Director, Distribution & Field Service

Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, LLC - A Yum! Brands Co-op•Louisville, KY

About The Position

The Director of Distribution and Field Service is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the strategy, performance, and field execution of a $7B Distribution and Logistics network supporting 17,000+ restaurants across Yum! Brands, including Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, Habit Burger & Grill, and A&W. This role operates at the intersection of supply chain and field operations, ensuring strategies translate into consistent execution, improved service, and optimized total system cost. As a trusted representative of senior leadership, this individual will engage confidently with franchisees, executives, and external partners, including representing the organization in board meetings and industry forums. The Director will connect distribution centers and restaurant operations - identifying challenges and leading scalable, data-driven solutions that enhance performance and drive restaurant-level success. Great Benefits! Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, Vacation, Life Insurance, and much more.

Requirements

Demonstrates executive presence and credibility in high stakes environments.
Operates as a business leader, not just a functional expert.
Effectively influences without authority across complex stakeholder groups.
Communicates with clarity, confidence, and impact at all levels.
Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and drives outcomes.
Balances strategic thinking with operational execution
Bachelor’s degree required in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, distribution, logistics, or operations, with at least 5–7 years in senior leadership roles driving large-scale, multi-market operations.
Proven track record of leading complex distribution networks and managing strategic third-party partnerships, with demonstrated success in improving service, cost, and operational performance.
Demonstrated ability to operate as a business leader beyond functional expertise, translating operational insights into strategic decisions that impact enterprise performance.
Exceptional executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to confidently represent senior leadership in board meetings, executive forums, franchisee engagements, and industry conferences without oversight.
Proven ability to influence and lead without direct authority, aligning diverse stakeholder groups (internal teams, franchisees, and external partners) to drive results.
Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, analyzing cost drivers, and identifying opportunities to improve total system economics.
Experience leading through change and ambiguity, including large-scale transitions, network transformations, or operational turnarounds.
Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50–75%, supporting restaurants, distribution centers, franchisees, and key initiatives. Travel may vary based on business needs and will occasionally require flexibility with short notice.

Nice To Haves

Experience within the food, restaurant, or related supply chain industries is highly preferred, though not required.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end performance of Distribution and Field Service Operations, delivering consistent execution, service excellence, and cost efficiency across all markets, distribution partners, and restaurant operators.
Act as a strategic business leader, not just a functional expert, translating operational insights into enterprise-level decisions that improve system-wide performance and franchisee outcomes.
Serve as a trusted representative of senior leadership, with the ability to confidently lead discussions and represent the organization in executive forums, board meetings, franchisee engagements, and industry events.
Demonstrate strong executive presence and communication skills, delivering clear, concise, and impactful messaging to diverse audiences including franchisees, senior leadership, and external partners.
Lead and optimize strategic partnerships with distribution providers, holding partners accountable to service, cost, and quality expectations while influencing outcomes without direct authority.
Serve as the critical link between field operations and supply chain strategy, ensuring real-world operational needs are reflected in decision-making and that strategies translate effectively into execution at the restaurant level.
Drive field-level execution excellence, proactively identifying, prioritizing, and resolving service, quality, and delivery issues impacting restaurants, with clear ownership of root cause and corrective actions.
Establish, monitor, and continuously improve KPIs across distribution and field service, using data-driven insights to influence decisions and drive accountability across internal and external stakeholders.
Lead high-impact communication and change management efforts, including town halls, franchisee meetings, and transition communications, ensuring clarity, alignment, and confidence across the system.
Oversee complex distribution transitions, network changes, and new market launches, ensuring minimal disruption through disciplined planning, risk mitigation, and cross-functional coordination.
Partner cross-functionally (Procurement, Finance, IT, Quality, Operations) to solve complex problems, align priorities, and drive initiatives that balance cost, service, and long-term strategic value.
Own financial performance related to distribution and field service, including budget management, variance analysis, and identification of opportunities to reduce total system cost while improving service levels.
Influence and support contract strategy and negotiations, ensuring operational realities, service expectations, and field requirements are embedded in all agreements.
Develop and institutionalize scalable processes, tools, and playbooks to ensure consistent execution, rapid issue resolution, and effective communication across all markets.
Lead cross-functional teams and complex initiatives, aligning stakeholders, managing risks, and ensuring delivery against key milestones and business objectives.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement and accountability, challenging the status quo and identifying opportunities to enhance distribution network performance and field support.
Coach and develop team members, building a high-performing team capable of operating with autonomy, strong judgment, and a sense of ownership.
Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives, franchisees, and external partners, often without direct authority.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of evolving business priorities.
Ability to travel 50–75%, with a strong emphasis on field engagement, distribution center visits, franchisee interaction, and external representation.