Director of Operations – Fast-Casual Restaurant

Location: Ohio Region

Compensation: Competitive Base Salary + Performance Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits

About the Opportunity

We're partnering with a rapidly growing, industry-leading fast-casual restaurant brand to identify an exceptional Director of Operations to lead one of its highest-performing regions.

This executive leadership role oversees approximately 20–30 restaurant locations through a team of 3–4 Area Directors, providing strategic direction, developing multi-unit leaders, and driving operational and financial excellence across the region.

If you're a proven restaurant operations leader who enjoys building high-performing teams, developing future leaders, and creating a culture of accountability and guest-focused execution, this is an outstanding opportunity to make a significant impact while advancing your career with a premier restaurant organization.

What You'll Do

Lead Regional Operations

• Provide strategic leadership for approximately 20–30 restaurant locations throughout the Ohio region.
• Directly coach, mentor, and develop 3–4 Area Directors while supporting the success of their General Managers and restaurant leadership teams.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and operational consistency across the region.
• Conduct regular restaurant visits to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and support field leadership.

Develop Great Leaders

• Build and strengthen a leadership pipeline through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
• Partner with Area Directors to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing General Managers.
• Foster a culture built on teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Ensure every restaurant consistently executes brand standards, operating systems, and company initiatives.
• Improve sales, profitability, guest satisfaction, food quality, and team engagement through disciplined operational execution.
• Lead successful new restaurant openings by supporting staffing, training, operational readiness, and leadership development.

Deliver Financial Results

• Own regional performance across sales, profitability, labor, food cost, and controllable expenses.
• Analyze P&L statements, key performance indicators, and operational metrics to identify trends and drive continuous improvement.
• Develop action plans that maximize restaurant performance while achieving regional financial objectives.

Champion the Guest Experience

• Promote a guest-first culture across every restaurant.
• Ensure consistent execution of hospitality, food quality, cleanliness, and service standards.
• Partner with field leadership to resolve operational challenges and continuously improve the guest experience.

Support Growth & Strategic Initiatives

• Partner with executive leadership to execute regional growth strategies and market expansion plans.
• Prepare leadership teams to support new restaurant openings and future development.
• Lead company-wide initiatives while ensuring consistent execution throughout the region.

Ensure Compliance & Safety

• Maintain compliance with company policies, food safety standards, health regulations, and employment practices.
• Conduct operational reviews and hold field leaders accountable for execution and performance.
• Promote a safe environment for both team members and guests.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of progressive multi-unit restaurant operations leadership experience.
• Proven experience leading Area Directors, District Managers, Area Managers, or other multi-unit leaders.
• Experience overseeing a large geographic region within a fast-casual, QSR, or multi-unit restaurant organization.
• Demonstrated success improving operational performance, sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction across multiple locations.
• Experience supporting new restaurant openings, market expansion, and leadership development.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L management, budgeting, labor management, and cost controls.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and restaurant operations systems.
• Willingness to travel extensively throughout the assigned region.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Performance-based bonus opportunity.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid Time Off and sick leave.
• Strong work-life balance.
• Ongoing leadership development and executive support.
• Significant advancement opportunities with a rapidly growing restaurant brand.
• Collaborative, people-first culture focused on developing exceptional leaders.