Jobs

About the Role:

The Southwest Operations Manager will be responsible for the overall management and day-to-day operations in our Southwest market, which includes schools in Austin, Bryan, and Fort Worth.. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced operations management professional to lead our team and ensure the smooth and profitable operation at our schools within this region. Our services in this market range from delivering delicious meals from local vendors to operating full-service cafés, where we prepare and serve fresh food, sell snacks and beverages, and collaborate with nearby partners to enhance the dining experience for students and staff. This role will require frequent travel within the Southwest market, and will begin with 1-2 weeks of training in our Delaware, Philadelphia and Carolina markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operations Management: Launch our new market in Texas and oversee launch and daily operations at our schools in Austin, Bryan, and Fort Worth, Additional schools and nearby markets may be added in the future as we continue to grow. Development and implementation of SOP’s at each school.
• Staff Management: Recruit, train, and supervise café staff (5-20 people) including Chef Managers, local operational Leads in each market and Front of House and Back of House staff. Responsibilities will also include: scheduling, performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Customer Experience: Ensure that every customer has a positive experience by maintaining high standards of service, addressing customer feedback, and following The Yay Way. The Operations Manager will be responsible for maintaining regular communication with school administration, soliciting feedback, and sharing updates with the corporate team.
• Financial Management: Manage your schools budget, monitor daily sales and expenses, and implement strategies to increase sales profitability. Reporting KPI’s across school.
• Inventory Control: Monitor stock levels, order supplies, and manage vendor relationships to ensure timely delivery of quality products. Minimize waste and control costs through effective inventory management. Work with Chef Managers and Operational Leads on ordering and optimizing inventory.
• Menu Development: Work with the Chef Managers and Food Strategy team to implement a new prep menu to drive customer satisfaction and purchasing.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure that your schools adhere to all health, safety, and sanitation regulations. Implement and enforce proper food handling practices. Serve as the point person with local health departments.
• Marketing and Promotion: Collaborate with the marketing team to develop marketing strategies including promotions, special events, and outreach.
• Problem-Solving: Handle any operational challenges, including equipment malfunctions, staffing issues, and customer complaints, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Reporting: Provide regular reports to the Director of Operations and President on the café’s performance, including revenue, customer and school feedback, and staff performance.

You will:

• Hire, train, and manage team members including scheduling, payroll, and working with HR on employment matters
• Be the primary point of contact for school administrators at Yay Lunch
• Follow current, and help create new, SOPs for service and cafe function
• Ensure facilities are kept organized and clean
• Conduct/supervise daily and weekly inventory, ordering, and receiving
• Management of supply pick up and logistics
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising for special theme events
• Monitor all product to ensure proper rotation and code date management
• Conduct weekly team meetings and daily standups
• Work with internal Customer Experience team to resolve issues
• Control shrink and waste to keep it within set targets
• Manage day-to-day operations and be a hands on team member in all operations of service
• Be available for emergency issues involving the team or the café
• Work with Leadership to identify opportunities for growth, and develop execution plan, including economic impact
• Work from one of the cafes each day

You must be:

• Quick to resolve problems
• People-oriented with a focus on driving team engagement
• Detailed-oriented + hyper-organized, meeting business objectives
• Proactive, creative and positive
• Collaborative and willing to jump in and take on any job
• Able to stay calm under pressure
• Personable, engaging, and able to discuss the program with a Head of School and a favorite dish with a 4th grader

You must have:

• At least 5-7 years of food management experience, preferably university dining, open kitchen, retail kitchen, high volume restaurant, and/ or chef manager experience. Familiar with food safety procedures and inventory management experience
• Servsafe Manger or Servsafe Proctor Certification
• Proficiency with Google Suite (Drive, Sheets, Word, Hangout, etc.)
• Strong time management skills
• Experience hiring and developing an hourly workforce
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• A reliable personal vehicle, great driving record, & car insurance
• Meticulous attention to detail - whether keeping the cafes clean and organized or entering data for ordering management

We provide:

• Salary $60,000
• Company-supported insurance - Medical, Vision, Dental and Life
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-term Disability Insurance, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Retirement, up to 3.5% employer match
• Flexible paid time off (unlimited time off program)
• Data stipend and mileage reimbursement
• Significant support structures, on-the-ground training, & coaching