Midwest Operations Manager

About the Role:

The Midwest Operations Manager will be responsible for the overall management and day-to-day operations in our Midwest market, which includes schools in Chicago, Wilmette, and Kenosha (Wisconsin). We are seeking a dynamic and experienced operations management professional to lead our team and ensure the smooth and profitable operation at our schools within this region. Our services in this market range from delivering delicious meals from local vendors to operating full-service cafés, where we prepare fresh food, sell snacks and beverages, and collaborate with nearby partners to enhance the dining experience for students and staff. This role will require frequent travel within the Midwest market, and will begin with 1-2 weeks of training in our Delaware and Philadelphia markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operations Management: Oversee operations at German International, North Park Elementary, Regina Dominican High School, and Wolcott. Additional schools may be added to this market in the future as we continue to grow.
• Staff Management: Recruit, train, and supervise café staff of around 10 people. Responsibilities will also include: scheduling, performance evaluations, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Customer Experience: Ensure that every customer has a positive experience by maintaining high standards of service, addressing customer feedback, and following The Yay Way. The Cafe Manager will be responsible for maintaining regular communication with school administration, soliciting feedback, and sharing updates.
• Financial Management: Manage the café's budget, monitor daily sales and expenses, and implement strategies to increase sales profitability.
• Inventory Control: Monitor stock levels, order supplies, and manage vendor relationships to ensure timely delivery of quality products. Minimize waste and control costs through effective inventory management.
• Menu Development: Work with the prep team to implement a new prep menu to drive customer satisfaction and purchasing.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Ensure that the cafés adhere to all health, safety, and sanitation regulations. Implement and enforce proper food handling practices.
• Marketing and Promotion: Collaborate with the marketing team to develop marketing strategies including promotions, special events, and outreach.
• Problem-Solving: Handle any operational challenges, including equipment malfunctions, staffing issues, and customer complaints, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• Reporting: Provide regular reports to the Director of Operations and President on the café’s performance, including Gross Merchandise Value, customer feedback, and staff performance.

You will:

• Hire, train, and manage team members including scheduling, payroll, and working with HR on employment matters
• Be the primary point of contact for school administrators at Yay Lunch
• Follow current, and help create new, SOPs for service and cafe function
• Ensure facilities are kept organized and clean
• Conduct daily and weekly inventory, ordering, and receiving
• Management of supply pick up and logistics
• Collaborate with marketing and merchandising for special theme events
• Monitor all product to ensure proper rotation and code date management
• Conduct weekly team meetings and daily standups
• Work with internal Customer Experience team to resolve issues
• Control shrink and waste to keep it within set targets
• Manage day-to-day operations and be a hands on team member in all operations of service
• Be available for emergency issues involving the team or the café
• Work with Leadership to identify opportunities for growth, and develop execution plan, including economic impact
• Work from one of the cafes each day

You must be:

• Quick to resolve problems
• People-oriented with a focus on driving team engagement
• Detailed-oriented hyper-organized, meeting business objectives
• Proactive, creative and positive
• Collaborative and willing to jump in and take on any job
• Able to stay calm under pressure
• Personable, engaging, and able to discuss the program with a Head of School and a favorite dish with a 4th grader

You must have:

• At least 5-7 years of food management experience, preferably university dining , high volume restaurant, and/ or chef manager experience. Familiar with food safety procedures and inventory management
• Servsafe Manger or Servsafe Proctor Certification
• Proficiency with Google Suite (Drive, Sheets, Word, Hangout, etc.)
• Strong time management skills
• Experience hiring and developing an hourly workforce
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• A reliable personal vehicle, great driving record, & car insurance
• Meticulous attention to detail - whether keeping the cafes clean and organized or entering data for ordering management

We provide:

• Salary $65,000
• Company-supported insurance - Medical, Vision, Dental and Life
• Voluntary Life Insurance, Short-term Disability Insurance, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Retirement, up to 3.5% employer match
• Flexible paid time off (unlimited time off program)
• Data stipend
• Significant support structures, on-the-ground training, & coaching

Salary : $65,000