Director of Restaurant Operations

GOLD STAR; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

GSR Brands, home to Gold Star and Tom & Chee, seeks an experienced Director of Restaurant Operations to lead performance across company-owned and franchised locations. You will drive sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction while upholding brand standards and the Service Promise.

The role requires building strong franchise partnerships, developing leaders, and balancing accountability with a people-first, collaborative leadership style. Local Cincinnati candidates only.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressive restaurant operations experience, including multi-unit leadership.
• Direct experience with multi-unit franchised organizations is required.
• Proven track record of improving profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational performance.
• Strong financial acumen including P&L, budgeting, labor, and cost controls.

Responsibilities

• Oversee performance of company-owned and franchised locations to drive sales and guest satisfaction.
• Strengthen franchise partnerships and ensure brand standards are followed.
• Develop Leaders by coaching District Managers and restaurant leadership teams.
• Monitor financial metrics and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Lead hospitality initiatives and ensure consistent execution of the Service Promise.

Skills

Multi-unit leadership

Franchise operations

P&L management

Travel readiness

People leadership

Hospitality standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Hospitality

Job description

Description

Local candidates only. This position requires an onsite presence in Cincinnati, Ohio. Remote or hybrid candidates will not be considered.

Who We Are

At GSR Brands, home to Gold Star and Tom & Chee, we believe great results come from great people. Our culture is built on genuine hospitality, strong relationships, and a commitment to making people feel like family.

Our four core values guide everything we do:

• Respect: Accepting others even when they differ from you.
• Integrity: Being open and honest, having the courage to always do the right thing.
• Passion: Loving what we do, and it shows in our attitude and work.
• Trust: The result of living our values, allowing us to confidently walk forward together.

We're proud of our collaborative, people-first culture, where leaders are approachable, ideas are valued, and everyone plays a role in our success. We look forward to share our Service Promise, "We got you," it isn't just something we say. It's how we lead, serve, and do business.

About the Opportunity

We're seeking an experienced, hands-on Director of Restaurant Operations to lead operational excellence across our company-owned and franchised restaurant locations.

This individual will drive restaurant performance, strengthen franchise partnerships, develop field leadership, and ensure consistent execution of our brand standards and Service Promise.

We need a leader who understands the operational and financial realities of running restaurants, knows how to build successful franchise relationships, and can balance accountability with a collaborative, people-focused leadership style.

What You'll Do

• Lead Restaurant Operations: Oversee company-owned and franchised restaurant performance, driving sales, profitability, operational consistency, and guest satisfaction.
• Strengthen Franchise Partnerships: Build trusted relationships with franchise owners, provide operational guidance, and ensure adherence to brand standards.
• Develop Leaders: Coach and lead District Managers, Franchise Business Consultants, and restaurant leadership teams while building accountability and developing talent.
• Drive Financial Performance: Monitor P&Ls, labor, food costs, sales, and operating metrics to identify opportunities and improve restaurant profitability.
• Champion Our Service Promise: Lead hospitality initiatives, guest experience improvements, and consistent execution of our commitment to making people feel like family.
• Maintain Brand Standards: Oversee operational systems, food safety, quality, compliance, and consistent execution across the restaurant system.
• Support Growth & Innovation: Lead operational aspects of new restaurant openings, menu launches, technology implementations, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate Across the Business: Partner with executive leadership, Marketing, HR, Training, Finance, and franchise partners to execute strategic initiatives and achieve business objectives.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of progressive restaurant operations experience, including multi-unit leadership.
• Direct experience working for multi-unit restaurant franchised organization is required.
• Previous experience as a Director of Operations, Regional Director, Area Director, or comparable multi-unit restaurant leader.
• Proven success improving restaurant profitability, operational performance, and guest satisfaction.
• Strong understanding of franchise relationships, brand compliance, and franchise operational support.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop restaurant and field operations teams.
• Strong financial acumen, including restaurant P&L management, budgeting, labor, and cost controls.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to travel regularly to company-owned and franchised restaurant locations.
• Must currently reside within commuting distance of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Preferred Qualifications

• Quick-service or fast-casual restaurant leadership experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
• Experience with franchise development and new restaurant openings.
• ServSafe certification.

At GSR Brands, you'll be part of a leadership team that believes in doing the right thing, investing in people, and celebrating success together.

We offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and a supportive culture where work-life balance matters.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact across two established restaurant brands, help shape the future of our operations, and work alongside people who genuinely care about one another.

If you're a results-driven restaurant leader who leads with integrity, builds relationships through trust, and brings passion to everything you do, we'd love to hear from you.

GSR Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer.