Operations Lead, Early Careers

Aramark; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Aramark's Operations Lead, Early Careers is based at our Philadelphia headquarters and focuses on operational execution and planning for MAP, Internship, and Drexel Co-Op programs. The role emphasizes process optimization, standardization, and scalable programs across recruiting and programming.

You will manage cross-functional workstreams, build reporting dashboards, coordinate events, and partner with HRIT on system needs.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in project management or operations roles with increasing planning scope.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, HR, Operations Management or related field.
• Experience building and managing systems (calendars, trackers, reporting) at scale.
• Ability to lead cross-functional work with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills and data-driven decisions.
• Excellent organization and attention to detail under tight deadlines.
• Ability to influence others without formal authority.
• Experience with data/reporting tools and translating data into recommendations.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint and project management tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operational planning across MAP, Internship and Co-Op programs, defining milestones and tracking dependencies.
• Own the master Early Careers calendar and timeline with an integrated view.
• Design and maintain scheduling infrastructure for Interview Day logistics and communications.
• Build and own reporting infrastructure across functions: trackers, surveys, dashboards.
• Design the communications calendar and process framework for recruiting and programming.
• Own Philadelphia-based Drexel Co-Op Program recruitment and management.
• Coordinate large events (e.g., MAP summit) including logistics and stakeholder coordination.
• Identify process gaps and design scalable solutions.
• Partner with HRIT on system/data needs as operational owner.
• Support budget tracking and expense management for Early Careers programs.
• Facilitate cross-functional sessions to align plan status.
• Surface operational risks with recommended solutions.
• Drive process optimization and standardization across programs.
• Provide strategic support on special projects and cross-program initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Operations planning

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, HR, Operations Management or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Description

The Operations Lead, Early Careers is responsible for operational execution and planning of Aramark's early career recruitment & programming: Management Accelerator Program (MAP), Aramark Internship Program and Drexel Co-Op Program. This role drives process optimization, standardization and scalability. The Operations Lead reports to the Director, Early Careers, providing strategic support for both recruiting and programming in cross-program initiatives, data management, and reporting. A person who will be well-prepared to succeed in this role will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to run multiple workstreams at once across a matrixed organization.
This position will report to the Director, Early Careers and is based in Aramark's Headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Limited travel may be required and is not expected to exceed 25% during peak times.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operational planning across MAP, Internship and Co-Op programs, for both Recruiting and Programming pillars. Build project plans, define milestones, track dependencies, flag risk, and drive on-time delivery, partnering with the Recruiting Lead and Programming Lead who own execution within their functions
• Own the master Early Careers calendar and timeline across Recruiting and Programming (fiscal calendar, program milestones, Interview Day windows, MAP summit dates, etc.), ensuring both functions are planning with one integrated view
• Design and maintain the scheduling infrastructure and process for Interview Day logistics (tools, templates, communications for interviewers/candidates, systems), building the system
• Recruiting uses to execute
• Build and own reporting infrastructure across both functions: demand planning trackers, candidate flow, survey/NPS instruments and analysis, program metrics, and dashboards that roll up to the Director and are shared with executive stakeholders
• Design the communications calendar and process framework for recruiting and programming communications (cadence, templates, approvals), partnering with functional leads on content
• Own Philadelphia-based Drexel Co-Op Program recruitment and management, driving consistency of experience across participants and managers
• Coordinate large events (e.g., MAP summit). Support timeline, logistics framework, stakeholder coordination, etc., partnering with Programming Lead on content and delivery
• Identify process gaps or inefficiencies across Recruiting and Programming and design standardized, scalable solutions
• Partner with HRIT on system and data needs (application/interview tooling, reporting integration) as the operational owner of those requirements
• Support budget tracking and expense management for Early Careers programs
• Facilitate cross-functional working sessions to keep Recruiting, Programming, and the Director aligned on plan status
• Surface operational risks to the Director with recommended solutions, before they become escalations
• Drive process optimization and standardization across programs to support scalability and expansion
• Provide strategic support to the Director on special projects, cross-program initiatives, and stakeholder updates

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years in project management or operations/event/logistics roles with increasing planning/ownership scope; TA or HR experience preferred but not required
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, HR, Operations Management or related field, or equivalent experience
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage systems (calendars, trackers, reporting) that help teams plan and deliver at scale
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional work with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills using analytics, judgment, and interpretation based on available information
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and ability to maintain quality under tight deadlines
• Strong ability to influence others without formal authority
• Experience with data/reporting tools and translating data into recommendations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) and project management tools
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while knowing when to escal ...?
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.