QSR Country Manager - Ethiopia

THE OPPORTUNITY
We are recruiting a Country Manager to join the Hungry Lion team in Ethiopia.  The purpose of this role is to lead and grow the Hungry Lion business in-country by driving operational excellence, ensuring brand standards, and delivering sustainable profitability through effective leadership, financial and market strategies. You will be supported by a remote team of head office enablement departments, based in South Africa.
DUTIES/ RESPONSIBILITIES

• Brand Standards & Customer Experience
  • Oversee daily operations to ensure efficiency, quality, and consistency by implementing and monitoring standard operating procedures, food safety standards, and hygiene protocols.
  • Ensure brand consistency across all customer touchpoints and champion excellent customer service and guest satisfaction.
  • Monitor and respond to customer feedback and market trends.
• Stakeholder Relations
  • Liaise with head office and regional support teams and manage relationships with licensing, statutory and regulatory bodies.
• Market Expansion
  • Identify high-potential sites for new outlets and navigate regulatory environments, permits, and compliance.
  • Liaise with the Head Office Development team.
• Marketing & Local Relevance
  • Work with Head Office marketing on campaigns, activations, and digital to adapt to local tastes and culture.
• Projects
  • General project management, as well as involvement in new store development projects.
• Risk & Compliance Oversight
  • Identify and mitigate operational, financial, legal, and reputational risks by ensuring full compliance with health, safety, and regulatory requirements.
  • Handle crisis situations (e.g. supply disruptions, political unrest) swiftly.
• Financial Performance
  • Accountable for profit and loss (P&L), track financial performance, margins & unit economics.
• People & Culture Leadership
  • Drive leadership development, training, and succession planning and ensure compliance with labour laws and HR policies.
• Supply Chain & Procurement
  • Manage supplier relationships, enforce supply contracts and coordinate logistics.
• Repairs & Maintenance
  • Oversee repairs and maintenance processes to ensure well-maintained operations and maintain costs within budget.

REQUIREMENTS

• 8-10 years of food and beverage management experience.
• Experience in the key result areas listed.
• Food and beverage/QSR management certification or a relevant in-house certification is advantageous.
• Must have solid knowledge and understanding of Ethiopian legislation and culture.
• Ethiopian citizenship preferred.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong financial acumen.
• Resilience and tenacity.
• Strong negotiation skills with a win/win attitude.
• Results-oriented.
• Fair and just.
• Drive and commitment.
• Pragmatic problem-solving. 
• Emotional intelligence.
• Ability to work in unstructured environments.
• Self-reliant.
• Multicultural and interpersonal skills.

Please submit CVs in English, in a .pdf format.
AN INTRODUCTION TO HUNGRY LION
Hungry Lion’s journey began with a single store in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, in 1997, with a simple vision: to serve great food with genuine warmth and energy. Over the years, that vision has grown into a powerful business with a strong and expanding footprint, with hundreds of restaurants across multiple African countries.
We’re growing fast and building for the future. Our ambitious expansion strategy is opening doors to new countries, new communities, and new possibilities for our teams. This means real career growth, exposure to a dynamic multinational business, and the chance to be part of a brand that’s making a powerful impact in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry.
People power our success; passionate, driven individuals who bring energy, creativity, and excellence to everything they do. From our restaurant teams to our corporate leadership, every person plays a vital role in delivering exceptional service and growing our brand.  Joining Hungry Lion means being part of a fast-paced, dynamic, and supportive environment where your ideas, skills, and ambition can make a real impact.