Regional Area Leader - Multi-Unit QSR Growth & Coaching

El Pollo Loco; Gardena, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with match

Life Insurance

Employee Discounts

Job summary

El Pollo Loco is seeking an Area Leader to oversee operations of multiple restaurants in Southern California. You will hire, train, and coach General Managers and leadership teams, while driving budgets, KPIs, and customer satisfaction across the district.

The role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to travel locally; a BA/BS is preferred and QSR experience is highly valued. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and career growth in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; BA/BS degree preferred.
• Five or more years of General Management experience; three or more years in QSR as Area Leader or District Manager preferred.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, lead, coach, develop, and mentor restaurant leadership teams including GMs, AMs, and SLs.
• Provide ongoing coaching to ensure all team members meet or exceed expectations.
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment within the area.
• Maintain operational standards and compliance, including employment laws, food safety, and safety policies; manage annual budgets for each restaurant.
• Monitor KPIs and provide timely feedback to leadership; drive corrective actions.
• Control area costs through inventory management, labor scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with GMs on strategic cost reduction, sales growth, and profit optimization.
• Conduct regular meetings and site visits to ensure training, scheduling, performance, inventory, and safety standards.
• Preserve brand integrity of facilities and resolve escalated customer complaints promptly.
• Work with People Services to resolve conflicts and employee relations issues.
• Coordinate with Operations, Training, and Marketing to execute regional promotions and trends.
• Stay informed on industry trends to guide decisions.
• Communicate effectively with internal and external partners; manage time-sensitive requests.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Team development

Budget management

KPIs analysis

Financial reporting

Decision making

Communication

Time management

Travel

Education

High school diploma or GED

BA/BS degree preferred

5+ years General Management experience

3+ years QSR Area Leader/DM experience

Job description

El Pollo Loco is seeking an Area Leader to oversee operations of multiple restaurants in Southern California. You will hire, train, and coach General Managers and leadership teams, while driving budgets, KPIs, and customer satisfaction across the district.

The role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, and the ability to travel locally; a BA/BS is preferred and QSR experience is highly valued. We offer competitive pay, benefits, and career growth in a fast-paced environment.