Vice President of Operations

Location: Denver, CO (Strongly Preferred)

Reports To: CEO

The Vice President of Operations is the primary support for Directors of Operations and management teams across designated corporate-owned restaurant markets. This role focuses on driving restaurant sales and traffic while delivering a Gold Standard experience for both Smashburger guests and team members. As a Denver‑based leader, the VP of Operations sets the standard for what great looks like—ensuring our restaurants consistently reflect the highest levels of operational discipline, guest experience, and leadership capability.

Key Responsibilities:

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop multiple Directors of Operations overseeing 50+ restaurants across the Western U.S.
• Build a positive, high-performance culture during regular market visits (4–6 days per week).
• Strengthen operational leadership capability by providing real-time coaching, feedback, and development.
• Oversee effective onboarding, offboarding, and performance management for DO/DM/RGM populations.
• Partner with HR and Recruiting on talent reviews, succession planning, and building a strong internal and external leadership bench.
• Ensure all mandatory training and skill-based qualifications are completed and tracked.

Operational Excellence

• Drive consistent operational execution across assigned markets with a focus on guest satisfaction, safety, and quality.
• Review and act on daily and weekly performance metrics, including NPS/guest experience outcomes, training completions, staffing levels, labor accuracy, and inventory results.
• Conduct routine in-restaurant visits to validate critical processes, coach leaders, and recognize strong performance.
• Oversee the FSC audit program, ensuring each market completes at least two audits per quarter.
• Monitor corrective action plans and ensure timely resolution.
• Manage Distribution Center communication and processes including shortages, credits, and auto-shipments.
• Participate in weekly market calls and partner closely with cross-functional leaders (Recruiting, HRBP, Training, Finance).

Financial Stewardship

• Own financial performance across assigned markets, including sales, labor, COGS, and controllable expenses.
• Coach leaders on financial acumen and partner in developing market-level strategies for improvement.
• Support annual budget planning and conduct routine business reviews to identify trends and opportunities.

Sales & Guest Growth

• Lead execution of local store marketing initiatives tailored to each market.
• Drive guest traffic using internal programs, community engagement, and grassroots marketing.
• Ensure restaurant teams deliver an exceptional Smashburger guest experience every time.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience as a Director of Operations at Smashburger or 5–7 years of experience leading multi-unit restaurant operations.
• Strong track record of leading leaders and driving measurable operational improvement.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and successfully complete Smashburger’s training program.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and remain on-call for urgent operational needs.
• Must be able to travel 80–85% within assigned markets.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-temperature environments.

This role is essential to shaping Smashburger’s operational future. As the leader of our flagship region, the VP of Operations sets the bar for operational excellence and embodies the values of Smashburger in every market interaction.

Vice President of Operations

Location: Denver, CO (Strongly Preferred)

Reports To: CEO

The Vice President of Operations is the primary support for Directors of Operations and management teams across designated corporate-owned restaurant markets. This role focuses on driving restaurant sales and traffic while delivering a Gold Standard experience for both Smashburger guests and team members. As a Denver‑based leader, the VP of Operations sets the standard for what great looks like—ensuring our restaurants consistently reflect the highest levels of operational discipline, guest experience, and leadership capability.

Key Responsibilities:

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop multiple Directors of Operations overseeing 50+ restaurants across the Western U.S.
• Build a positive, high-performance culture during regular market visits (4–6 days per week).
• Strengthen operational leadership capability by providing real-time coaching, feedback, and development.
• Oversee effective onboarding, offboarding, and performance management for DO/DM/RGM populations.
• Partner with HR and Recruiting on talent reviews, succession planning, and building a strong internal and external leadership bench.
• Ensure all mandatory training and skill-based qualifications are completed and tracked.

Operational Excellence

• Drive consistent operational execution across assigned markets with a focus on guest satisfaction, safety, and quality.
• Review and act on daily and weekly performance metrics, including NPS/guest experience outcomes, training completions, staffing levels, labor accuracy, and inventory results.
• Conduct routine in-restaurant visits to validate critical processes, coach leaders, and recognize strong performance.
• Oversee the FSC audit program, ensuring each market completes at least two audits per quarter.
• Monitor corrective action plans and ensure timely resolution.
• Manage Distribution Center communication and processes including shortages, credits, and auto-shipments.
• Participate in weekly market calls and partner closely with cross-functional leaders (Recruiting, HRBP, Training, Finance).

Financial Stewardship

• Own financial performance across assigned markets, including sales, labor, COGS, and controllable expenses.
• Coach leaders on financial acumen and partner in developing market-level strategies for improvement.
• Support annual budget planning and conduct routine business reviews to identify trends and opportunities.

Sales & Guest Growth

• Lead execution of local store marketing initiatives tailored to each market.
• Drive guest traffic using internal programs, community engagement, and grassroots marketing.
• Ensure restaurant teams deliver an exceptional Smashburger guest experience every time.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience as a Director of Operations at Smashburger or 5–7 years of experience leading multi-unit restaurant operations.
• Strong track record of leading leaders and driving measurable operational improvement.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and successfully complete Smashburger’s training program.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and remain on-call for urgent operational needs.
• Must be able to travel 80–85% within assigned markets.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-temperature environments.

This role is essential to shaping Smashburger’s operational future. As the leader of our flagship region, the VP of Operations sets the bar for operational excellence and embodies the values of Smashburger in every market interaction.