Director of Airport Operations (Restaurants)

Areas; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Areas USA seeks a Director of Airport Operations to lead end-to-end airport operations, drive financial performance, and deliver exceptional guest experiences across multiple locations. The role emphasizes building a high-performance culture and developing future leaders while maintaining brand and food safety standards.

You will partner with senior leaders to optimize staffing, control budgets, and ensure compliance, while acting as a visible, strategic executive in daily airport activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in business, hospitality, or related field.
• Minimum 7+ years in upper management of food, beverage, and retail operations with multi-location experience.
• Strong financial acumen and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee airport operations to meet financial, guest service, and brand standards.
• Develop strategies to foster a best-in-class culture and leadership pipeline.
• Manage budgets and ensure payroll and scheduling align with financial targets.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Legal, HR, Loss Prevention, and Finance.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Financial analysis

Client relationship management

Communication

People development

Operations oversight

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Title: Director of Airport OperationsReports To: Regional Vice President of Airport OperationsStatus: ExemptDepartment: OperationsDate: May 2025Salary:Broad Functions: Lead and oversee airport operations business, focusing on deliveringexceptional results, building a great culture, developing future leaders, and maintaining strongclient relationships. Ensure the achievement of financial, operational, and guest serviceobjectives while fostering a best-in-class work environment.Main Duties and Responsibilities:1. Meet and exceed business unit expectations in financial performance, peoplemanagement, client satisfaction, and business partner relationships.2. Develop and implement strategies to create a best-in-class culture where team membersare valued, appreciated, and driven to provide an exceptional guest experience.3. Identify, mentor, and develop the area's future leaders, ensuring a strong leadershippipeline.4. Maintain the highest standards of food safety and brand compliance across all operations.5. Manage and optimize budgets to ensure financial targets are met or exceeded.6. Ensure strict adherence to brand standards across all locations.7. Serve as a visible and transparent leader in daily floor operations within the airport.8. Create and execute action plans to address retention, turnover, and overall employeesatisfaction.9. Collaborate with the Regional Vice President to develop and implement business strategiesaligned with organizational goals and objectives.10. Oversee staffing requirements and budget guidelines in conjunction with annual financialstatements.11. Ensure compliance with airport badging requirements through daily terminationnotifications.12. Optimize schedules and ensure payroll compliance across all operations while using theworkforce management tool.13. Work with team members to maintain high-quality storefronts and ensure timely storeopenings.14. Interface with Legal, Human Resources, Loss Prevention, Business Development,Finance, and other business units in the daily affairs of the operation.15. Act as a corporate representative for public relations activities as needed.Supervisory Responsibilities:1. Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team, including AssistantDirectors and Concept Managers.2. Set clear goals and hold team members accountable for delivering results.3. Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback to direct reports.4. Address and resolve associate relations matters promptly and effectively.Skills and Qualifications:1. Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, or related field. Master's degreea plus.2. 7+ years of experience in upper management of food, beverage, and retail operations,handling multiple locations (15+).3. Proven track record of successfully running a multi-million dollar business.4. Strong financial acumen and ability to analyze and optimize business performance.5. Excellent leadership skills with a focus on developing and motivating teams.6. Ability to create and maintain a positive, high-performance culture.7. Strong client relationship management skills.8. Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and relevant business software.9. Outstanding strategic planning and execution abilities.10. Excellent oral and written communication skills.11. Strong analytical skills for budget management, business analysis, and risk assessment.12. Exceptional time management, organization, and project management skills.13. Commitment to maintaining the highest standards of guest relations, diplomacy, andprofessionalism.Physical Demands:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by anassociate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentialfunctions.While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to stand for longperiods of time, use hands and fingers, communicate verbally, and hear. The associate isfrequently required to reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, taste, and smell. Theassociate is also occasionally required to walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and either lift ormove up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision,distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.EEOC Statement:We are an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability status, or veteran status.'