Director, Retail Operations

Panera Bread; United States; On-site; USD 112,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Panera Bread is seeking a Director, Retail Operations to drive world-class execution across bakery-cafes. This owner‑type leader develops other leaders, delivers exceptional guest experiences, and grows sales and profits by translating brand objectives into market results.

The role emphasizes strategic market planning, coaching multi‑unit cafe teams, ensuring brand standards and safety, and collaborating with Operations, HR and business development to win in the market.

Qualifications

• Multi-unit management experience or related experience preferred.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence others.
• Self-motivated with ability to plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market-wide calendar.
• Ability to build high performing teams through coaching and development.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Willingness to work long and unusual hours.

Responsibilities

• Create the strategy and vision for the market to execute Panera standards for guest service and profitability.
• Coach cafe management teams to achieve standards and processes.
• Be SME of Panera’s operating systems and apply them market‑wide.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with market and region support to drive results.
• Ensure processes and behaviors align with brand identity and market goals.
• Support cafes to deliver market goals and protect brand.

Skills

Multi-unit management

Leadership development

Strong communication

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Some college/related experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Purpose

Director, Retail Operations is responsible for delivering world class execution of Panera operational expectations in the bakery-cafes by translating brand objectives to cafes and associates. This means acting like an owner as well as leading and developing leaders to deliver great experiences to associates and guests in a way that builds trust that creates loyalty with our team members and guests and creating value in the market through growing sales and delivering profit growth.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Business Understanding, Strategic Planning and Execution : Responsible for creating the strategy and vision for the market to achieve the execution of all Panera standards for guest service, marked-wide operating systems, profitability, new unit growth, food quality and safety, and people development.
• Responsible for achieving key business results and growing the business through coaching, development, and accountability of cafe management teams for the execution against these standards and processes.
• Effectively understands, applies, and communicates the business’ priorities, and is considered an SME of Panera’s operating systems, and the application throughout the market.
• Responsible for and the champion for achieving results through collaboration, communication, and implementation and sustained management of all new products, processes, and programs.
• A proactive partner, working cross-functionally with market and region-level support (Operations, HR, business development, etc.) creating discipline around channel execution by providing resources and supporting cafes that ultimately drive business results.
• Ensures that the right processes and behaviors are practiced by each cafe’s management team to deliver on the market’s established goals and to protect Panera’s brand identity and purpose.

People Development :

• Responsible for unlocking and building the capabilities and performance of cafe management teams demonstrated through Panera’s Guiding Values and our people practices. These consist of recruitment, selection, DE&I, compensation, development/training, performance management and coaching, as well as succession planning.
• Creates the market’s People strategy and maintains a pipeline of talent to support the growth and talent needs within the market, to continually elevate employee performance and capability.

Brand Protection & Validation :

• Responsible for ensuring the cafes comply with all established operational standards, policies, and federal and state employment laws, around employment and food and workplace safety.
• Ensures cafes foster and maintain an inclusive and engaging work environment where every associate can show up authentically, free of discrimination and harassment.

Top Leadership competencies for this role

• Acts like an owner
• Defines vision and purpose
• Unlocks Potential
• Builds trust
• CollaboratesDelivers results

Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Multi-unit experience or related experience preferred, but not required.
• Some college education/certification or related experience preferred, but not required.
• Firm understanding of business outcomes (sales drivers, profit drivers, reading P&L and financial reports).
• Excellent communication skills and can leverage these skills to influence others.
• Self-motivated and can plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market-wide calendar.
• Has the ability to build high performing teams through selection, coaching and development and has strong coaching skills to continuously develop a team of managers.
• Is motivational and can inspire teams to perform at a high level, create role clarity and hold leaders at different organization levels accountable.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Work, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), internet-based and complete other basic computer functions.
• Must have a strong work ethic, with the ability to work long and unusual hours.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Up to 95% travel within the market and some overnight travel for cafe visits based on market geography and for company meetings. Other out-of-market travel for business needs may be required.
• This position requires a mix of walking/standing during long periods while on cafe visits (including the lifting of heavy items or boxes), some desk/office administrative work, as well as commuting between cafe locations.

Additional Description :

Competitive Pay: $111,808- $134,169

At Panera, we strive to create a healthier and happier world. We do this by running best-in-class operations guided by tried-and-true restaurant practices and that is always striving to innovate for our guests and our associates.