Regional Vice President of Operations

Summary Of Responsibilities

The Regional Vice President of Operations will be responsible for leading a specified region in the execution of ongoing business operations aligned with the brand and growth objectives, including overseeing the day-to-day operations to support all franchise locations, leading financial and operational performance, managing the development and implementation of field initiatives, and driving alignment, capabilities, and engagement throughout the Operations organization.

Overseeing a team of direct reports that works closely with Supply Chain, IT, General Counsel, and Finance, the Regional Vice President will foster alignment of Operations’ leadership and employees with brand goals. This role will oversee all aspects of restaurant operations within a specified region to achieve sales growth and profitability through consistent execution in serving high-quality products and providing a differentiated guest service experience.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• People leader / Team and Talent Developer / Influencer: People leadership skills with the ability to develop, lead, and foster a field-based team to drive results within a franchised organization against regional objectives. Ability to grow and develop individual talent within the organization. Creates an atmosphere where team members are motivated to achieve company goals. Strong influence with business owners to achieve company and regional objectives.
• Financial & Operational Acumen to drive Regional KPIs: Ability to manage regional P&L and KPIs, ownership across sales, development, and profitability. Financial acumen coupled with operational experience to accelerate revenue and franchisee profitability within the region. Skillset to participate in and add value to the development of annual strategy and budgets.
• Proven Results in Market Optimization and Development: Strong collaborator with Development and Finance teams to create growth opportunities within existing markets. Experience using operational levers to optimize core markets through new cafes, relocations, transfers, ROFRs, and standards. Experience supporting and executing against Development strategies across core and emerging markets within the region.
• Senior Leadership within Franchise Business: Expertise in developing and maintaining exemplary business relationships with franchisees. Ability to provide operational expertise and business counsel for franchise networks. Skilled navigator and communicator within a franchised system and growing national footprint.
• Strong Cross-Functional Leadership & Accountability: Experience leading company functions to drive consensus decision-making at all levels to execute against company strategy and objectives. Ability to hold team members accountable to timelines and commitments supporting the region. History of working with and being accountable to Senior Management.
• Menu + Tech + Ops Execution: Experience successfully leading field teams to execute against marketing products and promotions, tech initiatives, and operational playbook. Ensures marketing promotions are executed with readiness and excellence starting Day1. Supporting tech initiative rollouts that enhance the business and guest experience. Consistently applying the operational cadence and tools for annual business reviews, cafe visits, and communications across the region. The Regional Vice President of Operations will have a proven track record of relevant general management experience in a high-growth franchisee environment. The successful candidate will have capacity for creative thinking, innovation, demonstrated success at driving strategy through to execution, and a keen results orientation.
• Brand Ambassadorship: A strong representative for the brand, energized by and inclined to act as a champion of the Tropical Smoothie Cafe concept, story, and history.
  
  

Required Experience

• 15+ years progressive hospitality management service experience, ideally within a rapid-growth, fast casual dining organization. Franchise experience required.
• Proven track record with P&L responsibility, budgeting and financial forecasting, guest service delivery, and people management.
• Superior customer orientation with a clear ability to translate customer needs into short‐term and long‐range operating plans and business strategy.
• The ability to lead, establish, build and maintain a superior professional staff and work well with subordinates, senior executives and franchisees
• A reputation as a strong leader with the passion for setting clear, measurable objectives, delegating responsibility, recognizing outstanding performance, and correcting sub-par performance
• Hands‐on, results‐oriented, self‐disciplined executive with a structured and pragmatic approach
• Creative, strategic thinker, able to work in a fast‐paced, complex work environment.
• Exceptional financial management skills, with an ability to anticipate potential issues and implement tactical plans for corrective action
• Previous experience in the management of training teams and institute industry leading programs
  
  

Educational Requirements

An undergraduate degree is required. An MBA or other advanced degree in business, operations, or other relevant field would be considered a desired plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel (approximately 30%) for meetings, team calibrations and cafe visits.
• Must be comfortable working in a small company, fast paced, and collaborative environment.
  
  

Compensation

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience.