Director of IT - Restaurant Systems

Slim Chickens•Fayetteville, AR

40d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, IT Restaurant Systems is responsible for establishing Slim Chickens’ restaurant technology strategy and roadmap, leading core restaurant technology projects, and overseeing day-to-day support, implementation, and management of technology infrastructure at restaurant and corporate levels. This includes systems such as Point of Sale, Back Office, digital menu boards, mobile applications, and related platforms. The role leads end-to-end technology initiatives, including planning, development, testing, piloting, deployment, and post-deployment support. It manages an IT Support Analyst team of two FTEs, coordinates with internal teams, franchisees, contractors, and vendors, oversees PCI compliance reviews, and manages technology tools and the IT budget. The Director also supports new restaurant openings and remodels, evaluates new technologies, and ensures technology projects align with business goals, guest experience, and franchisee profitability. The position is primarily performed in an office environment and may involve occasional travel to restaurants or other work sites, including overnight stays. A bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or equivalent experience is required; a master’s degree in information systems technology or equivalent is preferred. The role requires relevant experience managing technology infrastructure in the food and beverage industry, including at least five years of industry experience.

Requirements

Degree in MIS or another technology major, or an equivalent amount of training and experience.
Bachelor’s degree in business, technology, or equivalent experience.
At least five years of experience in the food and beverage industry.
Relevant experience managing technology infrastructure for a company in the industry.
Ability to define business needs and select and install appropriate technology solutions.
Broad technology knowledge and strong problem-solving ability.
Proven ability to provide strong internal customer service.
Ability to design, implement, and maintain a reliable network with strong data security.
Ability to work with a team to solve business problems using technology.
Experience in a technology role supporting business and guest-facing applications.
Technical knowledge of network equipment, laptops, operating systems, AI platforms such as Claude, mobile devices, POS, and back-office applications.
Awareness of third-party platform integrations in restaurant and support center environments.
Functional technical knowledge of Brink POS hardware and software.
Functional technical knowledge of cloud-based software; POS and online ordering experience is relevant.
Functional technical knowledge of A/V equipment supporting restaurant menu and LTO boards.

Nice To Haves

Management experience in the food and beverage industry.
Master’s degree in information systems technology or equivalent.
Experience with cloud-based POS and online ordering software.

Responsibilities

Establish the IT strategy and roadmap for restaurant technology, including POS, Back Office, digital menu boards, and mobile applications.
Lead and project-manage core IT initiatives from concept and strategy through development, testing, piloting, deployment, and post-deployment support.
Lead implementation of POS and Back Office technology solutions while minimizing disruption to operations.
Lead and manage a two-person IT Support Analyst team overseeing POS and Back Office database management, including menu items, inventory, and labor management.
Collaborate with internal teams and franchisees to meet project goals and timelines.
Oversee the annual PCI compliance review.
Lead deployment and management of internal IT tools, including Monday.com and Claude.
Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to employees and direct reports.
Manage the IT budget, monitor related issues, and help ensure projects meet budget expectations.
Provide ongoing IT platform support to restaurant and leadership teams.
Oversee day-to-day management of core IT platforms and restaurant technology vendors.
Establish end-to-end technical support processes, including troubleshooting, issue reporting, and performance metrics.
Maintain detailed records of IT issues and communicate and document information clearly for teams.
Ensure IT team members are knowledgeable and meet end-user support responsibilities.
Support IT systems for new restaurant openings and remodels, including configuring locations in systems such as CrunchTime and Brink.
Participate in selecting, testing, and implementing hardware and software platforms to improve technology infrastructure and guest experience.
Establish short-term (6–12 month) and long-term (3–5 year) restaurant technology roadmaps.
Evaluate emerging technology, its competitive value, and its fit with existing solutions and business practices.
Coordinate with department leadership to prioritize and scope technology projects and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver them.
Align IT strategy and project goals with the franchise system.
Administer and monitor corporate project management tools, including Monday.com, and corporate AI licenses, including access and usage limits.
Stay current with Slim Chickens’ operating systems, security, policies, safety practices, and other company requirements.
Perform other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.