Director, Learning & Development and Operations Services

WHAT WE OFFER

• 100% Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance coverage for PLANTA employees.

• A generous paid parental leave package of up to 4 weeks.

• Work/life balance is a priority — annual PTO starts 90 days after date of employment.

• No limit on referral bonuses for sending Leadership and Team Members our way, paid after 180 days of successful employment.

• Tuition and professional certification program assistance up to $2,500 — we want you to reach your goals.

• ClassPass Wellness & Fitness membership (because healthful hedonism is a lifestyle).

• 50% off delicious plant-powered food at all full-service PLANTA concepts: PLANTA, PLANTA Queen, and PLANTA Cocina.

• Exciting career growth & development opportunities as part of an ever-expanding company: new restaurants and new positions are always on the horizon.

PLANTA is building a team of inclusive, strategic, and dynamic individuals who lead with a focus on equity, productivity, and workplace satisfaction. Our mission is to FUEL THE FUTURE and we do this across every corner of the hospitality industry, from creative and marketing to culinary, beverage, and beyond. Together, we craft exceptional guest experiences that leave a lasting impression.

At PLANTA, our passion for hospitality runs deep. It goes beyond delivering outstanding experiences for our guests; it's about nurturing and developing our team to become the next generation of industry leaders. We are committed to sourcing the finest ingredients and embracing our social responsibility to create a more sustainable organization each day.

What you'll find at PLANTA is a culture fueled by our core values: Determined—we stand for change, and together, we plan to win. Humble—we make mistakes, but we own them and learn from them. Intentional—we genuinely care about the people and the world around us. Nourishing—we aim to leave our guests, communities, and team members in a better place. Evolving—we embrace change and champion flexibility as we grow together.

DIRECTOR OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS SERVICES

The Director of Learning & Development and Operations Services will serve as a key strategic leader, overseeing both the development of our people and the execution of operational initiatives across our restaurant group. This role reports to the VP, Restaurants. This is a field-based leadership position, spending 70-80% of time in our restaurants working shoulder-to-shoulder with our teams. This role combines traditional L&D responsibilities—including training program development, LMS management, and career pathing—with operational oversight of internal communications, system implementations, and process improvements. This dynamic leader will drive excellence in both people development and operational execution by being present on the ground, coaching in real-time, and ensuring successful implementation of new initiatives. Through consistent restaurant presence and hands-on leadership, this role bridges the gap between organizational strategy and restaurant-level execution, while building strong relationships with our restaurant leaders and frontline teams, developing our next generation of talent. The ideal candidate will be a skilled project manager who can balance strategic planning with tactical execution, bringing experience in both restaurant operations and learning & development to help us scale efficiently while maintaining operational excellence.

WHAT'S ON YOUR PLATE

Field Leadership & Operations (70%)

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive learning and development strategy aligned with business objectives

• Oversee all internal communications between HQ and restaurant operations teams including monthly newsletters, slack communication and weekly communication meetings.

• Spend majority of time in restaurants, working directly with teams to develop talent and drive operational excellence

• Provide real-time coaching, training, and support to restaurant leaders and teams

• Lead in-person training sessions and workshops across locations, including all NSO training

• Drive implementation and adoption of new systems, processes, and initiatives across the restaurant group

• Serve as key liaison between Operations, Culinary and HQ departments to ensure alignment and effective execution

• Develop and maintain Book of Standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices documentation

Learning & Development Program Management (20%)

• Design and implement scalable training programs for hourly and leadership in our restaurants

• Lead the selection, implementation and management of the Learning Management System (LMS)

• Create, maintain and roll-out training content, including e-learning, in-person workshops, and hybrid programs

• Establish metrics and reporting systems to measure training effectiveness and ROI

• Partner with The People Team and operators to develop career pathing and succession planning programs. Partner with restaurant leaders to identify internal talent and develop the next generation of restaurant leaders.

Project Management & Communications (10%)

• Lead cross-functional projects related to new restaurant openings, system implementations, and process improvements

• Develop and execute communication strategies for major initiatives and operational changes. Evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies in the field

• Facilitate collaboration between departments to ensure successful project completion and roll-outs

Other duties as assigned

INGREDIENTS YOU'LL BRING TO THE TABLE

• 5 years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, with at least 2 years in a director-level role
• Proven track record implementing training programs for frontline and leadership in a multi-unit, preferably full service, restaurant environment
• Comfortable spending majority of time traveling between restaurant locations
• Strong preference for hands-on teaching and coaching versus desk work
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to connect with all levels of restaurant staff
• Experience leading change management initiatives in a restaurant environment
• Bachelor's degree requires; Master's degree in related field preferred
• Experience developing and executing internal communications strategies
• Proficiency with learning management systems and e-learning development tools
• Excellence in both written and verbal communication
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities