Director, Retail Operations

Panera Bread•Newton, MA

1d•$111,808 - $134,169•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Retail Operations delivers Panera operational expectations in bakery-cafes by translating brand objectives into execution by cafes and associates. The role acts like an owner and leads and develops leaders to create strong experiences for associates and guests, build trust and loyalty, grow sales, and deliver profit growth. The Director creates the market strategy and vision for execution of Panera standards for guest service, operating systems, profitability, new-unit growth, food quality and safety, and people development. The role coaches and develops cafe management teams, communicates business priorities, supports new products and programs, and collaborates with market- and region-level partners to drive results. It also develops a market people strategy and talent pipeline, and ensures compliance with operational standards, policies, employment laws, and food and workplace safety requirements. The position is based at the Newton Support Center and involves up to 95% travel within the market, some overnight and other out-of-market travel, cafe visits, commuting between locations, and some desk and office administration. The role requires periods of walking and standing and lifting heavy items or boxes. Competitive pay is listed as $111,808–$134,169; actual compensation depends on relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographic location.

Requirements

Firm understanding of business outcomes, including sales drivers, profit drivers, and reading P&L and financial reports.
Excellent communication skills and ability to influence others.
Self-motivated, with the ability to plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market-wide calendar.
Ability to build high-performing teams through selection, coaching, and development; strong coaching skills to develop managers.
Ability to motivate and inspire teams, create role clarity, and hold leaders at different organizational levels accountable.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, internet-based tools, and basic computer functions.
Strong work ethic and ability to work long and unusual hours.
Ability to travel up to 95% within the market, including some overnight travel and other out-of-market travel as business needs require.
Ability to walk and stand for long periods during cafe visits, lift heavy items or boxes, perform desk and office administrative work, and commute between cafe locations.

Nice To Haves

Multi-unit experience or related experience.
Some college education, certification, or related experience.

Responsibilities

Create the strategy and vision for the market to execute Panera standards for guest service, operating systems, profitability, new-unit growth, food quality and safety, and people development.
Achieve key business results and grow the business by coaching, developing, and holding cafe management teams accountable for executing standards and processes.
Understand, apply, and communicate business priorities and Panera operating systems throughout the market.
Collaborate, communicate, implement, and sustain management of new products, processes, and programs.
Partner with market- and region-level support teams, including Operations, HR, and business development, to support cafes and drive channel execution and business results.
Ensure cafe management teams practice the processes and behaviors needed to meet market goals and protect Panera’s brand identity and purpose.
Build the capabilities and performance of cafe management teams through Panera’s Guiding Values and people practices, including recruitment, selection, DE&I, compensation, training and development, performance management, coaching, and succession planning.
Create the market’s people strategy and maintain a talent pipeline to support market growth and talent needs.
Ensure cafes comply with operational standards, policies, federal and state employment laws, and food and workplace safety requirements.
Ensure cafes foster and maintain an inclusive work environment free of discrimination and harassment.
Plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market-wide calendar.
Travel within the market for cafe visits and travel for company meetings and other business needs.