District Manager

Talently; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Talently seeks a District Manager to oversee a portfolio of high-volume quick-service restaurants in the Columbus, OH market. The role focuses on coaching Restaurant General Managers, driving sales, profitability and guest satisfaction while ensuring brand standards and operational excellence across multiple locations.

The candidate will lead a hands-on district, cultivate talent through succession planning, and partner with senior leadership on strategic initiatives to sustain growth and

Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple restaurant locations with coaching of General Managers.
• Strong grasp of P&L, labor and food cost management, and operational metrics.
• Ability to recruit, develop and retain high-performing management teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop 5-7 Restaurant General Managers to achieve objectives.
• Drive sales growth, profitability, and financial performance across locations.
• Analyze P&L, labor and food costs to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ensure brand standards, food quality, service, cleanliness, and safety.
• Conduct regular visits to evaluate performance and provide coaching.
• Recruit, hire, train, and retain high-performing General Managers and teams.
• Build leadership pipeline through succession planning and development.
• Improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and foster a high-performance culture.
• Partner with General Managers to improve sales, guest satisfaction, and profitability.
• Monitor staffing levels and assist with recruiting to keep restaurants staffed.
• Resolve operational, staffing, and guest-service challenges promptly.
• Ensure compliance with policies, health dept. regulations, labor laws, and safety.
• Collaborate with senior leadership on strategic initiatives and programs.
• Lead district meetings and provide ongoing communication and feedback.

Skills

Multi-Unit Leadership

Financial & Operational Management

People Development & Talent Leadership

Job description

About Company / Opportunity

Our client is a rapidly growing, multi-unit restaurant franchise organization operating dozens of locations across multiple Midwestern states. With a strong reputation for operational excellence, people development, and community engagement, the company is committed to delivering an exceptional guest experience while investing in the long-term success of its employees. Backed by an experienced leadership team and a culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement, the organization offers significant opportunities for career growth and advancement for high-performing leaders.

Our client is seeking an experienced District Manager to oversee a portfolio of high-volume quick-service restaurants throughout the Columbus, Ohio market. This role is responsible for leading Restaurant General Managers, driving operational consistency, improving financial performance, and creating an exceptional guest experience across multiple locations.

The District Manager will partner closely with restaurant leadership to coach and develop teams, strengthen talent pipelines, and ensure each location consistently achieves company goals for sales, profitability, food quality, service, and operational execution. Success in this role requires a hands-on leader who is highly visible in the restaurants, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys mentoring others while holding teams accountable for results.

This is an excellent opportunity for a proven multi-unit operator who is passionate about developing people, building winning teams, and making a measurable impact on a growing restaurant organization throughout the Columbus market.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop 5-7 Restaurant General Managers to achieve operational excellence and business objectives.
• Drive sales growth, profitability, and overall financial performance across multiple restaurant locations.
• Analyze P&L statements, labor costs, food costs, and other key performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure consistent execution of brand standards, food quality, service, cleanliness, and food safety across all restaurants.
• Conduct regular restaurant visits to evaluate performance, provide coaching, and ensure operational compliance.
• Recruit, hire, train, and retain high-performing General Managers and management teams.
• Build a strong leadership pipeline through succession planning and ongoing talent development.
• Improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and foster a positive, high-performance culture.
• Partner with General Managers to develop action plans that improve sales, guest satisfaction, and profitability.
• Monitor staffing levels and assist with recruiting efforts to ensure restaurants remain fully staffed.
• Resolve complex operational, staffing, and guest service challenges in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, health department regulations, labor laws, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with senior leadership to execute strategic initiatives, new programs, and operational improvements.
• Lead district meetings and provide ongoing communication, recognition, and performance feedback to restaurant leadership teams.
• Serve as a visible, hands-on leader who supports restaurant teams while driving accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across the district.
  

Must-Have Skills

• Multi-Unit Leadership - Proven experience leading multiple restaurant locations while coaching and developing Restaurant General Managers to consistently achieve operational and financial goals.
• Financial & Operational Management - Strong understanding of P&L management, labor optimization, food cost control, and operational metrics, with a demonstrated ability to improve sales, profitability, and overall restaurant performance.
• People Development & Talent Leadership - Exceptional ability to recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing management teams while building a strong succession pipeline and fostering a culture of accountability and engagement.

Nice to Have Skills

• Franchise Restaurant Experience - Experience working within a franchise restaurant environment, with a strong understanding of brand standards, operational compliance, and franchise business models.
• High-Volume QSR Operations - Proven success leading high-volume quick-service or fast-casual restaurants, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Change Management & Continuous Improvement - Experience leading operational improvements, implementing new initiatives, and successfully navigating organizational change while driving team engagement and performance.