Director, Retail Operations- Milwaukee, WI

Panera LLC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 112,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Panera LLC in Milwaukee, WI seeks a Director, Retail Operations to translate brand objectives into cafe performance. You will lead market strategy, develop leaders, and deliver guest experiences that build loyalty and drive profit growth.

The role requires coaching teams, cross-functional collaboration, and safeguarding Panera standards across the market. Key expectations include creating market vision, driving execution, and maintaining an inclusive work environment while managing long hours

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and can influence others through clear messaging.
• Strong understanding of business outcomes: sales drivers, profit drivers, and reading P&L/financial reports.
• Self-motivated with ability to plan, prioritize, schedule and manage a market-wide calendar.
• Able to build high performing teams through selection, coaching and development.
• Motivational leader who inspires teams and ensures accountability at various levels.

Responsibilities

• Create the strategy and vision for the market to execute Panera standards for guest service, profitability, growth, food quality, safety, and people development.
• Coach, develop, and hold cafe management teams accountable for executing standards and processes.
• Communicate priorities and serve as a subject matter expert on Panera operating systems across the market.
• Partner cross-functionally with market and region support to drive market results and channel execution.
• Ensure cafe management teams instill brand identity and purpose, maintaining an inclusive work environment.

Skills

Communication

Financial literacy

Multi-unit experience

Coaching

Work ethic

Education

Some college education/certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Director, Retail Operations- Milwaukee, WI 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 creates 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, market-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.
• Ensure 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
• Collaborates
• Delivers 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.

Competitive Pay: $111,808- $134,169 The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

Saint Louis Support Center With more than 2,000 Panera LLC and independent franchise bakery‑cafes in the Panera Bread® family, and more locations opening all the time, it’s no wonder our company has been an excellent source of career and personal growth opportunities for more than 25 years. In neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada, customers enjoy flavorful, handcrafted meals centered around freshly baked artisan bread. To us, that means serving food like we serve our own families – free of any of the items on our ‘No No’ List. Along the way, we also like to give back to our community. We enjoy working together, shoulder to shoulder with our customers, to confront a serious problem plaguing communities across this country – Hunger. Through our Panera Cares community cafes, we offer a dignified dining experience in an uplifting environment. In addition, we support our communities through day‑end donations at our bakery‑cafe locations and partner with local non‑profit organizations. It’s this warmth that you’ll find when you join Panera Bread. From our competitive compensation and benefits packages to our unique cultural values, we’re confident you’ll find us a rewarding and fun place to work.