Leon Darley Jr.
Summary
Experienced hospitality and food service professional with over a decade of leadership and planning abilities. Proven track record of cultivating and managing high-performing teams to exceed challenging targets. Seeking to merge passion for food and hospitality with dedication to humanitarian work in a new role.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
District Manager
Eurest - Compass Group
08.2025 - Current
- Grow revenue by partnering with managers to identify new business opportunities and expanding existing client base within the unit.
- Foster an environment of open communication between management teams across the district to share best practices in operations optimization and problem-solving techniques.
- Supervise various locations, enforcing high-quality standards of operation.
- Coordinate regional marketing efforts to increase visibility within target markets, attracting new customers while retaining current clientele base.
- Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures as well as federal/state regulations by conducting regular audits of operational practices at each location within the district.
General Manager
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
12.2021 - 08.2025
- Managed $9.5MM+ revenue across 5 units
- Generated annual budget and monthly re-forecasting information for executive and corporate reports.
- Opened new contract location, overseeing details from RFP phase through current business, with oversight on all opening purchases, hiring, and implementations.
- Partnered with executive chef to collaborate on menu planning and special programming.
- Collaborated closely with upper management to drive strategy through development and implementation of new processes.
- Oversaw implementation lifecycle processes based on organizational needs, regulatory requirements, and customer demand.
- Developed and optimize organizational systems to boost efficiency and keep operations scalable and agile for changing demands.
- Established new employee trainings for proper protocols and customer service standards.
- Managed budget implementations, employee evaluations and contract details
Restaurant General Manager
Magnolia Table
03.2020 - 12.2021
- Prepared business plan for high profile celebrity restaurant by reviewing demands, analyzing competitors, and developing projections for sales and finances.
- Collaborated with other company business units for development of new recipes, processes, and procedures.
- Research and development of new recipes for restaurant and brand.
- Enhanced operational efficiency and productivity by managing budgets, accounts and costs.
- Developed effective business plans to align strategic decisions with long-term objectives.
- Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Directly oversee staff of 4 managers, indirectly oversee staff of more than 60 employees.
- Conducted health, safety, and sanitation process evaluations to identify and remedy any violations immediately.
Director of Operations
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
08.2019 - 02.2020
- Oversee all operations within café and five retails at Biola University.
- Work closely with student workers and full time employees to provide best service, product, and experience possible to customers at all times.
- Mentor student managers on how to hire, train, and develop their employees.
- Directly oversee staff of 10, indirectly oversee staff of more than 150 employees.
- Established and implement training programs for all departments.
- Oversee implementation of company's "Great Expectations" program for service, branding, and overall quality.
- Work closely with chef to ensure all food meets company standards and is presented well.
Director of Catering
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
10.2018 - 08.2019
- Oversaw all operations within Catering Department at Biola University.
- Worked closely with clients to plan and create catering experiences for their events.
- Hired and trained all new associates as well as retrain existing associates on new processes of catering set-ups.
- Oversaw and schedule team of 30 staff according to needs of events throughout upcoming week.
- Established and implemented training programs for catering department as well as other departments on site.
- Oversaw quality control and presentation of all event set-ups ensuring that client needs and company standards are met.
- Worked closely with chef to ensure all food meets company standards and is presented well.
Operations Manager
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
08.2017 - 10.2018
- Opened and developed 5 coffee retail locations.
- Maintained all point of sale systems, including adding and removing menu items, running various reports, and setting up new employees.
- Hired and trained all new employees, placed all orders, kept inventory of all items and processed all needed cost of goods reports.
- Assisted in opening and development of seasonal made from scratch quick service restaurant.
- Oversaw operations of restaurant, five coffee shops, and full-service café.
- Oversaw quality control and presentation of all foods made for restaurant and catering.
- Worked closely with district manager to create programming for new coffee shop openings in district.
Education
Master of Science - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Purdue University
Bachelor of Science - Physical Education Teaching And Coaching
Biola University
La Mirada, CASkills
Logistics Planning
Decision-making
Leadership development
Team building
Customer Service
Process Improvements
Strategic Planning and Execution
Project Management
Business Development
Team Leadership
P&L Management
Certification
Food Protection Manager | Servsafe
Timeline
District Manager
Eurest - Compass Group
08.2025 - Current
General Manager
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
12.2021 - 08.2025
Food Protection Manager | Servsafe
12-2021
Restaurant General Manager
Magnolia Table
03.2020 - 12.2021
Director of Operations
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
08.2019 - 02.2020
Director of Catering
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
10.2018 - 08.2019
Operations Manager
Bon Appétit Management Company - Compass Group
08.2017 - 10.2018
Master of Science - Hospitality And Tourism Management
Purdue University
Bachelor of Science - Physical Education Teaching And Coaching
Biola University
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