At wagamama, we’re an eating house for the soul. with over 160 uk restaurants and growing, our purpose is to nourish the world from bowl to soul. inspired by fast-paced, japanese ramen bars since 1992. a celebration of asian food brought wagamama to life
we’re looking for a engagement + wellbeing manager to join us on our continuous journey of true nourishment
the role |
as the engagement + wellbeing manager, you will be responsible for co-creating and driving our team engagement, wellbeing and recognition strategy across all of our sites taking into consideration what the different needs are from our back of house, front of house, management, noodle hq and cpu teams. these programmes should not only drive engagement in our teams but help wagamama stand out in hospitality for doing things different. you will appreciate + understand the needs of a multi-generational + diverse workforce creating a wellbeing approach that supports our people not just in work but in life.
you will work in close collaboration with business stakeholders to ensure that, the voice of our people is deep-rooted in everything that we do, we have a people experience we can be proud of that not only meets the needs of our diverse workforce but in turn leads to happier, more engaged, high-performing teams.
key accountabilities
engagement & retention strategies: develop and implement forward-thinking strategies to enhance team engagement, retention, and satisfaction, ensuring our people feel motivated and supported to deliver brilliant guest experiences
always-on listening strategy: design and implement an always on approach to listening that ensures teams have multiple 2 way channels to share feedback at any time. develop processes to analyse real-time data, identify trends, and inform decision-making to improve team experiences.
recognition programs: create and champion a structured, impactful approach to team recognition that celebrates achievements big and small, from excellent guest service to behind-the-scenes contributions. ensure recognition is accessible, meaningful, and embedded in our culture.
impactful wellbeing initiatives: lead the development of pioneering wellbeing strategies that challenge the status quo. design programs tailored to the unique challenges of wagamama, such as support for long shifts, mental health resources, and support for financial, physical, and emotional wellbeing.
team feedback mechanisms: drive effective listening systems such as surveys, forums, and digital tools to capture diverse perspectives. share insights with leadership and ensure a visible “you said, we did” process demonstrates meaningful action.
culture & inclusivity: work closely with the kaizen culture lead to ensure all activations promote inclusivity and reflect our values and people promise.
data-driven decisions: use data from surveys, restaurant visits, and other people metrics to identify actionable themes. collaborate with leadership to turn insights into targeted strategies that improve both team and wagamama outcomes.
communication & awareness: lead an effective internal communication strategy to raise awareness of engagement, wellbeing, and recognition initiatives, ensuring every team member knows they have a voice and feel valued.
build employer brand attraction: work closely with talent acquisition + employer brand manager to share our wellbeing and recognition approach externally helping to share the stories of our teams externally
what we look for |
* resilience and the ability to cope with a demanding work schedule: committed to delivering initiatives on time and to budget. clear in direction, and unrelenting in execution
* strong team leadership skills | can inspire, grow and develop their team as well as inspire their peers and colleagues to work in partnership with them. can orchestrate a team to plan and organise their workload
* strong facilitation + influencing skills | guiding others to achieve goals, fostering a culture of collaboration
* future/strategic thinking | able to see into the future, plan ahead and shape a plan and way of working that others can sign up to and want to be part of
* strong networker | can tap into internal and external networks that will allow them to learn, grow, prompt thinking and support their objectives and accountabilities
* data + insight skills | ability to capture and use data for story telling + build business cases for change and budget allocation
our perks + quirks |
* a competitive annual salary
* discretionary 20% bonus opportunity per year
* wagamama food allowance
* private healthcare
* pension contribution
* 25 days holiday + all bank holidays
* various discount across retail, hospitality + leisure
* internal progression opportunities | fully funded apprenticeship programmes to support your growth
* kintsugi wellness | access to councillors, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym + leisure
* family friendly policy | any expectant person or anyone adopting a child will receive 26 weeks full pay + 13 weeks half pay
* financial wellbeing support | access to loans repaid through your salary for those ‘strapped for cash’ moments in life
the wagamama way |
kaizen, meaning ‘good change’, is the philosophy that sits at the core of who we are. it shapes every dish we create and pushes us to find better ways in all we do. our food, how we think, how we work, it has to be fresh. committed to championing change in both our communities + the impact on the planet
three whole decades of acting different, we don’t conform, we celebrate difference. appreciating personality over perfection. welcoming everyone and their unique story to our benches. we promise to have your back. working together to build close bonds of trust + support. creating safe spaces where we can have real conversations with open hearts + open minds
all we ask is for you to dish up what makes you different
be you, be wagamama
wagamama is proudly part of disability confident