Los Angeles | Vice President Operations/COO | International QSR

Senior Vice President of Operations / COO

An iconic, global quick-service leader that specializes in high-quality food is seeking a senior operations leader to help the brand grow from its traditional roots into a modern, QSR brand. Candidates with a minimum of 15 years of management experience in QSR or Fast Casual restaurants and previous experience as an SVP of Operations or COO within a start-up or mid-size restaurant company ($100M+ revenue).

Our client has 2,000 locations worldwide and is undergoing a strategic transformation. They're pivoting toward a model that blends its legacy efficiency with a warmer, more inviting guest experience and cutting-edge digital integration. Operations are defined by a high-volume, standardized framework that utilizes real cooking and a robust supply chain to ensure consistency across both corporate and franchise portfolios.

The SVP of Operations / COO will be a pivotal member of the executive leadership team, responsible for overseeing the daily operations of all corporate and franchise locations. The primary mission is to drive operational excellence, optimize unit-level profitability, and lead the brand through a phase of modernization and scalable growth. We are seeking a "stable-growth" expert—someone who has seen the lifecycle of a mid-size company and possesses the discipline to see long-term strategies through to maturity.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Strategy & Execution: Direct all aspects of restaurant operations to ensure a consistent guest experience focused on speed, quality, value, and friendliness.
• Standardization: Develop and implement standardized SOPs across the system to drive efficiency and reduce performance variance between units.
• Financial Performance: Partner with the CEO to set and achieve annual EBITDA and AUV (Average Unit Volume) targets.
• Growth & Modernization: Lead the integration of new technologies (POS, AI-driven labor scheduling, loyalty platforms) and spearhead "start-up style" agility to scale new operational models like ghost kitchens or digital-only lanes.
• People Leadership: Mentor Regional and District managers while fostering a culture of accountability and "servant leadership".
• Talent Development: Implement robust development pipelines to reduce management turnover and build bench strength for expansion.
• Financial Stewardship: Manage full P&L responsibility for the operations department, identifying cost-saving initiatives in labor and COGS.

Mandatory Qualifications

• Industry Tenure: Minimum of 15 years of professional experience in the restaurant industry, with a preference for QSR or Fast Casual backgrounds.
• Leadership Breadth: Previous experience as an SVP of Operations or COO within a start-up or mid-size restaurant company ($100M+ revenue).
• Proven Stability: A documented career history showing a minimum of 3–5 years of tenure at each major career stop.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality Management, or a related field; MBA is a plus.

Core Competencies

• The "Legacy Builder" Mindset: Ability to respect brand heritage while relentlessly pursuing operational improvement.
• Data Literacy: Expert-level ability to interpret complex financial data and translate it into clear operational directives.
• Change Management: Proven success in leading organizations through digital transformations or brand pivots.

Candidate Success Profile:

Attribute/ExpectationOperational Focus: 70% Strategic Execution / 30% Tactical Troubleshooting

Communication Style:Transparent, direct, and capable of inspiring "front-line" teams

Travel: Willingness to be in the field at restaurant locations (approx. 40-50%)

Benefits:

• VP-$190,000-$200,000 COO-$240,000-$260,000
• Med, Dental, Vision
• 401K match
• $1K/month car allowance
• Cell phone allowance
• Bonus (up to 25% for Sr VP Ops, 40% COO)
• 2 weeks PTO
• Meal discounts
• Fitness facility at support center
• Relocation may be considered
• EOE - We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.