Senior Vice President of Operations

Job Summary:

The Senior Vice President (SVP) will play a pivotal role in leading, managing, and inspiring a team of leaders (4 direct, 325 salaried, and 1,400+ frontline associates) dedicated to ensuring the school communities we serve are safe, happy, and healthy. This leadership role requires a strategic visionary who can foster a culture of excellence while partnering closely with peers and support services to fulfill the FISD mission, achieve Key Performance Indicators, drive community satisfaction, innovation and business growth. Candidate should be based in one of the following locations, and commutable to a major airport: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Team Management:

• Lead, manage, and inspire a diverse team of district managers and regional directors of operations to deliver exceptional service within the assigned region
• Cultivate strong relationships with clients at all levels to ensure community satisfaction, achieve budgets, ensure the highest levels of quality and service while delivering relevant value over time
• Communicate regularly with peers to share standard processes, mitigate risks, promote diversity, and strengthen community ties
• Set the tone for the organizational culture in the region by ensuring transparency, people development, safety, accountability, and alignment through regular team interactions
• Collaborate with key partners on both regional and division initiatives to enhance service delivery and customer experience
• Champion talent development within the region through performance evaluations and succession planning, possessing a comprehensive understanding of all operational roles

Strategic Decision-Making:

• Make key regional decisions with input from the team, weighing risks and rewards while considering short- and long-term implications
• Communicate strategic decisions persuasively based on the specific nature of issues
• Act as a brand ambassador for the team to senior clients, serving as an escalation point for critical issues

Financial Oversight:

• Own regional financial results and P&L, collaborating with the leadership team to ensure accurate reporting, forecasting, and budgeting
• Policy Administration: Ensure consistent and equitable administration of all policies and procedures across the region
• Ensure compliance with Quality Assurance (QA), policy, and USDA program requirements, completing all required reporting accurately and on time

Growth & Innovation:

• Market Insight: Recognize and anticipate marketplace trends
• Actively participate in partnership meetings, uncover real business needs, and drive retention
• Collaborate with Sales and Retention teams to develop and implement strategies for growth, structure deals, present new business opportunities, build client relationships, and negotiate key contract terms

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university, and / or ten (10+) years of progressive experience in multi-unit foodservice / hospitality management - ideally in an upscale/luxury setting
• Proven experience managing a volume of $200 million or greater with a high degree of complexity, highly desired
• Strong background in senior leadership roles with expertise in contract and budget management, customer service, people development, food services, and negotiations
• Consistent record of business growth and delivering innovation
• Ability to think quickly, analytically, strategically, and accurately in a dynamic environment
• Exceptional client relationship management, influencing, listening, and communication skills (both written and verbal). Strong executive presence
• Champion of an inclusive mentality; proactive, positive, professional, flexible, and resilient
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, multi-tasking, prioritization, and organizational skills
• Prior independent school dining and boarding experience a plus
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• 60% anticipated travel

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