Vice President of Operations - Restaurants

Leap Brands; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Leap Brands seeks an experienced Vice President of Operations to lead operational performance across a growing restaurant franchise system. This executive will drive franchisee success, improve unit economics, ensure brand consistency, and build the infrastructure to support expansion.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in restaurant franchising, multi-unit operations, and the ability to influence franchise partners while maintaining high standards.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in multi-unit restaurant operations.
• Strong analytical skills to translate data into improvement actions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with franchisees.
• Willingness to travel regularly to franchise locations and corporate meetings.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall operational strategy and execution across the franchise system.
• Drive improvements in restaurant-level sales, profitability, guest satisfaction, and operational efficiency.
• Establish and monitor KPIs including same-store sales, labor costs, and food costs.
• Partner with franchise owners and multi-unit operators to identify opportunities and implement turnaround plans.
• Develop operational standards and accountability systems for consistent execution across locations.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Executive presence

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or related field

Job description

PositionOverview

Weareseekinganexperienced,results-drivenVicePresidentofOperationstoleadoperationalperformanceacrossagrowingrestaurantfranchisesystem.Thisexecutivewillberesponsiblefordrivingfranchiseesuccess,improvingunit-leveleconomics,ensuringbrandconsistency,andbuildingtheoperationalinfrastructurenecessarytosupportcontinuedexpansion.

Theidealcandidatebringsastrongbackgroundinrestaurantfranchising,adeepunderstandingofmulti-unitoperations,andaprovenabilitytoinfluencefranchisepartnerswhilemaintaininghighoperationalstandards.

Thisindividualmustbeequallycomfortabledevelopinglong-termoperationalstrategiesandworkingdirectlywithfranchiseesinthefieldtoimproverestaurantperformance.

KeyResponsibilities

FranchiseOperations&Performance

• Leadtheoveralloperationalstrategyandexecutionacrossthefranchisesystem.
• Driveimprovementsinrestaurant-levelsales,profitability,guestsatisfaction,andoperationalefficiency.
• Establishandmonitorkeyperformanceindicators,includingsame-storesales,laborcosts,foodcosts,throughput,guestexperience,andfranchiseeprofitability.
• Partnerdirectlywithfranchiseownersandmulti-unitoperatorstoidentifyperformanceopportunitiesandimplementactionableimprovementplans.
• Developoperationalstandardsandaccountabilitysystemstoensureconsistentexecutionacrossalllocations.
• Identifyunderperformingrestaurantsandworkcollaborativelywithfranchiseestodevelopandexecuteturnaroundstrategies.
• Ensurefranchiseeshavethetools,resources,andoperationalsupportnecessarytooperatesuccessfulrestaurants.

FranchiseeRelations&Leadership

• Buildstrong,crediblerelationshipswithfranchiseownersandoperatorsthroughoutthesystem.
• Serveasatrustedoperationaladvisortofranchiseeswhilebalancingfranchiseeneedswithbrandstandardsandbusinessobjectives.
• Leadanddevelopthefranchiseoperationssupportteam,includingDirectorsofOperations,FranchiseBusinessConsultants,andfieldsupportpersonnel.
• Establishclearperformanceexpectations,communicationprocesses,andaccountabilitythroughouttheoperationsorganization.
• Facilitatefranchiseemeetings,operationalreviews,andbest-practicesharingacrossthesystem.
• Partnerwithexecutiveleadershiptoaddressfranchiseeconcernsandstrengthenoverallfranchiseeengagement.

OperationalExcellence&BrandStandards

• Develop,implement,andcontinuouslyimproveoperationalsystems,processes,andstandardoperatingprocedures.
• Ensureconsistentexecutionoffoodquality,servicestandards,cleanliness,safety,andtheoverallguestexperience.
• Overseeoperationalassessments,fieldvisits,andbrandcomplianceinitiatives.
• Identifyopportunitiestosimplifyrestaurantoperations,improveproductivity,andreducecontrollableexpenses.
• PartnerwithTraining,Marketing,Technology,SupplyChain,andDevelopmentteamstoensureoperationalalignment.
• Leadthesuccessfulimplementationofnewoperationalinitiatives,technologyplatforms,menuintroductions,andserviceimprovements.

FranchiseGrowth&NewRestaurantOpenings

• PartnerwithFranchiseDevelopmentandRealEstateteamstosupportthesuccessfulexpansionoftherestaurantsystem.
• Ensureoperationalreadinessfornewrestaurantopenings,includingtraining,staffing,systems,andfranchiseesupport.
• Developscalableprocessesthatallowtheorganizationtogrowwithoutcompromisingrestaurantperformanceorguestexperience.
• Supportfranchiseeonboarding,operationaltraining,andnew-marketdevelopment.
• Evaluateoperationalcapacityandidentifyorganizationalneedsasthefranchisesystemexpands.

FinancialPerformance&StrategicPlanning

• Driveimprovementsinrestaurant-levelprofitabilitythroughdisciplinedmanagementoflabor,foodcosts,productivity,andcontrollableexpenses.
• Analyzesystemwideperformancetrendsandtranslatefinancialandoperationaldataintoactionablestrategies.
• Partnerwithexecutiveleadershiptoestablishannualoperationalgoals,budgets,andperformancetargets.
• Developstrategiestoimprovefranchiseereturnoninvestmentandlong-termfinancialhealth.
• Provideregularoperationalperformanceupdatesandrecommendationstoexecutiveleadership.
• Identifyopportunitiestoincreaseaverageunitvolume,improvemargins,andstrengthentheoverallfranchisebusinessmodel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor'sdegreeinBusinessAdministration,HospitalityManagement,orarelatedfieldpreferred.
• 10+yearsofprogressiveleadershipexperienceintherestaurantindustry,includingsignificantmulti-unitoperationalresponsibility.
• 5+yearsofexperienceleadingfranchiseoperations,franchisesupport,oracomparablefunctionwithinarestaurantfranchisor.
• Provenexperienceleadingoperationsacrossageographicallydispersed,multi-unitrestaurantsystem.
• Strongunderstandingofrestaurant-levelP&Ls,franchiseeconomics,andtheoperationaldriversofprofitability.
• Demonstratedsuccessimprovingsalesperformance,operatingmargins,guestsatisfaction,andfranchiseeengagement.
• Experienceleadinganddevelopingfieldoperationsteams,includingfranchisebusinessconsultantsandregionalleadership.
• Abilitytoinfluenceindependentfranchiseownerswithoutdirectoperationalcontrol.
• Experiencesupportingnewrestaurantopenings,franchisesystemexpansion,andoperationaltransformation.
• Stronganalytical,communication,relationship-building,andexecutiveleadershipskills.
• Willingnesstotravelregularlytofranchiselocationsandcorporatemeetings.

IdealCandidateProfile

Thesuccessfulcandidateisahands-onrestaurantoperationsexecutivewhounderstandsthatafranchisor'ssuccessdependsonthesuccessofitsfranchisees.

Thisleaderknowshowtobuildrelationships,earncredibilitywithexperiencedoperators,anddriveaccountabilitywithoutrelyingsolelyonpositionalauthority.

Theyhavedemonstratedtheabilitytoimproverestaurant-leveleconomics,develophigh-performingfieldteams,andimplementoperationalsystemsthatsupportsustainablegrowth.

Mostimportantly,thisindividualcombinesstrategicthinkingwithawillingnesstogetintorestaurants,understandthechallengesfranchiseesface,andworkcollaborativelytodelivermeasurableresults.

KeyMeasuresofSuccess

• Positivesame-storesalesandaverageunitvolumegrowth.
• Improvedfranchiseeprofitabilityandrestaurant-levelmargins.
• Increasedoperationalcomplianceandbrandconsistency.
• Improvedguestsatisfactionandoverallrestaurantperformance.
• Successfulnewrestaurantopeningsandoperationalreadiness.
• Strongfranchiseerelationships,engagement,andsatisfaction.
• Developmentofahigh-performingfranchiseoperationssupportorganization.
• Scalableoperationalsystemsthatsupportcontinuedfranchiseexpansion.