Chief Operating Officer - Restaurants

Leap Brands; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Leap Brands is seeking a transformational Chief Operating Officer to lead growth across its restaurant portfolio, building the infrastructure, leadership team, and operating disciplines required to scale a high-performing organization.

Reporting to the CEO, the COO will drive multi-unit operations, profitability, and guest experience, develop regional leadership, and partner with investors to execute aggressive expansion while maintaining brand standards and culture.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of multi-unit restaurant leadership experience.
• Experience leading regional or national restaurant operations.
• Proven success scaling restaurant brands through periods of significant growth.
• Strong financial acumen with deep understanding of restaurant P&Ls.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing leadership teams.
• Experience partnering with private equity, founders, or growth-oriented ownership groups is highly preferred.
• Comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all field operations across the restaurant portfolio.
• Develop and execute the company's operational growth strategy.
• Build and mentor Regional Directors, Directors of Operations, and field leadership teams.
• Drive same-store sales growth, profitability, labor optimization, and operational excellence.
• Improve systems, processes, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Partner closely with the CEO and executive team on long-term strategic initiatives.
• Create scalable operating procedures to support aggressive unit growth.
• Lead new restaurant openings, operational integrations, and market expansions.
• Champion culture, leadership development, and employee engagement across the organization.
• Utilize data and KPIs to identify opportunities and improve performance.
• Ensure consistent execution of brand standards and exceptional guest experiences.

Skills

Multi-unit leadership

Strategic growth

Financial acumen

Leadership teams

Communication skills

Job description

We are partnering with a rapidly growing restaurant group seeking a transformational Chief Operating Officer to help lead the next phase of growth. This executive will oversee all restaurant operations while building the infrastructure, leadership team, and operating disciplines necessary to scale a high-performing organization.

This is not a maintenance role. We're looking for a builder who thrives in growth environments, understands how to scale multi-unit operations, and can develop leaders while delivering exceptional financial performance and guest experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead all field operations across the restaurant portfolio.
• Develop and execute the company's operational growth strategy.
• Build and mentor Regional Directors, Directors of Operations, and field leadership teams.
• Drive same-store sales growth, profitability, labor optimization, and operational excellence.
• Improve systems, processes, and accountability throughout the organization.
• Partner closely with the CEO and executive team on long-term strategic initiatives.
• Create scalable operating procedures to support aggressive unit growth.
• Lead new restaurant openings, operational integrations, and market expansions.
• Champion culture, leadership development, and employee engagement across the organization.
• Utilize data and KPIs to identify opportunities and improve performance.
• Ensure consistent execution of brand standards and exceptional guest experiences.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of multi-unit restaurant leadership experience.
• Experience leading regional or national restaurant operations.
• Proven success scaling restaurant brands through periods of significant growth.
• Strong financial acumen with deep understanding of restaurant P&Ls.
• Demonstrated ability to build high-performing leadership teams.
• Experience partnering with private equity, founders, or growth-oriented ownership groups is highly preferred.
• Comfortable balancing strategy with hands-on execution.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.