Manager, Operations Innovation (IHOP)

International House of Pancakes,LLC • Pasadena, CA

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Operations Innovation is a key leader within IHOP’s Restaurant Excellence team, responsible for framing complex operational problems, developing high‑impact solutions, and translating ideas into scalable programs that drive measurable results in restaurants. This role acts as a builder and operator – bringing structure to ambiguity, connecting insights to action, and ensuring initiatives move from concept to durable execution in the field. You’ll partner closely with subject matter experts across Operations, Labor, Technology, Training, and Field teams to design solutions that are practical, scalable, and adopted. This position reports to the Head of Restaurant Innovation and serves as a critical right‑hand partner – bringing analytical rigor, structured thinking, and executional drive across a wide range of initiatives.

Requirements

• 3-5+ years of experience in program management, operations enablement, consulting, or multi‑unit operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to structure ambiguous challenges into actionable plans.
• Strong analytical skills; uses data to inform decisions and quantify impact.
• Proven ability to move from insight → solution → execution.
• Generalist toolkit with the ability to flex across multiple domains.
• Bias for action, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of the organization.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Core Capabilities: Problem structuring and hypothesis-driven thinking.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.
• Experience designing and scaling operational initiatives (not just managing timelines).
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Execution & Agility: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% to support pilots and field engagement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in restaurant, hospitality, retail, or franchise environments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Problem Framing & Solution Development: Break down complex operational challenges into clear problem statements, hypotheses, and solution pathways.
• Apply structured thinking and analytical rigor to identify root causes and prioritize highest-impact opportunities.
• Partner with SMEs to translate ideas into practical, field-ready solutions.
• Program Design & Scaling: Architect scalable initiatives – from initial concept through pilot, rollout, and sustainment.
• Define metrics, operating models, and governance to support long-term performance.
• Balance standardization with real-world operational flexibility across the franchise system.
• Execution & Deployment: Drive end-to-end rollout of initiatives, including pilots, launches, and national scaling.
• Build clear implementation plans, timelines, and cross-functional alignment.
• Identify risks and adapt quickly to maintain momentum and adoption.
• Performance & Continuous Improvement: Establish KPIs and tracking mechanisms to measure adoption, impact, and ROI.
• Partner with Data and Field teams to assess performance and refine solutions based on real-world results.
• Ensure initiatives remain simple, practical, and impactful for operators.
• Operate with a Builder Mindset: Bring energy, curiosity, and a “go-getter” mentality to ambiguous, fast-moving problems.
• Lean in across multiple verticals (labor, tech, operations) as business needs evolve.
• Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

Benefits

• Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Dine Brands strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
• All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
• Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act and/or other applicable laws and regulations in other jurisdictions.
• Dine Brands reviews criminal history in connection with a conditional offer of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager