Vice President of Regional Operations – North Central

The Vice President of Regional Operations is responsible for the overall operation of assigned regional foodservice management accounts. This individual is accountable for galvanizing a team under a common growth and operations platform, and ultimately drive improvement in operational efficiency, revenue, margin and client retention for each account in the overall portfolio. The VP, Regional Ops will work to continuously ensure the organization is delivering operational excellence, while also identifying innovative and creative services and solutions to expand on our clients’ requirements, while working closely with internal and external partners. The incumbent of this position is responsible for determining the overall strategy, priorities and direction for operations within the area. The ideal incumbent is comfortable with change, taking measured risk, and influencing decision-making.

Responsibilities:

• Manage all facets of the area including sales, finance, human resources, and customer service with full P&L accountability.
• Drive new sales growth within existing client base and ensure the delivery of exceptional customer service to our clients.
• Develop short and long term operational strategies in partnership with senior team members and provide the leadership necessary for the successful design, development, and execution of that strategy to achieve measurable outcomes in a timely, cost effective manner.
• Lead and manage a highly productive, motivated and driven team through strong communication, empowerment, reward and coaching techniques. Maintain close working relationships with partner group in functional areas, including Sales, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain and Compliance.
• Partner with the business unit leaders and other key stakeholders to drive change and implement new business processes.
• Drive strategy in compliance, safety, training, recruiting, and on-boarding in assigned districts.
• Review financial performance for all districts within a region and hold DAOs accountable for taking action to correct any variances in order to achieve annual EBITDA objectives.
• Develop DAOs to execute the budget strategy, and develop with them the ability to explain the causes for budget variances, take corrective action to avoid future occurrences, and adjust to eliminate variances. VP should still be involved in client conversations in extreme budget variances or exceptions.
• Conduct annual assessment of job performance and development needs for DAOs and DDSs. Strategically work with DAOs to analyze job efficiency and effectiveness. Work strategically with Sr. Leaders to engage structure change and/or training that will lead to improved job performance and career growth. Drive the thought process of transferring managers across regions and districts for the purpose of career development.
• Review food service operations to ensure that company standards are being achieved for product quality, service and safety excellence, and nutrition/menu compliance, and hold DAOs accountable for taking action to correct any variances from standards.
• Rely on the DAOs to facilitate the flow of information between districts in field operations and corporate staff functions.
• Monitors account plans and programs to client to ensure buy and alignment on direction.
• Responsible for conducting regular visits and monitor customer/ client feedback.
• Ensures that duties, responsibilities, authority and accountability of all direct subordinates are defined and understood.
• May be involved with conducting initial or second interviews on prospective Food Service Directors and DAOs.
• Partnering with Sr. Leadership to facilitate and manage collective bargaining agreement.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher required
• Minimum of 10-12 years of progressively responsible, successful experience in general management with full P&L responsibility – food or retail service sector preferred.
• Multi-unit management experience required, with a min. P & L portfolio of $75M TMV strongly preferred.
• Strong financial and contractual acumen with track record of revenue with EBITDA growth
• Proven leadership and experience with managing effective client relationships that are high, wide and deep.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with a broad knowledge of management practices and good business analysis/project management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to grasp a large, complex business at a base level and use this understanding to set overall strategy and drive business process improvement.
• Demonstrated business savvy to effectively communicate and work with other executives in support of achieving business and systems goals.
• Strong business planning skills to execute strategic projects with implications for business areas with rapidly evolving business processes. Must possess a balanced perspective on strategic and tactical issues.
• Proven ability to manage numerous projects, as well as resources, remotely in a highly dispersed organization.
• Proven ability to select top talent and create a productive environment that promotes initiative, innovation, continual learning and development of key personnel for future advancement.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with a wide range of audiences including clients, front line managers and C-level leaders.
• Experience building a safety culture and delivering sustained TRIR improvement across a portfolio preferred

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Be able to work in a standing position for long periods of time (up to 5 hours)
• Be physically able to lift, reach, bend and stoop frequently lift up to 10 pounds
• Ability to travel 75% of time

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, Gender/Minority/Veterans/Disabled and participates with E-Verify Employment Eligibility Program