General Manager - Onggi Operations · Kings Cross

General Manager – Onggi Korean Concept (UK)

Location:

London

Reports to:

Kelly Choi - Founder

Type:
Full‑time, Permanent

Onggi Korean is a vibrant, modern Korean street‑food kiosk concept inspired by the bold flavours, warmth, and creativity of Korean culture. Today we operate two kiosks - Bath and London - with exciting plans to scale across the UK, following the successful growth trajectory of our sister brand Sushi Daily (part of Kelly Deli).

We’re now looking for a General Manager to lead Onggi’s UK business from its early‑stage footprint into a thriving, multi-nationally recognised food‑to‑go brand.

The General Manager will take full responsibility for building Onggi Korean’s presence (currently in the UK) - operationally, commercially, and strategically. This is a hands‑on, entrepreneurial leadership role ideal for someone who excels in both day‑to‑day operations and long‑term growth planning. This role is a full-time on‑location role.

You will be the figurehead of the Onggi concept: ensuring outstanding kiosk performance, driving sales, developing teams, shaping partnerships, and laying the foundations for scalable expansion.

• Define and execute the Onggi growth strategy, aligned with Kelly Deli’s wider business vision.
• Build the operational blueprint and commercial model that allows the brand to grow sustainably.
• Lead team (Operations, Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance) to enable successful expansion.

• Oversee daily performance of the Onggi kiosks, ensuring best‑in‑class food quality, service, and brand standards.
• Implement operational processes, SOPs, and performance metrics suitable for scale.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health & safety, and internal quality standards.

• Own kiosk P&Ls, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis.
• Drive revenue, profitability, and cost efficiency across the current and future estate.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational margins and customer value.

• Evaluate, select, secure and launch new kiosk locations.
• Lead new store openings from planning through to training, launch, and post‑launch optimisation.
• Develop a pipeline of opportunities to scale Onggi.
• Build excellent relationships with the retailers and develop ideas for other channels for the concept.

• Lead and coordinate cross‑functional teams (Ops, Quality, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance) to deliver aligned priorities and results.
• Set clear direction, expectations, and KPIs while ensuring strong communication and accountability.
• Foster a high‑performance, customer‑focused culture rooted in operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Act as a strong ambassador for the Onggi brand, driving collaboration, engagement, and shared purpose across the teams.

• Ensure that every kiosk delivers the authentic Onggi Korean experience.
• Ensure Marketing delivers on agreed local campaigns, social activity, promotions, and brand storytelling.

• Hands‑on person who is oriented to being in the business, making a difference.
• Proven experience leading multi‑site operations in food‑to‑go, QSR, retail, or kiosk/stand formats.
• Experience working directly with and for a founder, taking their vision and implementing plans and actions that deliver against it at pace.
• Strong operational leadership with a track record of delivering commercial results.
• Experience scaling a concept from early stages (preferred but not essential).
• Experience launching new sites and managing openings.
• Understanding of the Korean culture.

• Entrepreneurial and hands‑on: comfortable rolling up your sleeves while also thinking strategically.
• Data‑driven with strong financial acumen and P&L ownership experience.
  
  Able to operate autonomously, make decisions, and thrive in a fast‑growing environment.
• Excellent relationship‑building, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Passion for Korean food and culture is a plus.

• An opportunity to build and shape a brand from the ground up.
• A highly entrepreneurial environment backed by the success and infrastructure of Kelly Deli.
• Autonomy, influence, and the chance to play a key leadership role in national expansion.