Chief Operating Officer

Corkys Barbecue LLC•Memphis, TN

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Corky’s BBQ is seeking a proven restaurant executive to serve as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Restaurant Division. This role is responsible for driving performance, developing talent, ensuring operational excellence, and leading future restaurant growth. The COO will be the senior operational leader, shaping the future of an iconic brand. This is an opportunity to transform Corky’s from a successful regional restaurant company into a larger multi-unit restaurant organization while preserving its legendary hospitality, food quality, and culture. The COO will have a seat at the table helping shape expansion strategy, identifying growth opportunities, developing scalable systems, and building the leadership infrastructure necessary for future restaurant development. The COO is responsible for the overall performance, growth, profitability, leadership development, and operational execution of Corky’s restaurant operations, reporting directly to the CEO and Owner. This leader must be comfortable reviewing financial statements, coaching General Managers, visiting restaurants, leading strategic initiatives, and driving long-term growth, serving as the operational architect behind Corky’s next phase of growth.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive restaurant operations leadership experience.
7+ years in senior multi-unit leadership roles.
Experience overseeing multiple high-volume restaurant locations.
Proven success leading General Managers, District Managers, Area Directors, or Regional Vice Presidents.
Strong financial and business acumen.
Demonstrated success improving restaurant profitability and operational performance.
Proven track record of building high-performing leadership teams.
Experience creating systems and infrastructure that support growth.

Nice To Haves

Multiple new restaurant openings.
Experience leading regional or national restaurant expansion.
Experience scaling a restaurant organization.
Experience with casual dining, fast casual, barbecue, or hospitality-driven concepts.
Experience overseeing drive-thru, dine-in, catering, and off-premise sales channels.
Multi-state operational leadership experience.
Experience leading organizations through periods of rapid growth.

Responsibilities

Partner directly with the CEO to establish and execute the long-term vision for restaurant operations.
Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for the restaurant division.
Evaluate opportunities for new restaurant development, market expansion, and strategic growth initiatives.
Build the operational infrastructure required to support future restaurant openings.
Develop scalable systems, processes, and leadership structures that allow Corky’s to grow while maintaining operational excellence.
Lead operational due diligence and planning for future expansion opportunities.
Create restaurant growth roadmaps, opening plans, and post-opening success strategies.
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team helping shape the future direction of the company.
Lead all operational aspects of future restaurant openings.
Develop and execute comprehensive pre-opening plans.
Oversee staffing, training, operational readiness, and launch execution.
Create new store opening playbooks and systems.
Establish performance benchmarks for newly opened locations.
Ensure successful integration of new restaurants into Corky’s culture and operating standards.
Drive successful openings that achieve sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction targets.
Provide executive oversight for all restaurant locations.
Ensure operational consistency across all restaurants.
Establish and enforce best practices for food quality, hospitality, cleanliness, safety, and execution.
Conduct regular operational reviews and performance audits.
Ensure restaurants consistently deliver legendary guest experiences.
Drive improvements in speed of service, order accuracy, labor productivity, and guest satisfaction.
Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain exceptional restaurant leaders.
Build a deep bench of future General Managers, Area Directors, and operational leaders.
Establish leadership development and succession planning programs.
Conduct regular coaching, performance reviews, and leadership development sessions.
Create a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Own restaurant-level financial performance across all locations.
Drive sustainable revenue growth and profitability.
Analyze and improve labor productivity and workforce planning.
Develop strategies to optimize food cost performance and reduce waste.
Identify opportunities to improve margins without compromising quality or hospitality.
Review and analyze P&L statements, budgets, forecasts, and operational KPIs.
Protect and strengthen the Corky’s brand.
Ensure every guest receives consistent legendary service.
Monitor guest satisfaction metrics, online reviews, and customer feedback.
Lead initiatives that improve hospitality, speed, quality, and overall guest experience.
Ensure operational consistency that reinforces Corky’s reputation as an industry leader.
Champion Corky’s Mission, Vision, and 25 Fundamentals.
Build a culture where people are developed, challenged, recognized, and empowered.
Lead by example through visibility, engagement, and accountability.
Foster an environment centered on hospitality, excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement.