Strategic Retail Ops Leader – Market Growth

Panera Bread; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 112,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Panera Bread’s Director, Retail Operations – Louisville East leads market execution from Saint Louis, acting as an owner to drive guest experiences, sales growth, and market profitability. You will develop leaders, foster trust, and ensure brand standards across cafes and associates.

Key focus areas include strategy, people development, compliance, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, HR, and business development to deliver strong results and a loyal team and guest base.

Qualifications

• Multi-unit leadership experience or related experience preferred.
• Strong business acumen and ability to read financial reports.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to plan, prioritize, and manage market-wide calendars.
• Proven ability to build high-performing teams and coach leaders.

Responsibilities

• Create strategy and vision to execute Panera standards and profitability.
• Coach cafe management teams to meet guest service and safety standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, HR, and business development.
• Develop and maintain talent pipelines and leadership development.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and Panera brand practices.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Communication

People Development

Cross-functional Collaboration

Coaching

Education

Some college education or certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Panera Bread’s Director, Retail Operations – Louisville East leads market execution from Saint Louis, acting as an owner to drive guest experiences, sales growth, and market profitability. You will develop leaders, foster trust, and ensure brand standards across cafes and associates.

Key focus areas include strategy, people development, compliance, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, HR, and business development to deliver strong results and a loyal team and guest base.