Director of Operations (DOO)

Smashburger•Schaumburg, IL

About The Position

Leaning in is what the Smash in Smashburger is all about! At Smashburger, we don’t just make burgers—we create crave-worthy moments that keep guests coming back for more. We believe the more you lean in in life, the more you get out! We chase greatness, play as one team, and lead with bold action. You'll be part of a team that works hard and cares deeply—where passion and dedication are just as important as skill. At Smashburger, we live by our values: Taste Obsessed – Bring flavor into every shift Premium Experience – Lead Boldly. Deliver Flawlessly Stay Hungry – Literally & Figuratively One Team! One Smash! – Smash Together Do What’s Right – Act with honesty and consistency. If this sounds like your kind of place, we’d love to have you on the team! The Role The Director of Operations leads multi-unit restaurant performance across assigned markets, driving sales, guest satisfaction, and team development. This role partners closely with restaurant leadership to ensure consistent execution of brand standards and operational excellence.

Requirements

5+ years of multi-unit restaurant leadership experience
Proven ability to drive sales, develop teams, and improve operations
Strong leadership, communication, and coaching skills
Solid financial and operational acumen
Highly organized, self-directed, and results-driven
Based in Illinois with ability to get to Chicagoland market, as well as restaurants in Minnesota
Valid driver’s license; 80–85% travel within market
Availability for nights, weekends, and on-call support as needed
Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs
Completion of company training program required

Responsibilities

Oversee 6–10 restaurant locations (primarily corporate; some franchise exposure)
Lead, coach, and develop RGMs, RMs, and Supervisors to achieve sales, labor, and operational goals
Conduct regular in-market visits (4–6 days/week) to drive performance and accountability
Improve guest experience metrics (NPS, OSAT) and resolve guest concerns within 24 hours
Analyze financial performance (sales, labor, costs) and implement improvement plans
Review schedules, staffing, and inventory to optimize efficiency
Build talent pipelines through hiring, development, and succession planning
Ensure completion of training programs and adherence to company standards
Maintain compliance with food safety, operational, and regulatory requirements
Partner cross-functionally with HR, Recruiting, Training, and Marketing
Execute local store marketing initiatives to drive traffic and sales

Benefits

Quarterly Bonus
Get Paid $ to Refer your Friends
RGMs, RMs, & SLs are entitled to one (1) free meal each shift they work
Paid time off – vacation and sick
Medical, Dental and Vision Options
401K match (21 and older)
Flexible schedules in a fun, family friendly, team environment
Employee Assistance Program
Fast track for career opportunities
Free uniform
Eligibility based off of time in position and average hours worked
Referred employees must be manager level and in good standing & Referee must be employed with Smashburger at time of payout.
Bonus is paid in two distributions
All applicants and employees have an equal opportunity for employment and advancement within Smashburger.
Smashburger is dedicated to the principles of equal employment opportunity. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants, prospective applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on any of these protected classes. Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. We maintain a workplace free of racial slurs and bias. This policy applies to all employees, including managers, supervisors, co-workers, and non-employees such as customers, clients, vendors, consultants, etc. Any conduct in violation of these company policies is also a violation of the law. Employees who engage in, ratify, or perpetuate discrimination, harassment or retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate discharge.
https://smashburger.com/job-applicant-privacy-policy
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