Area Operations Manager

Saxbys•Albany, NY

10d

About The Position

The Area Operations Manager leads Saxbys cafes at Marist University, Siena, and UAlbany, ensuring each cafe succeeds in team development, community leadership, and financial management. The role focuses on developing, coaching, and supporting the Student Cafe Executive Officers (SCEOs) who lead the cafes each semester, and serving as the operations leader relied on by campus partners. The position is based in New York and requires regular travel between Albany, Loudonville, and Poughkeepsie, with travel of up to 80% of the time. The Area Operations Manager oversees three direct reports: the SCEOs at Marist University, Siena, and UAlbany. The manager supports cafe operations, staffing, hospitality standards, financial performance, inventory, campus partnerships, cafe openings, and local market awareness. The position also supports marketing, recruiting, the Head of Area Operations, and academic partners. Employment is full-time and permanent; the position is exempt and salaried.

Requirements

At least 2 years of proven experience leading and developing talent in a customer-facing environment, or at least 6 months as a Saxbys Student Leader.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Outstanding passion for hospitality and servant leadership.
Experience managing teams and processes effectively.
Ability to travel up to 80% of the time, including regular trips between the Albany-area campuses and Poughkeepsie.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
Able to stand, walk, and smile for extended periods.
Able to stoop and kneel.
Able to push, pull, lift, or carry up to 35 lbs.
Able to climb up and down ladders, stairs, and ramps.

Nice To Haves

Food & Beverage or Retail experience is a plus, but not required.

Responsibilities

Train and develop the Student Cafe Executive Officers at Marist, Siena, and UAlbany to lead their campus cafe operations each semester.
Interview and hire across all three cafes to maintain staffing levels and identify and develop talent for leadership roles.
Stay current on cafe operations and train and coach team members in all cafe roles.
Keep standard operating procedures accessible and maintain operational integrity by ensuring required steps are followed.
Ensure SCEOs follow progressive discipline policies, issue Coaching & Counseling forms when needed, and advise and assist with involuntary terminations.
Hold SCEOs accountable for consistent communication with their teams.
Conduct regular quality assurance checks, audit cafe performance, correct execution inconsistencies, and maintain a strong hospitality culture.
Review, provide feedback on, and approve weekly schedules to align labor hours with demand and budgets.
Coach SCEOs on interpreting and acting on Profit & Loss statements, present and defend each cafe’s P&L during reviews, and produce and assign Labor Models for all three cafes.
Ensure accurate inventory counts and review and approve Orders & PARS Inventory Worksheets for the three cafes.
Serve as the main Saxbys point of contact for campus partners, including Dining Service Partner leads, Auxiliary Services, and Residential Life.
Keep each Campus Resource Guide up to date.
Lead cafe setup and grand openings as the operations lead, working with other departments.
Monitor industry trends, local competitors, and community news around each campus that could affect business.
Research campus opportunities and share relevant information with Marketing and campus partners.
Help each SCEO refine their Campus Marketing Plan and ensure key dates and deliverables are completed.
Assist the Head of Area Operations with academic partners, requested reports, and special projects.
Nominate, vet, and support internal student candidates in the SCEO pipeline; conduct final interviews and communicate hiring needs to Campus Recruiters.
Participate in initiatives to grow the candidate pool.
Support, exhibit, and promote Saxbys’ Mission and Core Values in daily activities.