Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced, dynamic environment
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel frequently within assigned market
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Developer
Location:
Bradenton
As the First Watch Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Developer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, testing, and implementing RPA solutions to streamline business processes and improve operational efficiency. You will work closely with business process owners, and other stakeholders to identify automation opportunities and build RPA bots using industry-standard RPA tools. The RPA Developer must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where being highly organized, detail-oriented, flexible, and adaptable is of utmost importance while maintaining a professional and positive attitude. Due to the fast-paced nature of the business, he/she must remain calm under pressure and focused, professional, and organized. Responsibilities will involve performing routine and occasional non-routine assignments requiring independent judgment.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Develop RPA bots using proven RPA software. Write automation scripts and workflows to execute tasks efficiently
- Conduct thorough testing of RPA solutions to ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance with business requirements. Troubleshoot and resolve any issues or defects
- Monitoring the automation and reporting the performance of automation to business team at periodic intervals
- Open/resolve incidents within the incident management system. Acknowledge any tickets/issues raised on automations deployed to production and work on fixing the issues
- Production issue troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and resolution
- Liaison with appropriate teams for the development of corrective actions or viable workarounds to resolve incidents
- Work on minor enhancements and bug fixes of automations, test the changes and deploy it to production
- Control room management which includes license allocation, user, Locker/Credential management and roles creation
- Re-run automation if requested by business teams
- Co-ordinate any outages with IT team on Bot runner machines and communicate to business team notifying delays in automation run due to outages
- Analyze and evaluate the issue and provide effective solution by connecting various domain level team
- Periodic Health Checks on bot runner machines
- Publish monthly status reports on both bot performance and incidents
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Information Technology or a related field is preferred
- Proven experience minimum 2 years in an I.T.-related role, with hands-on experience in troubleshooting and supporting hardware, software, and network issues
- Strong technical knowledge of desktop operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS) and productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite)
- Automation Anywhere A360 development/support hands-on experience
- Experience in Control Room license allocation, bot scheduling, Locker/credentials management
- Knowledge of ticketing systems like ServiceNow and others
- Ability to read and understand code (Code-competency) for diagnosis
- Knowledge of all the features of A360 and SQL
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Director of Operations
Location:
Tampa
The Director of Operations is responsible for supporting the mission, vision and values of First Watch through all that he/she does in their role every day. The DO’s primary purpose is to develop General Managers and restaurant management teams to build and increase sales over the previous year and improve profitability, while ensuring employee and guest satisfaction, without compromising the integrity or You First culture of the concept. The Director of Operations is responsible for the success of all First Watch operations within their span of control (5-8 direct reports and 200-300 employees).
Responsibilities
- Leads operational activities for a group of First Watch Restaurants by performing the following in accordance with Company guidelines regarding management development, sales, and profitability, planning and customer and employee relations
- Trains, coaches and develops General Managers and Operations Managers, through timely performance and observation feedback and evaluations
- Follows up on training of MIT's/CAFE’s and hourly employees. Works closely with the Training General Manager to monitor progress
- Ensures development of Operations Managers within compliance of the FW management development programs
- Through effective manpower planning executes the continuous development of the management team and ensures timely and cost effective recruitment of restaurant level management and their training within First Watch
- Ensures the maintenance of a safe and harassment free workplace in all restaurants
- Takes quick and responsible action in solving problems and able to uses reason when dealing with individual or staff performance based issues to include personality conflicts
- Develops for prior approval and then meets or exceeds the area’s budget, including capital investments, General and Administrative expenses
- Promotes First Watch outside the restaurant
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent – concentration in food & beverage, business, marketing or management is preferred
- Five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in multi unit restaurant industry operations
- Proven track record of achieving results and building & maintaining successful teams
- Passion for providing excellent service and quality
- Ability to partner and build relationships while demonstrating leadership and integrity and promoting team success
- Extensive knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices in the industry
- Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced, dynamic environment
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel frequently within assigned market
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Employee Relations Manager
Location:
Bradenton
The Manager of Employee Relations will serve as a strategic partner to our Operations leaders, collaborating closely to address a range of employee relations matters with tact, empathy, and discretion. This role requires an adept communicator who can navigate complex situations, provide sound advice, and ensure that all actions align with our company's mission and values.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities.
- Employee Guidance: Serve as the go-to resource for Operations leaders in addressing sensitive employee concerns, including but not limited to interpersonal conflicts, harassment, discrimination, and workplace disputes.
- Conflict Resolution: Manage and mediate employee disputes, working to find fair and equitable resolutions that align with company policies and values.
- Grievance Handling: Receive, investigate, and manage employee grievances, ensuring thorough and impartial investigations and appropriate follow-up actions.
- Policy Interpretation: Provide expert interpretation of company policies, procedures, and guidelines to support informed decision-making by Operations leaders.
- Coaching and Training: Participate in the development of training programs and resources to educate Operations leaders on best practices for handling employee relations matters and fostering a positive work environment.
- Performance Improvement: Collaborate with HR and Operations to develop performance improvement plans when necessary, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and company standards.
- Employee Advocacy: Act as an advocate for employees while balancing the company's interests, always striving to create an inclusive and respectful workplace.
- Compliance: Stay current with labor laws, regulations, and industry best practices related to employee relations, ensuring the company's practices remain legally compliant.
- Documentation: Maintain accurate and confidential records of employee relations cases, investigations, and outcomes.
- Data Analysis: Analyze employee relations trends and data to identify potential areas of concern and develop proactive strategies for improvement.
- Cultural Champion: Actively promote and reinforce the company's "You First" culture and values in all employee interactions and engagement initiatives.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field; or equivalent work experience and minimum of 3-5 years of multi-unit leadership, preferably within the restaurant or hospitality industry
- Strong knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and HR best practices
- Exceptional communication, mediation, and conflict resolution skills
- Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, and objectivity in all employee interactions
- Proven track record of successfully partnering with Operations leaders to address complex employee relations issues
- Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Proficiency in HRIS systems and Microsoft Office Suite
- Professional certification in HR (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is a plus
- Fluency in Spanish is a plus
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Sr. Manager of Treasury
Location:
Bradenton
The Senior Manager, Treasury role will manage treasury activities and ensure all financial transactions, policies, and procedures meet the organization’s objectives, needs, and SOX controls. This individual will manage all outside bank relationships and be the key liaison for a variety of treasury functions across the company. This position will also oversee the corporate banking, credit, and investment functions as well as cash management.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities.
- Work closely with the Director of Finance and other senior leadership to determine the most cost-effective strategies for financing the Company's business initiatives and optimizing the Company's capital structure. Play critical role in any debt restructuring efforts
- Oversee the Company’s treasury functions, cash management, and bank relationships
- Administrate banking systems, including access reviews, mitigate fraud, and ensure compliance with relevant Sarbanes-Oxley controls
- Establish and maintain bank accounts to manage company funds
- Forecast future cash needs to ensure Company’s daily cash requirements are met
- Produce a schedule of debt instrument payments, if applicable, and incorporate that schedule into the short- and long-term cash forecasts
- Design and recommend solutions and emerging technology to optimize treasury reporting infrastructure to support rapidly evolving business requirements
- Supervise bank reporting, including monthly borrowing base calculations, quarterly covenant calculations, and annual collateral audits
- Lead treasury due diligence and integration efforts for M&A activities
- Serve as contact for the treasury department in terms of cross departmental projects as needed
- Prepare accurate monthly/quarterly/annual reports for internal and external reporting (for investors, banks, and any compliance requirement) for assigned and/or special project entities and other entities as needed.
- Maintain, enhance, and enforce credit/treasury related policies and procedures
- Coordinate with corporate and operational accounting for the recording of cash transactions, deposit receipts, and bill payments
- Recommend alternative financing strategies
- Implement banking system improvements to reduce costs and enhance income through banking rebates
- Oversee and perform analysis of treasury areas including banking, merchant services and debt. Support on-going treasury projects
- Maintain and update cash flow forecasting models
- Prepare monthly cash, debt and investor capital call reports
- Provide ad hoc reporting to senior management upon request
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting or related field. Master’s degree preferred
- 5+ yrs. of treasury exp, preferably in the treasury department of a medium/large publicly traded company
- Solid understanding of accounting principles and financial statement impact of treasury transactions
- Strong strategic, technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a high level of demonstrated quantitative and finance skills in educational and professional records
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Asset Management Analyst
Location:
Bradenton
The Asset Management Analyst will be responsible for interpreting and analyzing information for leases, amendments, assignments, and other legal documents. The ideal candidate has the demonstrated ability to read and interpret a commercial lease and to focus on analysis of monthly financial statements. This includes the reconciling of general ledger accounts and the evaluation of all monetary aspects of the Lease, including base rent, taxes, insurance, Common Area Maintenance and utilities.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Maintain lease database system (Pro Lease) with current triple net escrows.
- Create and maintain weekly and monthly rent report for reoccurring and non-reoccurring payments, escrow adjustments, reconciliations, rent commencements, rent/escrow shortfalls, sales tax, etc.
- Review and reconcile statements/invoices received by Landlord to validate we are paying in accordance with the Lease Agreement
- Audit and validate Landlord ledgers. Liaise between Landlords and internal teams to rectify discrepancies due to escrow changes or unapplied / misapplied payments, utilities, etc.
- Prepare notice letters and calculate billing statements for lease violations such as failure to pay Tenant Improvement Allowance and delayed delivery rent credits.
- Validate restaurant sales and calculate percentage rent payments in accordance with the Lease Agreement
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Finance or Accounting preferred; high school diploma required
- 3-5 years of full-time experience in accounting in a medium to large organization; lease accounting a plus
- Strong working knowledge of GAAP
- Ability to handle multiple, concurrent assignments
- Experience within the retail, restaurant, or similar industry that includes multiple locations in various states
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
- Public Accounting experience preferred
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
HRIS Director
Location:
Bradenton
The Director of HRIS leads the maintenance and optimization of the human resources management systems (HRMS) and provides reporting and analytics necessary to drive organizational results. This position serves as a technical point of contact for assigned functional areas and assists subject matter experts with ensuring data integrity, testing of system changes, report writing and analyzing data flows for process improvement opportunities. The Director of HRIS also provides leadership support and guidance to HRMS upgrades, patches, testing and other technical projects as assigned.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Lead the development, validation, and maintenance of HR management systems to meet current and future business strategies and ensure one source of employee data truth
- Supervise the day-to-day activities of the HR Information Systems team
- Ensure the timely and accurate flow of employee information from the HRIS to the ATS, LMS, TAM, EAP, You First employee assistance fund, etc.
- Partner with Training and Operations to ensure that Operators are effectively educated on how to use all systems effectively and efficiently
- Enable quick and easy hire, promotion, transfer, termination, etc. functions for restaurant management to support them in their daily operations; keeps the operator and restaurant top of mind in decisions
- Provide regular reporting in the areas of people metrics, predictive workforce analytics and other key performance indicators. Utilize reporting to create hypothesis and solutions to business opportunities
- Create and update dashboards and reporting tools to easily convey key information
- Work closely with IT, third parties and other key stakeholders to ensure smooth flow of communication between systems with all systems and corresponding APIs functioning and speaking to each other as intended
- Develop and apply consistent employee data rules, policies and practices, keeping industry benchmarking and best practices in mind
- Oversee and support the review, testing and implementation of HRMS upgrades. Ensure data integrity in systems by running queries and analyzing data
- Recommend process/customer service improvements, innovative solutions, policy changes and/or major variations from established policy
- Manage all HRIS vendor relationships and ensure that all services are delivered as outlined in corresponding MSAs
- Keep current on latest trends and best practices for HR systems
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in HR, IT, business or related discipline or equivalent work experience
- Five to Seven years' of progressive HRIS experience
- HR System integration experience
- One to two years of project management experience
- Systems implementation experience
- Solid level of competency in computer skills (Microsoft Office) is required
- Expert excel skills
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
VP, Accounting & Financial Reporting
Location:
Bradenton
The VP – Accounting and Financial Reporting initial focus is analyzing current processes and controls, identifying strengths and weaknesses, developing recommendations for process improvements, and collaborating across all First Watch functions to optimize process and institutionalize internal controls. The VP of Accounting will supervise and serve as a leader in the recruitment, training and retention of key team members.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Lead the annual internal audit process for internal controls testing and ensuring all required documentation and disclosures are provided to auditors
- Implement and monitor strong internal controls and processes to optimize efficiency, safeguard financial assets and ensure the accuracy of record-keeping
- Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and serve as lead for process improvement opportunities
- Maintain documentation of accounting processes, changes to accounting processes and related internal controls
- Lead and develop a team of accounting professionals, including managers and staff
- Serve as management lead for transition to a new ERP system & collaborate with I.T. team to ensure the integration and functionality of financial systems
- Provide strategic oversight to day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, general ledger, and cash
- Supervise certain month-end and year-end closing processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting
- Provide and recommendations to senior management to support strategic decision-making
- Stay updated with changes in accounting regulations and standards and implement necessary adjustments to financial reporting processes
- Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and other relevant accounting standards
- Interface with senior management, internal auditors, and other stakeholders to lead process improvement
Qualifications
- CPA with minimum of 6 years in a public company and/or national accounting firm with hands-on experience with process and control implementation
- GAAP knowledge and understanding of accounting processes
- Extensive experience with SOX and internal controls
- Aptitude for understanding data and process flows and oriented to process improvement
- Drives improvement and operates comfortably across functional verticals
- Follow-through, prioritization, and time management skills
- Project management skills and experience
- Attention to detail
- Able to take ownership of projects and brings closure
- Experience with Blackline, Great Plains, Management Reporter, Pro Lease, Payroll Systems/feeds, Expense Reimbursement software, Purchasing and/or Inventory systems, a plus
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Sr Financial Analyst
Location:
Bradenton
The Sr. Financial Analyst is responsible for providing analytical and financial support across all areas of the Business. This position will play a key role in the company’s financial planning function as well as driving operational efficiency through reporting and analysis. The role will partner with leadership and senior managers to monitor key performance metrics, understand sales/traffic/product mix trends, and analyze the company’s financial results.
This role requires a self-starter with excellent business modeling skills, a keen attention to detail and focus on time management as well as the ability to challenge conventional thinking in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate can work seamlessly across multiple functions, including operations, marketing, supply chain, culinary, and other support teams, to evaluate and influence decisions/programs that affect how we run our restaurants, drive demand and manage costs.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Specific work would be dependent on the areas or departments the role supports. Likely functions include:
- Forecasting/Budgeting: Participate in monthly and quarterly, as well as annual and multi-year financial forecasts/budgets, typically working with broader organization to understand and test key forecast/budget assumptions and model alternate scenarios. Construct and maintain models in support of the forecast/budget process. Play key role in unit-level planning process.
- Project Support: Serve as key member of teams working on executing core company initiatives and analysis of component level performance.
- Sales/Product Mix Analysis: Analyze sales, traffic, and product mix trends. Understand performance of current limited-time offerings and project impact of future ones. Perform pricing analyses as necessary. Determine how product mix behavior is impacting our COGS. Effectively communicate all insights to leadership.
- Operational Analysis: Collaborate directly with ops leadership and provide actionable insights and solutions based on analysis of P&L results and key metrics to improve margins.
- Ad-hoc Reporting/Analysis: Provide robust and accurate ad-hoc financial analysis and effectively present the results and recommendations to senior leadership. Report on week, period, quarter, and annual financial performance to the leadership team, and prepare explanations of variances to budget.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Mathematics, Statistics, or analytical discipline with 4+ years of corporate financial planning experience
- Proficiency in both Excel and PowerPoint
- Excellent financial modeling skills, and the ability to turn data into insights and make recommendations regarding improvements to profitability
- Strong background in financial statements including Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Statement of Cash Flow
- Demonstrated success in generating budgets, analyzing P&L results, and reporting financials
- Advanced analytical skills with sound business judgement and high level of attention to detail
- Outstanding communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to communicate with multiple levels of the organization
- Ability to work on multiple projects, with cross-functional teams across all levels of the organization, and to meet deadlines
- Nimbleness and adaptability to changes in priorities
- Curiosity, self-drive, and enthusiasm to deliver results and improve the existing processes
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local "Best Breakfast" and "Best Brunch" accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. There are more than 490 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Director of Operations
Location:
Naples
The Director of Operations is responsible for supporting the mission, vision and values of First Watch through all that he/she does in their role every day. The DO’s primary purpose is to develop General Managers and restaurant management teams to build and increase sales over the previous year and improve profitability, while ensuring employee and guest satisfaction, without compromising the integrity or You First culture of the concept. The Director of Operations is responsible for the success of all First Watch operations within their span of control (5-8 direct reports and 200-300 employees).
Responsibilities
- Leads operational activities for a group of First Watch Restaurants by performing the following in accordance with Company guidelines regarding management development, sales, and profitability, planning and customer and employee relations
- Trains, coaches and develops General Managers and Operations Managers, through timely performance and observation feedback and evaluations
- Follows up on training of MIT's/CAFE’s and hourly employees. Works closely with the Training General Manager to monitor progress
- Ensures development of Operations Managers within compliance of the FW management development programs
- Through effective manpower planning executes the continuous development of the management team and ensures timely and cost effective recruitment of restaurant level management and their training within First Watch
- Ensures the maintenance of a safe and harassment free workplace in all restaurants
- Takes quick and responsible action in solving problems and able to uses reason when dealing with individual or staff performance based issues to include personality conflicts
- Develops for prior approval and then meets or exceeds the area’s budget, including capital investments, General and Administrative expenses
- Promotes First Watch outside the restaurant
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent – concentration in food & beverage, business, marketing or management is preferred
- Five to seven years of progressive leadership experience in multi unit restaurant industry operations
- Proven track record of achieving results and building & maintaining successful teams
- Passion for providing excellent service and quality
- Ability to partner and build relationships while demonstrating leadership and integrity and promoting team success
- Extensive knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices in the industry
- Ability to work well under pressure in a fast paced, dynamic environment
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel frequently within assigned market
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Senior Accountant
Location:
Bradenton
The Senior Accountant will support a variety of accounting functions with a primary focus on lease accounting, sales, use and property taxes across the organization -- including numerous state and local jurisdictions - and assisting with account reconciliations and month-end close to support the integrity of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP. This position will also provide technical accounting support and assist the team in preparing for the Company’s external audits.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities
- Knowledge of U.S. GAAP, specifically Leases, ASC 842; ensuring compliance with ASC 842 as new leases and amendments are executed
- Perform accounting for and manage the timely and accurate filing of, sales & use and property taxes
- Understand changes in sales tax and property tax legislation
- Facilitate any sales and property tax audits
- Support the timely completion of month-end close process and reconciliations in compliance with U.S. GAAP
- Work effectively and alongside third-party service providers (consultants, auditors)
- Maintain a strong internal control environment
Work collaboratively with other Corporate functions (Development, Operations, Finance) - Implement and develop solutions to drive efficiencies
- Lead and support other accounting related projects and functions as assigned
- Adhere to Company policies and procedures
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Accounting/Finance and CPA license required; Master’s degree is a plus
- Minimum 4-7 years of progressive accounting experience,
- Excellent understanding of GAAP and relevant financial accounting regulations, specifically lease accounting (Leases, ASC 842)
- Knowledge/exposure to sales and use tax, property tax and income tax
- Experience within the retail, restaurant, or similar industry that includes multiple locations in various tax jurisdictions
- Experience with and understanding of SEC rules a plus
- Experience with external auditors
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
Previous experience with Great Plains a plus - Public Accounting experience strongly preferred
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Accounting Manager
Location:
Bradenton
The Accounting Manager will support a variety of accounting functions with a primary focus on overseeing sales, use and property taxes across the organization -- including numerous state and local jurisdictions, assisting with account reconciliations and month-end close to support the integrity of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP. This position will also provide technical accounting support and assist the team in preparing for the Company’s external audits.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Maintain knowledge of U.S. GAAP
- Maintain a strong internal control environment
- Support the timely completion of month-end close process and reconciliations in compliance with U.S. GAAP
- Perform accounting for, and manage the timely and accurate filing of, sales & use and property taxes
- Facilitate any sales and property tax audits
- Work effectively with third party service providers (tax consultants, auditors)
- Work collaboratively with other Corporate functions
- Implement and develop solutions to drive efficiencies
- Work alongside third-party tax consultants and understand changes in sales tax and property tax legislation
- Lead and support other accounting related projects and functions as assigned
- Adhere to Company policies and procedures
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Accounting/Finance and CPA license required; Master’s degree is a plus
- Minimum 4-7 years of progressive accounting experience, including accounting leadership role
- Knowledge/exposure to sales and use tax, property tax and income tax a plus
- Experience within the retail, restaurant, or similar industry that includes multiple locations in various tax jurisdictions
- Excellent understanding of GAAP and relevant financial accounting regulations
- Experience with and understanding of SEC rules a plus
- Experience with external auditors
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required
- Previous experience with Great Plains a plus
- Public Accounting experience strongly preferred
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Director of Real Estate
Location:
Bradenton
The Director of Real Estate will direct real estate functions for First Watch in the Western Region of the United States. The Director of Real Estate must reside in Dallas, Phoenix, Denver, or Las Vegas.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Work with the VP of Real Estate to identify targeted trade areas for development by gathering and evaluating market data
- Conduct high-quality trade area reviews in targeted trade areas
- Work with local brokers and developers to procure a targeted number of new restaurant openings and keeping brokers informed of new initiatives and standards related to First Watch real estate
- Build and manage the pipeline of potential sites in specific markets identified for expansion to ensure First Watch meets development strategy
- Manage and update Development Market Strategies, including research, data management
- Prepare and present proposed locations at Real Estate Committee meetings
- Negotiate and review Letters of Intent
- Work with VP and Director of Development to bring all aspects of new restaurant openings together in the designated territory (leasing, scheduling, budgeting)
- Follow deals through the development pipeline and work with legal to ensure timely and successful lease signing
- Manage lease renewal process for existing locations in-territory, to make lease renewal decisions as well as to evaluate relocation opportunities
- As required, this position will support and monitor the development process in the existing company and franchise markets
Qualifications
- Minimum of five years in Real Estate site selection and leadership position within high new-unit-growth business is required, preferably in the restaurant industry
- Bachelor’s degree in related field is preferred
- Strong negotiating skills
- Must be strategically oriented with strong background in site selection
- Strong interpersonal, communication (both written and verbal) and presentation skills
- A high level of competency in computer skills (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.)
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Design Manager
Location:
Bradenton
As a member of the Design Team, this individual will primarily be responsible for criteria standards, Signage procurement / permitting, and assisting the Director with space planning and managing new restaurant openings (NRO’s) drawing phases. This role requires knowledge of industry standards to successfully deliver creative development in a collaborative environment.
This is a hybrid role. The ideal candidate will live a commutable distance from the First Watch Corporate office in Bradenton, Florida.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Signage procurement and permit / variance tracking and reporting
- Operate graphic reproduction software, AutoCAD, Photoshop Suite, Revit, & SketchUp 3D modeling to create and update drawings
- Assist Director with signage design as needed per site
- Assist Director as needed with space planning for NRO’s locations
- Assist Director in managing outside vendors including Renderings, Food Service, & Architectural vendors
- Provide technical support in the creation of floor plans, Interior décor, visual renderings of Interior and Exterior environment designs and all necessary design functions to establish standards of architectural criteria details
- Manage and maintain the Franchisee and Corporate design intent manuals, updating continuously as new specs are established
- Provide support with design committee presentations and discussions
- Gather requirements and interpret and translate business needs
Qualifications
- High School diploma and Trade School certificate in AutoCAD
- 3-5 years’ experience Architectural/Design Management experience in restaurant industry
- Working knowledge of Autocad is required, working knowledge of Revit a plus
- Strong working knowledge of graphic reproduction software, AutoCAD, Photoshop Suite, & SketchUp 3D modeling
- Initiative and ability to work independently and collaboratively in teams
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 5% of the time to visit job sites
- Strong verbal and written communication and organizational skills with attention to detail and follow up
- Ability to prioritize and complete multiple tasks as well as work well under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Strong decision-making skills with quality and budget in mind
- Ability to communicate and function effectively within a complex corporate environment
- Ability to adapt to changing business environments, solve problems and take advantage of opportunities to minimize project costs, maintain construction schedules and improve quality of completed facilities
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to travel for business needs
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S. and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award, and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Supply Chain Manager
Location:
Bradenton
The Supply Chain Manager will be responsible for leading distribution and supplier management activities (transactional and executional functions) as well as the implementation of the procurement strategy across multiple categories of spend. This role includes, but is not limited to: setting inventory levels with suppliers and distributors, reviewing proposals, supplier selection and management, invoice review and approval, project management/coordination, KPI analysis, new product development and sourcing. This is a hands-on role with limited supervision requiring initiative and drive. The Supply Chain Manager must possess broad, relevant business knowledge with and be able to ruthlessly prioritize competing initiatives. This individual must be able to communicate effectively and appropriately across and at all levels of the company as required. The role reports to the Director of Supply Chain.
Responsibilities
The essential functions in this job description are not all-inclusive of this position’s duties and responsibilities. Reliable and dependable attendance is required.
- Lead execution on strategies related to sourcing not limited to food, goods and services
- Proactively introduce innovative solutions to improve the supply chain with regards to total cost of ownership and quality
- Develop supply chain functional vision and objectives for their area of responsibility
- Build, lead and support strategic relationships with suppliers
- Identify secondary sources for categories to mitigate business risk
- Lead category management process through negotiation and contract execution,
- Manage distributors with KPI development
- Lead testing, tracking and implementation process for R&D and Operations on projects
- Utilize a team buying strategy across multiple spend areas to deliver first time quality in all areas of service and costs
- Analyze financial, industry and internal forecasts for products and materials and anticipates changes in cost, availability, and suitability of products
- Manage operational, distributors and supplier-related issues, as well as other various requests as required (sourcing, product information, etc.)
- Provide various reporting and analytics as required (i.e. inventory, spend profile, etc.)
- Administer changes as required to maintain accurate manufacturer/supplier records, but not limited to, expediting the proper paperwork and track contract/price compliance
- Network effectively within the industry; study industry publications, trade journals and market information to keep current on relevant changes in procurement
- Collaborate with Operations, R&D, Training team and suppliers
Qualifications
- Four (4) college degree or equivalent 10 years of industry experience in Foodservice and Supply Chain preferred
- Working knowledge of distribution, food categories, produce and indirects
- Highly proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
Who We Are
First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch’s chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with First Watch specialties such as the protein-packed Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was named the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the 50 most loved brands in the U.S and recognized as a Customer Experience All-Star by Forbes. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation’s Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet, recognized with ADP’s coveted Culture at Work Award and named a Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2021, First Watch was recognized as FSR Magazine’s Best Menu and as the fastest-growing full-service restaurant chain based on unit growth. There are more than 480 First Watch restaurants in 29 states, and the restaurant concept is majority owned by Advent International, one of the world’s largest private-equity firms. For more information, visitwww.firstwatch.com.
First Watch is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, First Watch will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.