Kajiken is Japan's leading abura soba (dry noodle) brand with 100+ stores worldwide. We are opening our first Brisbane restaurant in the CBD in late 2026, and we are looking for a hands-on Store Manager to lead the store from pre-opening through launch and daily operations.
This is a rare ground-floor opportunity to help build a new store, train the opening team, and grow with an expanding franchise brand.
The Role
As Store Manager, you will take ownership of day-to-day operations of a 54-seat, fast-paced restaurant, reporting directly to the company directors.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading daily operations across front of house, kitchen coordination, service flow, product quality, and speed during peak periods
- Recruiting, training, rostering, and managing kitchen and floor staff in line with Fair Work requirements
- Building and developing a reliable opening team from the ground up
- Managing local suppliers, ordering, price comparison, and cost control alongside franchise-designated supply channels
- Overseeing stock control, food safety compliance, FIFO, temperature logs, shelf-life management, and store readiness
- Monitoring key P&L drivers including food cost, labour cost, wastage, and stock loss
- Maintaining strong customer experience, resolving customer concerns on the spot, and escalating recurring feedback to directors
- Working with directors on launch planning, staff training, SOPs, and continuous improvement
What We Are Looking For
Essential:
- 3+ years of experience in a fast-paced restaurant, QSR, Japanese cuisine, or high-volume casual dining environment, including at least 1–2 years in a management or supervisory role (store manager, assistant manager, or duty manager preferred)
- Proven ability to run smooth service under peak-hour pressure
- Experience hiring, training, rostering, and supervising hospitality staff
- Strong understanding of food cost, labour cost, stock control, wastage, and daily store discipline
- Hands-on leadership style: you are comfortable working alongside the team during busy service
- Strong communication skills in both English and Mandarin Chinese, as the role involves regular communication with our management team and supply partners in Mandarin
Desirable:
- Food Safety Supervisor certification in Queensland, or willingness to obtain before opening
- Experience with restaurant POS, rostering, and inventory systems
- Pre-opening or new store launch experience
- Japanese language skills
What We Offer
- Base salary of $65,000–$80,000 plus superannuation, commensurate with experience — senior candidates with proven management track records will be considered at the upper end
- Opportunity to grow with the brand as we expand in Queensland, including future multi-store or area management pathway for the right person
- Direct access to company directors and real input into how the store is run
- Full training and support from an established international franchise system
- Staff meals and employee discount
Availability: Must be available for weekend and evening shifts. Full Australian working rights required.
To apply, please submit your resume and a short cover note describing the busiest service you have managed, how many staff were on shift, and how you kept service running smoothly.
Pay: $65,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free drinks
- Free food
- Professional development assistance
Experience:
- restaurant or QSR management: 3 years (Preferred)
Work Authorisation:
Work Location: In person
