Manager, Strategic Operations (Dual Brands)

Dine Brands International; Pasadena (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Dine Brands Global, Inc. seeks an experienced operations professional to lead dual-brand launches and conversions for Applebee’s and IHOP.

You will drive cross-functional initiatives, validate readiness, and ensure deployments with brand teams, technology partners, and vendors to optimize guest experience and performance. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Operations, you will manage complex projects, provide actionable analytics, and support multiple concurrent initiatives across POS, KDS,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 3–6+ years of experience in operations, project management, analytics, or restaurant technology.
• Experience in restaurant or multi-unit environments preferred.
• Working knowledge of POS, KDS, and integrated restaurant technologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word (MS Project a plus).
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence without direct authority.

Responsibilities

• Manages projects with varying degrees of complexity, definition and risk.
• Leads cross-functional initiatives from inception through testing and implementation.
• Develop implementation plans, timelines, checklists, and operational requirements.
• Validate restaurant readiness, including menus, system configurations, and workflows prior to launch.
• Partner with brand teams, Operations, Technology, Training, Marketing, and vendors to ensure successful deployments.
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to operators and field leadership.
• Support system configuration, menu publishing, integrations, and readiness validation.
• Participate in testing, release validation, and deployment of platform updates.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

MS Project

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder management

Multi-priority management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality, or related field

Tools

POS

KDS

Restaurant technologies

Job description

Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries and franchisees, supports and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, IHOP®, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® brands. As of December 28, 2025, these three brands consisted of over 3,500 restaurants across 20 international markets. Dine Brands is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world and in 2022 expanded into the Fast Casual segment. For more information on Dine Brands, visit the Company’s website located at www.dinebrands.com.

Job Location Type Hybrid - Reporting to the Director of Strategic Operations, this role is responsible for providing operational insight, recommendations, and directions for the dual-brand Applebee’s & IHOP concept. This role serves as the primary operational lead for new restaurant openings, ownership transitions, and conversions. In partnership with brand teams, internal stakeholders, and external vendors, this position acts as the subject matter expert for systems, integrations, and workflows, ensuring accurate, stable, and efficient operations. Work with all levels of internal and external leadership, leading teams and ensuring all programs and initiatives are complete and prepared for implementation, execution, operational integration, resulting in driving overall performance.

Responsibilities:

• Manages projects with varying degrees of complexity, definition and risk
• Leads cross-functional initiatives from inception through testing and implementation
• Develop implementation plans, timelines, checklists, and operational requirements
• Validate restaurant readiness, including menus, system configurations, and workflows prior to launch
• Partner with brand teams, Operations, Technology, Training, Marketing, and vendors to ensure successful deployments
• Identify opportunities to improve sales, order accuracy, execution, and guest experience
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to operators and field leadership
• Support system configuration, menu publishing, integrations, and readiness validation
• Participate in testing, release validation, and deployment of platform updates
• Partner with Technology, Menu Publishing, Olo, DSPs, and vendors to ensure accurate implementation with minimal disruption
• Maintain system documentation and operational standards
• Support rollout of new initiatives and enhancements
• Contribute to testing, pilots, and scaling efforts
• Document best practices, standards, and lessons learned
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve execution
• Support multiple concurrent projects and initiatives
• Leads cross functional team of subject matter experts; identifies resources required to meet the needs of the initiative; gains alignment from senior leaders on resource commitment
• Drives results through others by influencing, gaining alignment and effectively facilitating cross-functional activities

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 3–6+ years of experience in operations, project management, analytics, or restaurant technology
• Experience in restaurant or multi-unit environments preferred
• Working knowledge of POS, KDS, and integrated restaurant technologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word (MS Project a plus)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence without direct authority

Dine Brands Global strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act and/or other applicable laws and regulations in other jurisdictions.

Dine Brands reviews criminal history in connection with a conditional offer of employment.

The following is a list of all material job duties which Dine Brands reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: implement brand standards such as food safety at all restaurants for a uniform guest experience; physically inspect restaurant premises belonging to franchisees; and facilitate frequent and close interactions with franchisees, franchisee employees, guests, and other third parties.

Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries and franchisees, supports and operates restaurants under the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar®, IHOP®, and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® brands. As of December 28, 2025, these three brands consisted of over 3,500 restaurants across 20 international markets. Dine Brands is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world and in 2022 expanded into the Fast Casual segment. For more information on Dine Brands, visit the Company’s website located at www.dinebrands.com.