Senior Manager - Technology Operations, SONIC

Inspire; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Inspire seeks a Senior Manager, Technology Operations to define and execute the IT operations strategy for a large, distributed enterprise. You will lead multiple teams and partner with stakeholders to deliver reliable, scalable technology services across all brands.

The role requires extensive IT leadership, vendor management, budget governance, and the ability to translate business goals into actionable plans leveraging AI and modern technologies.

Qualifications

• Fifteen+ years IT experience preferred with leadership roles.
• Minimum 4-year degree; advanced technical knowledge in enterprise IT.
• Experience overseeing multi-team programs and vendors.
• Proven ability to translate business needs into operational requirements.
• Experience with AI technologies a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develops objectives and coaches teams to high performance.
• Manages multiple disciplines and collaborates on strategic direction.
• Improves processes using best practices and root-cause analysis.
• Leads cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders.
• Sets strategy, governs budgets, and aligns investments.
• Oversees vendor management and contract negotiations.
• Represents IT at enterprise level with credibility.
• Drives continual process improvements and scalable solutions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Vendor management

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Problem solving

Financial governance

AI awareness

Education

Bachelors degree in CS/IS

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Senior Manager, Technology Operations, Sonic is responsible for defining and executing the technology operations strategy for a large, distributed enterprise environment. This role leads multiple teams and partners closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure reliable, scalable, and high‑performing technology operations across the brand.

Responsibilities

• Develops, coaches and manages short-to-long term objectives for the team members under their supervision, ensuring high levels of performance success. This person is sought out by directs and indirect alike for their viewpoint on a multitude of topics both within and outside of their immediate domain.
• Independently manages multiple disciplines and business capabilities which may include individual contributors & multiple teams led by Managers and/or Senior Managers. Collaborates on the strategic direction and executes on operations of the departments.
• Improves entire processes or systems leveraging experiences and in-depth understanding of best practices. Extensively analyzes problems to seek understanding of the underlying issue and root cause of the problem.
• Deep management and leadership ability and knowledge to lead cross‑department project teams or manage across multiple job families. Develops and provides strategy, vision and direction to multiple functions. Frequently provides input to executive management.
• Works consistently with abstract ideas or situations across functional areas of the business. Through assessment of intangible variables and data, evaluates fundamental issues providing strategy and direction for multiple functional areas.
• Manages and understands multiple workstreams, initiatives, and issues at the same time. Has the ability to quickly review and assess high level problems and delegate to the appropriate people to solve.
• Establishes, develops and supports broader company strategy and translates into multi‑functional objectives.
• Consistently exhibits executive presence and credibility, confidently engaging with franchisees, operators, and senior leadership while representing IT at an enterprise level.
• Regularly interacts with executive leadership, and customers, requiring negotiation of extremely critical matters. Influences policy and strategy based on communication and persuasion skills. Partners with executive leadership team to provide cohesive direction towards company goals. Reconcile multiple stakeholder views to drive business results.
• Recognized as an influential thought leader and sought after as a contributor and decision maker for their views and expertise on a variety of issues both within and outside of their immediate domain
• Create and support a culture of continual process improvement, proposes new and innovative solutions to create improvements, leading with an attitude that starts with “yes”, with a focus on secure and scalable solutions, utilizing industry technology such as AI, throughout areas of responsibility.
• Leads multiple vendors in end‑to‑end vendor management, evolving the function from day‑to‑day operational support to a strategic capability that drives performance, risk management, cost optimization, and long‑term business value. Understands multiple key vendor contracts and agreements and negotiates with a strategic mindset that benefits the greater good for Inspire and franchisees, evaluating gains and tradeoffs.
• Takes ownership without direction and leads initiatives that otherwise may be delayed or fall thru the cracks. This person is empowered to take on challenges and see them to resolution – with little to no oversight.
• Leads financial strategy and governance across the area of responsibility, ensuring sustained budgetary alignment with organizational priorities. Oversees cost center ownership, develops and evaluates business cases, and directs capital and operational expenditure planning to optimize investment outcomes and fiscal performance.
• Design and evolve organizational structures that minimize operational friction and maximize speed‑to‑market, ensuring the alignment of human capital with long‑term strategic business objectives.

Education And Experience Qualifications

Preferred: 4-year-degree in computer science, information systems, or related field experience

Minimum: 4-year-degree

• Fifteen or more years of progressive, relevant IT experience
• Ten or more years of IT management experience
• Ten or more years overseeing collaborative programs with leadership, product managers, and vendors in support of complex technology initiatives that bear tangible results
• Seven to ten years of experience in a medium to large sized enterprise environment
• Expert knowledge of relevant applications and technical platforms.
• Expert experience with Microsoft Operating Systems and associated software such as Microsoft Office
• Familiarity of at least two other operating system such as iOS, Android, Linux etc.
• Expert knowledge with ITSM frameworks such as ITIL
• Expert knowledge in supporting multi-modal and geographical disparate locations
• Expert experience in building business and technical requirements
• Experience with AI technology.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Or Abilities

• Strong analytical skills, including a thorough understanding of how to interpret franchisee and end‑user business needs and translate them into operational requirements
• Demonstrated ability to work in a matrix environment
• Strong networking, relationship‑building, and influencing abilities
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization, including written and verbal communications
• Confident presenter in front of large groups of people both in‑person and over video conference
• Excellent problem‑solving ability
• Exceptional organization, communication skills, and attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines and make sound decisions based on data and stakeholder feedback
• Ability to work cross‑functionally within an organization.
• Expert in Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word
• Intimate understanding of technical specification documentation, integration best practices and services‑based architecture
• Establishes financial governance frameworks and investment strategies across multiple functions, ensuring capital and operating plans are aligned to enterprise priorities and performance targets.
• Sets enterprise vendor management strategy, aligning vendor portfolios with business priorities to maximize value, manage risk, and enable scalable, high‑performance partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to create and analyze financial data, design & evaluate ROI and total cost of ownership (TCO), and develop clear, compelling business cases that support strategic decision‑making. Experience translating operational and technical initiatives into financially sound proposals aligned with enterprise goals.

Inspire is a multi‑brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin‑Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.