Ivan Dudak

I am a passionate and ambitious Operations Manager with 16 years of experience within the hospitality industry and two years in logistics. After much reflection and personal growth, I’ve reached an exciting point in my career where I actively seek new opportunities.

In my most recent role as Regional Operations Manager, I was responsible for 160+ people across 7 fast-casual Mexican restaurants with varying operational complexity, including an airside restaurant in Manchester Airport (T2). Overall Annual turnover of £9 million.

Over the years, I have been privileged to work with exceptional teams tackling complex challenges, an achieving remarkable results. Each experience has contributed to my professional development. Customer service, people management and top-class operations are just a few of the key areas I believe are fundamental to success across a region.

I thrive in a fast-paced, busy environment and relish new challenges. I have a proven track record in motivating and developing multiple teams and managers, allowing them to perform to the best of their ability. I believe that my hands-on approach makes me a very strong leader and ultimately helps me maintain the respect of my teams.

I am highly ambitious and aim to significantly contribute to the best of my abilities in an exciting company that will inspire me to enhance my skills in a challenging position.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Barburrito Mexican Eatery Ltd. (The Restaurant Group plc.)

Regional Operations Manager October (2020) – June (2023) 

My main duties include

• Supporting the restaurants through the acquisition by The Restaurant Group (TRG) in July 2022 which included new management systems, processes, policies and a culture change. 
• Conducting Ops audits and visits to stores regularly to ensure that standards are met and producing reports for the management team to follow upon. 
• Performing the role of brand ambassador across my region ensuring the highest standards in food and service performance.
• Working parallel with key business partners, to achieve optimum business performance across a broad region.
• Mentoring and developing Restaurant Managers, encouraging them to drive their restaurants to success.
• Full accountability of operational standards and problem solving, ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures across the group at all times
• Full responsibility for new site openings and staff training within my region and supporting other regions when required.
• Driving the internal marketing plan and liaising with the marketing team to ensure all restaurants have the tools and information required to execute.
• Full accountability of the regions P&L (over 9 mil. Per annum), to ensure profitability, analysing figures and challenging managers where necessary to evaluate results and drive progress.
• Responding to serious customer complaints within the region, including food poisoning claims. I work with our Health and Safety Consultant to evaluate these claims and respond to the customer.
• Working closely with facilities manager to ensure that maintenance in my region is up to date and meet compliance requirements. 
• Driving regional competitions and incentives to motivate the teams and encourage collaboration. 
• Undertaking investigations, disciplinaries and grievances where appropriate in line with HR policies with the support of the HR department.
• Supporting the business in driving delivery standards, improving all of the key performance indicators and developing new processes for the entire business and an audit framework.
• Development and management of all airport operational standards for the business including performing the role as pass signatory. 

Barburrito Mexican Eatery Ltd. 

Kitchen Operations Manager December (2015) – September (2020)

Field-based role, focused on daily kitchen operations across whole estate (20 outlets +3 Franchisees stores). Responsible for all kitchen processes and recipe development.

My main responsibilities included

• New products development, recipe updates, Standards Operations Procedures and other documents updates and effective communication to final user. 
• Assist for all photoshoot for both Barburrito and secondary brands of Barburrito, style and prepare food for photographer. 
• Take ownership on all new projects related to recipe / menu development.
• Working with franchisee partners. This included different external partners like TRG Concessions, Deliveroo editions, Deliveroo corporate food, Sessions market and launch into Pubs in London to expand delivery arms of the business.
• Supply chain – manage the day to day communication with new and current suppliers.
• Food nutrition’s and allergens updates, working closely with accredited food safety advisers to provide the best possible practice and implementing within a company.
• Performing regular kitchen audits in all stores, assessing that the overall standards are maintained throughout the company. 
• Equipment testing and trials – liaise with product suppliers to find new machinery suitable to business and write up specification to meet the training needs.
• Supporting new store openings, making sure that the back of house set up and employees training are up to company standards.
• Kitchen design – lead on kitchen design for new or refit sites.

 

Pizza Express Ltd. April (2008) – November (2015)

During my carrier within this company, I have worked in number of different position and location and gained extensive experience and knowledge of hospitality industry with a main focus on L&D and New stores openings.

Back of House Trainer at Pizza Express Liverpool One August (2014) – November (2015)

Pizza Express International Support (Beijing – China) Secondment June-July (2014) and April-June (2015)

Selected to support strategic new openings in Beijing China including the first and second restaurants launched in China. This was a fantastic and challenging experience, rolling out new menus and one of my key responsibilities was to support development of new and current employees.

Support BOH Trainer at Pizza Express Trafford Centre Manchester September (2013) – June (2014)

Based in one of the busiest flag ship restaurants of the company, my main responsibilities are to train and develop new and existing back of house team members

Pizza Express International Support (Mumbai-India) Secondment December (2012) – January (2013) and December (2013)

I was selected to help support the first Pizza Express branches based in India. Besides, I assisted setting up the training systems and learnt new skills of food preparation and I gained a great experience of working in a different country with a different culture and how to adapt.

Manager on Duty Pizza Express Liverpool – Albert Dock (January – November 2013)

Part - time position while being full time Back of house trainer, this position was part of my personal development program to get better understanding of the management role on how to run restaurant operations.

Back of House Trainer Pizza Express Liverpool – Albert Dock (2010-2013)

Chef Pizzaiolo Pizza Express Liverpool – Albert Dock (2008-2010)

Sales / Delivery driver -Mogul Slovakia S.R.O. Slovakia (2006-2008)

One of the Slovakian biggest engine oil suppliers at the time. Sales, invoicing and delivery of final products to customers.

2019 – 2021 – I successfully completed Apprenticeship Level 5 for Operations and Departmental Manager in hospitality and retail.

 

January‐July (2006) Superior Studies. Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava”

Engineering course with other courses to include English, Physic, IT and Maths.

2001‐2005 Secondary Vocational School – Slovakia. A levels in Maths, Business, Economics, English.

Transport /Export education and road safety as part of my studies supported with full driving licence to include classes: AM, A, B1, B, C, C1. In addition, I have completed BE, C1E and CE.

Hold valid CPC. previously held FLT licence.

Personal alcohol license.