Director of Operations (MO/AR)

The Director of Operations provides executive-level leadership, strategic oversight, and operational direction across a multi-district portfolio of Popeyes restaurants. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, financial performance, people development, and brand consistency at scale while partnering closely with senior leadership to execute company-wide initiatives and long-term growth strategies.

 

The ideal candidate is a results-driven, enterprise-minded operator who can translate strategy into execution, lead leaders, and build a culture of accountability, performance, and guest-centric excellence across a large, geographically diverse footprint.

Why Join Us

• Highly competitive executive-level compensation with performance-based bonus potential

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits

• Paid time off and holiday pay

• Opportunity to influence strategy within one of the nation’s largest QSR franchise groups

• Executive partnership with ownership and senior leadership

• Growth, scale, and long-term career advancement in a high-impact role

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for multiple districts and 20+ restaurant locations, ensuring consistent execution of Popeyes brand standards, operational systems, and company initiatives.

• Lead, coach, and develop District Managers and senior field leaders, building a strong leadership bench and succession pipeline.

• Own regional P&L performance, including revenue growth, cost controls, labor optimization, and margin improvement; analyze financial trends and drive data-informed decisions.

• Partner with executive leadership to design and implement long-term operational strategies, growth plans, and performance improvement initiatives.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with HR, Training, Marketing, Facilities, Construction, and Finance to support new restaurant openings, remodels, system rollouts, and operational enhancements.

• Ensure compliance with all company policies, brand standards, food safety, labor laws, and regulatory requirements across the region.

• Champion a guest-first culture, ensuring excellence in service, food quality, cleanliness, and speed of service at scale.

• Conduct regular field and market visits to evaluate performance, coach leaders, and reinforce cultural expectations and accountability.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational discipline, and recognition, aligning field execution with company values and performance goals.

• Serve as a key operational advisor to ownership and executive leadership, providing insights, forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive multi-unit leadership experience in QSR or fast-casual restaurants; senior-level Popeyes or comparable brand experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated success leading District Managers or equivalent field leadership roles with accountability for large-scale P&L performance.

• Strong strategic, financial, and analytical acumen with the ability to influence outcomes across complex operations.

• Proven ability to develop leaders, drive accountability, and execute operational change at scale.

• Excellent communication, executive presence, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the assigned region; valid driver’s license required.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This position operates within restaurant and field environments. The Director of Operations may be exposed to hot equipment, cleaning chemicals, and moderate noise levels during site visits. The role requires frequent travel, standing, walking, bending, lifting, and reaching.

 

Employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a background check in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.