Regional Operations Manager

Houchens Food Group; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Houchens Industries is seeking a Regional Operations Manager for a designated Kentucky region. You will lead day-to-day store performance, drive best practices in operations, and ensure compliance with all regulations.

You will partner with Store Managers and district leaders to close gaps and execute strategic initiatives. You will oversee payroll, labor budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling while guiding remodels, new store openings, and acquisitions to on-time, on-budget completion.

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in grocery or multi-unit retail operations.
• Strong payroll and labor budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling capability.
• Experience with remodels, new store openings, or acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day regional operational performance across grocery stores.
• Drive store operations, merchandising, food safety, shrink control, and service.
• Analyze KPIs and implement corrective action plans.
• Partner with Store Managers and leaders to close performance gaps.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Oversee payroll management, forecasting, and scheduling effectiveness.
• Collaborate on remodels, openings, and acquisitions with cross-functional teams.
• Lead operational readiness for new openings and integrations of acquired stores.
• Mentor Store Managers and regional leadership; support hiring and development.
• Support regional P&L, manage expenses, labor, shrink, and efficiencies.
• Prepare reports for RVP and senior leadership; act as liaison with corporate support.

Skills

Store operations management

Payroll & labor management

Remodels & openings

P&L awareness

Leadership & coaching

Travel capable

Job description

• Lead day-to-day operational performance across a designated region of grocery stores, ensuring adherence to company standards, policies, and procedures.
• Drive operational effectiveness through consistent execution of best practices in store operations, merchandising, food safety, shrink control, and customer service.
• Analyze KPIs (sales, margin, shrink, labor, inventory turns, customer satisfaction) and implement action plans to improve results.
• Partner with Store Managers and District/Area Leaders to identify performance gaps and develop corrective strategies.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including labor laws, health codes, and safety standards.
• Payroll & Labor Management
• Oversee regional payroll management, including labor budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing and compliance with wage-and-hour regulations.
• Identify opportunities to optimize labor productivity while maintaining service standards.
• Coach store leadership teams on effective labor planning and payroll controls
• Remodels, New Stores & Acquisitions
• Support store remodel projects, working cross-functionally with construction, merchandising, IT, and operations teams to ensure on-time and on-budget execution.
• Lead operational readiness for new store openings, including staffing, training, systems setup, and pre-/post-opening support.
• Assist with the integration of acquired stores, ensuring smooth operational transitions, cultural alignment, and adoption of company systems and standards.
• Conduct post-remodel, new store, and acquisition reviews to assess performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Assist the RVP in developing and executing regional operational strategies.
• Serve as a coach and mentor to Store Managers and regional leadership, building a strong bench of talent.
• Participate in hiring, performance management, succession planning, and development of high-potential leaders.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Financial & Business Management
• Support regional P&L performance through expense control, labor optimization, shrink reduction, and operational efficiencies.
• Collaborate with merchandising and supply chain teams to improve in-stock levels, inventory accuracy, and sales execution.
• Prepare operational reports and recommendations for the RVP and senior leadership.
• Act as a key liaison between store operations and corporate support teams.
• Communicate company initiatives clearly and ensure consistent execution across the region.
• Support change management efforts related to new systems, processes, or organizational initiatives.

Description

• Operational Leadership & Effectiveness
• Lead day-to-day operational performance across a designated region of grocery stores, ensuring adherence to company standards, policies, and procedures.
• Drive operational effectiveness through consistent execution of best practices in store operations, merchandising, food safety, shrink control, and customer service.
• Analyze KPIs (sales, margin, shrink, labor, inventory turns, customer satisfaction) and implement action plans to improve results.
• Partner with Store Managers and District/Area Leaders to identify performance gaps and develop corrective strategies.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, including labor laws, health codes, and safety standards.
• Payroll & Labor Management
• Oversee regional payroll management, including labor budgeting, forecasting, and scheduling effectiveness.
• Ensure accurate payroll processing and compliance with wage-and-hour regulations.
• Identify opportunities to optimize labor productivity while maintaining service standards.
• Coach store leadership teams on effective labor planning and payroll controls
• Remodels, New Stores & Acquisitions
• Support store remodel projects, working cross-functionally with construction, merchandising, IT, and operations teams to ensure on-time and on-budget execution.
• Lead operational readiness for new store openings, including staffing, training, systems setup, and pre-/post-opening support.
• Assist with the integration of acquired stores, ensuring smooth operational transitions, cultural alignment, and adoption of company systems and standards.
• Conduct post-remodel, new store, and acquisition reviews to assess performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Assist the RVP in developing and executing regional operational strategies.
• Serve as a coach and mentor to Store Managers and regional leadership, building a strong bench of talent.
• Participate in hiring, performance management, succession planning, and development of high-potential leaders.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Financial & Business Management
• Support regional P&L performance through expense control, labor optimization, shrink reduction, and operational efficiencies.
• Collaborate with merchandising and supply chain teams to improve in-stock levels, inventory accuracy, and sales execution.
• Prepare operational reports and recommendations for the RVP and senior leadership.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Act as a key liaison between store operations and corporate support teams.
• Communicate company initiatives clearly and ensure consistent execution across the region.
• Support change management efforts related to new systems, processes, or organizational initiatives.

Qualifications

• Multi-unit and Store Manager Operations Management preferred.
• Progressive leadership experience in grocery or multi-unit retail operations.
• Demonstrated experience in payroll and labor management, including budgeting and compliance.
• Proven track record supporting remodels, new store openings, and/or acquisitions.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing operational KPIs and P&L drivers.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel within the region.

Competencies

• Strategic and operational thinking
• Data-driven decision making
• Change leadership
• Cross-functional collaboration
• High level of integrity and accountability

Work Environment

• Combination of store, office, and field-based work.
• Frequent travel within the assigned region.
• Flexible schedule to support business needs, including occasional nights and weekends.

Houchens Industries is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.