Director of Restaurant Operations

Bradley International Airport (BDL) – Windsor Locks, CT

$100,000–$120,000 Base Salary + Performance Bonus + Comprehensive Benefits

Lead a High-Impact Airport Food & Beverage Operation

 

SSP America is seeking an accomplished Director of Operations to lead a complex, multi-brand food and beverage operation at Bradley International Airport (BDL).

 

This opportunity is designed for an experienced airport food & beverage operator who has successfully led large-scale, unionized, multi-unit operations and has a proven ability to build high-performing leadership teams, improve operational performance, and deliver sustainable financial results.

 

This is not a maintenance role.

 

We are seeking a transformational leader who thrives in complex operating environments and creates a culture of accountability through disciplined execution, exceptional people leadership, and strong labor partnerships.

What You'll Lead

• Multi-unit airport restaurant portfolio
• $20M+ annual managed sales
• Multiple General Managers and restaurant leadership teams
• Unionized workforce
• Partnership with Airport Authority, brand partners, labor representatives and cross-functional Support Center teams

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate has demonstrated success:

• Leading complex airport food & beverage operations through periods of change and growth.
• Building high-performing General Managers through coaching, accountability, and succession planning.
• Developing productive labor-management relationships while effectively leading within a collective bargaining environment.
• Driving measurable improvements in financial performance, guest experience, and operational execution.
• Creating a culture of accountability, professionalism, and operational excellence.
• Leading multiple concepts simultaneously while balancing brand standards, labor, food safety, inventory controls, and financial performance.

Required Qualifications

To be successful in this role, candidates must demonstrate experience in the following areas:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive operational leadership with increasing responsibility across multi-unit restaurant or food & beverage operations.
• Current or recent leadership of multiple restaurant locations, including direct leadership and development of multiple General Managers responsible for independent business units.
• Full P&L accountability for a multi-unit portfolio generating at least $20 million in annual managed sales.
• Demonstrated success leading complex airport food & beverage operations or similarly regulated, high-volume, multi-unit environments.
• Proven experience leading unionized operations, including labor relations, contract compliance, issue resolution, and productive partnership with union representatives.
• Demonstrated ability to develop senior operational leaders through coaching, succession planning, performance management, and accountability.
• Proven success improving operational performance through financial analysis, labor optimization, inventory controls, operational discipline, and strategic business planning.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership and cross-functional business partners to drive operational and financial results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Director of Operations or Regional Operations leadership experience within airport food & beverage operations.
• Experience leading large, geographically dispersed, multi-brand restaurant portfolios.
• Demonstrated success leading operational turnarounds or improving underperforming multi-unit businesses. 

Why SSP America?

At SSP America, we don't simply operate restaurants - we create exceptional dining experiences for travelers across North America.

 

We're looking for leaders who embrace challenge, inspire high-performing teams, and know how to build strong operational cultures while delivering exceptional business results.

 

If you've successfully led complex airport food & beverage operations and are ready to make a lasting impact, we'd like to meet you.

 

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• EAP
• Voluntary Benefits: Life AD&D, Accident, Criti