Director, Retail Operations - Rochester, NY

Panera LLC; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 119,634 - 143,561; Full time

Job summary

Panera LLC is seeking a Director, Retail Operations responsible for executing world-class operational standards in bakery-cafes across Missouri. You will create strategies to drive profitability, coach café management, and ensure compliance with standards and laws.

The role demands strong leadership, excellent communication, and the ability to inspire high-performing teams. Candidates should possess multi-unit experience and be proficient in Microsoft Office.

Compensation ranges from $119,634 to $143,561 based on experience and skills.

Qualifications

• Multi-unit experience preferred.
• Excellent communication skills to influence others.
• Self-motivated and able to manage a market-wide calendar.

Responsibilities

• Create strategy for market operations and achieve business goals.
• Coach and develop café management teams.
• Ensure compliance with operational standards and laws.

Skills

Business understanding

Excellent communication

Leadership and coaching

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Some college education or certification

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, 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.
• 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

Acts like an owner, defines vision and purpose, unlocks potential, builds trust, collaborates, and 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 able to plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market‑wide calendar.
• Ability to build high performing teams through selection, coaching and development and has strong coaching skills to continuously develop a team of managers.
• 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, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), internet-based and 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.

Compensation

$119,634 - $143,561. 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 on the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.