Vice President of Operations - QSR

Leap Brands; Wayne (NJ); On-site; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Leap Brands is seeking a Vice President of Operations to scale a rapidly expanding QSR portfolio. You will drive AUV and EBITDA growth while integrating acquisitions and ensuring seamless openings of new restaurants. You will bridge corporate strategy with frontline execution.

You will lead a tech-forward transformation in 2026, overseeing unified commerce platforms, AI-enabled drive-thru solutions, and automation to improve throughput and margins. A hands-on, system-building leader is essential.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of multi-unit QSR leadership experience.
• 5+ years at Director or VP level.
• Proven track record of integrating M&A targets.
• Strong tech literacy in 2026 QSR tech (AI, automation, unified POS).
• Ability to drive margins and key metrics across a portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Integration Lead: architect and execute the First90Days operational playbook for newly acquired units.
• Oversee staffing, training, and revenue-readiness on Day 1 at new developments and NSOs.
• Audit portfolio to identify underperforming units and implement turnaround initiatives.
• Oversee unified commerce rollout, kiosk/drive-thru AI, and third-party delivery with a single system.
• Maintain P&L discipline: optimize food and labor costs; drive Margin per Ticket across regions.

Skills

QSR leadership

Multi-unit leadership

Strategic scaling

Acquisitions integration

Tech literacy

Margin management

Tools

UnifiedPOS systems

Automation scheduling

AI-driven drive-thru tech

Job description

AstheVPofOperations,youwillowntheoperationalP&LandexecutionstrategyforourrapidlyexpandingQSRportfolio.YourprimaryobjectiveistodriveAverageUnitVolume(AUV)andEBITDAgrowthwhileoverseeingtheseamlessintegrationofnewacquisitionsandthesuccessfullaunchofnewrestaurantopenings(NSOs).Youarethebridgebetweencorporatestrategyandfrontlineexecution.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Scaling & Acquisitions

• IntegrationLead:Architectandexecutethe"First90Days"operationalplaybookforallnewlyacquiredunits.Ensurebrandstandards,techstacks,andculturearealignedwithoutlosingtribalknowledgeormomentum.
• NewDevelopmentOversight:PartnerwiththeDevelopment/RealEstateteamtoensureNSOsarestaffed,trained,and"revenue-ready"onDay1.
• UnitEconomicsOptimization:Constantlyaudittheportfoliotoidentifyunderperformingunits,implementingaggressiveturnaroundstrategiesor"Right-Sizing"initiatives.

2. Operational Excellence (2026 Tech-Forward)

• UnifiedCommerceExecution:Overseetheoperationalrolloutofunifiedcommerceplatformsensuringkiosks,mobileapp,drive-thruAI,and3rd-partydeliveryallflowthroughasingle,frictionlesssmart-kitchenKDS.
• Automation&Throughput:ImplementandmonitorBOHautomationtools(automatedportioning,demandforecastingAI)tooffsetlaborvolatilityanddrive"Time-to-Window"improvements.
• StandardsEnforcement:Conducthigh-frequency"OperationalAudits"toensure100%consistencyacrossallregions.Youdonttolerate"dumpsterfire"units.
• P&LMastery:HoldRegionalandDistrictManagersaccountableforFood,Labor,andControllableExpenses.Youspeakthelanguageof"MarginperTicket,"notjust"Top-lineSales".
• WorkforceStrategy:Treatlaborretentionasacoreoperationaldiscipline.Implementmodernscheduling,cross-training,anddigitalonboardingtokeepthe"Time-to-Competency"aslowaspossible.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience:12+yearsofmulti-unitQSRleadership,withatleast5yearsattheDirectororVPlevel.
• The "Acquisition" Muscle:ProventrackrecordofintegratingM&Atargets.Youknowhowtowalkintoacompetitor'sstoreandturnitintooneofyourownwithinaquarter.
• TechLiteracy:Expert-levelunderstandingof2026QSRtech(e.g.,AI-drivendrive-thrus,automatedlaborscheduling,andunifiedPOSsystems).
• LeadershipStyle:High-accountability,aggressive,anddecisive.Youaren'ta"micromanaging"leader;youarea"system-building"leader.