Area Operations Leader for 5+ Stores

Blank Street, Inc.; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Blank Street, Inc. is seeking an Operations Manager to lead an area of 5+ stores, shepherding General Managers and driving exceptional hospitality and performance. You’ll own the PnL, guide staffing plans, and push for continuous improvement across the market.

You will recruit, coach, and develop GMs into confident leaders, align store initiatives with HQ strategy, and ensure the team delivers an outstanding guest and employee experience while hitting growth targets.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of leadership experience in hospitality, retail, or a fast-growing consumer business.
• Experience leading multiple locations (3–10) and developing managers.
• Passionate about hospitality and creating exceptional customer and employee experiences.
• Strong operational and financial judgement; you read the data (P&L, KPI dashboards) and know what to do next.

Responsibilities

• Coach GMs to maintain hospitality standards across stores.
• Audit standards via visits and data; hold GMs accountable.
• Turn around underperforming stores and launch new ones.
• Plan demand and translate HQ forecasts to store level; inform GMs.
• Build labor plans including headcount and rotas.
• Calibrate inventory to forecast demand with guardrails.
• Develop GMs into future leaders through training and feedback.
• Own the talent pipeline with quarterly succession targets.
• Foster an area-wide culture of teamwork and accountability.
• Know KPIs and PnL; set priorities weekly and quarterly.
• Roll out new initiatives across the area and ensure adoption.

Skills

Leadership

Hospitality

People management

Strategic planning

Communication

Job description

Blank Street, Inc. is seeking an Operations Manager to lead an area of 5+ stores, shepherding General Managers and driving exceptional hospitality and performance. You’ll own the PnL, guide staffing plans, and push for continuous improvement across the market.

You will recruit, coach, and develop GMs into confident leaders, align store initiatives with HQ strategy, and ensure the team delivers an outstanding guest and employee experience while hitting growth targets.