Company Description
Talad Thai Banana is a modern Thai food concept rooted in Thai street culture, honest flavours, and operational discipline. We will be expanding our roots into the Malaysian market in 2026.
We are building a core founding team to lead this launch and help us share Thai food culture in a way that feels authentic and accessible with a strong emphasis on operational excellence, people leadership, and brand consistency.
Why Join Us
- Be part of the founding management team for Talad Thai Banana's Malaysia launch
- Work directly with founders and regional leadership with real decision-making authority
- Play a key role in shaping systems, teams, and culture from day one
- Clear growth potential for regional expansions
Start date: Targeting end February 2026 (flexible for the right candidate)
Role Description
The Malaysia Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end operational excellence across Talad Thai Banana Malaysia's launch and growth phase. You will work closely with the founders and regional leadership to translate brand vision into daily reality on the ground.
This role requires someone who is hands-on, structured, calm under pressure, and deeply familiar with F&B realities in Malaysia.This role is not a back-office position. You will be an integral part of the founding management team for our Malaysian operations, with real ownership over execution, standards, and people.
Launch & Operations
- Lead and execute the Malaysia market launch, from pre-opening setup to post-launch stabilisation
- Oversee daily outlet operations, ensuring food quality, service standards, cleanliness, and consistency
- Develop and refine SOPs, workflows, and checklists suited to local operations
- Ensure compliance with local regulations, licensing, hygiene, and safety standards
People and team management
- Recruit, train, and manage outlet-level teams (full-time & part-time)
- Build a reliable staffing structure with strong attendance and accountability
- Set performance expectations, conduct regular evaluations, and address underperformance promptly
- Act as the key escalation point for operational and people-related issues
Cost an inventory controls
- Manage food cost, labour cost, and wastage within agreed targets
- Oversee inventory control, purchasing, and supplier coordination
- Implement systems to reduce shrinkage, errors, and operational inefficiencies
- Track daily/weekly operational KPIs and report to management
Brand and service experience
- Protect Talad Thai Banana's brand standards across food, service, and atmosphere
- Ensure consistent guest experience across all touchpoints
- Handle serious customer feedback or incidents professionally and decisively
Growth and scaling
- Support future outlet openings or expansion plans in Malaysia
- Identify operational improvements and scalability opportunities
- Provide ground-level insights to management on market conditions, staffing realities, and operational risks
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in F&B operations (multi-outlet or high-volume preferred)
- Prior experience as an Operations Manager / Area Manager / Senior Outlet Manager
- Strong understanding of Malaysia F&B labour, suppliers, and regulations
- Comfortable being hands-on this is not a desk-only role
- Structured, solutions-forward, decisive, and able to manage pressure during launch phases
- Clear communicator who can manage both frontline staff and senior stakeholders
- Fluent in English; Bahasa Malaysia required; Mandarin is a plus
