Vice President of Operations - TX

SUMMARY: The Vice President of Operations is a strategic and hands-on operational leader responsible for driving financial performance, operational excellence, client satisfaction, and team development across an assigned region. This role ensures that strong systems, controls, and talent are in place to support growth, deliver high-quality programs, and uphold Whitsons' mission of Enhancing Life One Meal at a Time™. The VP provides vision, direction, and day-to-day leadership to District Managers and General Managers, enabling consistent execution, continuous improvement, and a high-accountability culture that aligns with company values, operational standards, and strategic objectives. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:Operational Leadership Lead and manage regional operations in alignment with company mission, values, and strategic goals. Prioritize financial performance, operational execution, and field presence; spend the majority of time in accounts driving quality, compliance, and results. Provide accurate, timely reporting on regional performance and operating conditions to the COO. Assess and improve operational processes; implement systems, technology, and procedures to support consistent execution and scalable growth. Strategic Planning & Growth Partner with senior leadership to develop regional growth strategies, operational infrastructure enhancements, and long-term business plans. Support sales through bid tours, operational design input, labor models, and participation in key client presentations. Oversee transition plans for new accounts, including operational setup, equipment planning, and program standards. People Leadership & Talent Development Build and lead a high-performing regional management team; recruit, coach, and retain District and General Managers. Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching sessions, and developmental activities; address underperformance within established timelines. Foster an accountable, success-oriented environment that promotes communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Client Relationship Management Maintain strong client partnerships through regular communication, monthly or required meetings, and proactive issue resolution. Review program performance from both financial and qualitative perspectives and ensure strong client satisfaction. Ensure monthly dining reports and required updates are consistently delivered. Field Operations Oversight Conduct at least three site visits per week, focusing on underperforming locations; provide written action plans after each visit. Ensure merchandising, marketing, menu execution, forecasting, compliance, and training standards are consistently met across all accounts. Review and approve operational plans annually for each account (sales, labor, food cost, marketing, and training). Financial & Business Management Own regional P&L performance; develop budgets and ensure financial objectives are met. Renegotiate client returns or pricing as needed; communicate variances promptly with improvement plans. Develop strategies to reduce receivable days outstanding; support safety initiatives to reduce claims. Ensure asset management, equipment upkeep, and reinvestment planning. General Support Take on additional responsibilities or interim assignments as business needs evolve. Strategic Objectives Financial: Achieve financial goals through proactive planning, expense management, and early identification of performance risks. Team: Build a strong management pipeline; lead performance and accountability standards. Technology: Champion Dine Central and other Whitsons technologies to enhance operational efficiency. Product: Ensure food quality aligns with client expectations and budget parameters; maintain systems for identifying and resolving program quality concerns. Supervisory Responsibilities Direct oversight of District Managers, with indirect leadership responsibility for General Managers and account-level teams. Conduct monthly performance monitoring and three formal performance discussions per cycle with DM teams. This role offers a salary starting at $180,000 annually, based on skills, experience, and location. Employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, generous PTO, and paid holidays. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:Education Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) with concentration in Food & Nutrition, Food Service Management, Dietetics, Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition Education, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field; OR Bachelor's degree in any major plus a state-recognized certificate in Food & Nutrition, Food Service Management, Dietetics, Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition Education, Culinary Arts, or Business, with at least one year of management experience (school nutrition experience strongly preferred); OR Master's degree preferred or willingness to pursue one. Certifications ServSafe Certification (Mandatory); must meet local food safety requirements and understand all relevant ordinances. School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) Level 3 Certification preferred. Food Management Professional (FMP) certification preferred. Experience Minimum 10 years of progressive Food Service Management experience required At least 7 years leading high-volume, urban K-12 school nutrition programs, with demonstrated success advancing program quality and development Broad business and operational exposure across Contract Management, B&I, Emergency Services, and Prepared Meals Culinary background required, with a demonstrated passion for food quality, consistency, and execution Strong working knowledge of cooking techniques, recipe adherence, menu scaling, and operational best practices Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing management teams across complex, multi-site environments Demonstrated success managing competing priorities, driving accountability, and improving overall program performance Experience partnering effectively with clients, executive leadership, and cross-functional stakeholders Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement Bilingual English/Spanish highly desirable Core Competencies Communication: Clearly and effectively communicate ideas and expectations-verbally, in writing, and digitally-to influence outcomes and align teams Customer Focus: Maintain a client- and student-first mindset; anticipate needs and proactively ensure service excellence Innovation: Identify, develop, and implement new ideas, processes, and operational improvements that enhance quality, efficiency, and results Organizational Leadership: Demonstrate strategic thinking, sound judgment, and effective prioritization while leading teams toward measurable outcomes and continuous improvement Technical Skills Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) Strong capability to communicate and collaborate through email and digital platforms Demonstrated ability to quickly learn, adopt, and leverage new technologies to support operational effectiveness Personal Behavior As an executive leader, you are expected to model the behaviors and professional standards that reflect Whitsons' culture and directly support the achievement of our Strategic Objectives. Your actions, decisions, and communication must consistently uphold the following principles: Integrity: Honor commitments, follow through on responsibilities, and take ownership for outcomes-positive or negative. Authenticity: Foster trust by being transparent, honest, and open about successes, challenges, and opportunities for improvement. Teamwork: Cultivate a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued and cross-functional coordination enhances performance. Safety: Champion a culture of safety by modeling safe practices, reinforcing expectations, and ensuring all team members operate in a secure and compliant environment. As an executive, you are expected to be receptive to feedback, actively participate in performance assessments, and adjust behaviors or approaches as necessary to remain aligned with organizational goals. You must lead by example your conduct sets the tone for the region and should embody the standards expected of all team members. Personal Development As an executive, you are expected to demonstrate continuous leadership excellence and maintain proficiency in the following competencies essential to your role: Identifying and Developing Talent: Recognize potential, build capability at all levels, and create a strong leadership pipeline. Delegation and Follow-Up: Assign responsibilities effectively, empower teams, and ensure appropriate accountability and follow-through. Motivating Teams: Inspire high performance, engagement, and alignment through clear expectations, coaching, and recognition. Communication: Communicate with clarity, professionalism, and influence in both written and verbal formats across all levels of the organization. Team Leadership: Provide direction, set priorities, resolve barriers, and guide teams toward consistent operational excellence. These competencies are foundational, not exhaustive. You are expected to proactively pursue ongoing development, identify gaps in your leadership capabilities, and seek training, coaching, or resources to strengthen your effectiveness and meet evolving business needs. WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER DETAILSTravel Requirements: This position will oversee the operations of a predefined region within the Company. This position requires frequent travel, possibly more than 90% of the time. Most traveling will be confined to day trips in the region but may also include overnight stays as well. Travel will be required as necessary for proper management and development of the District Mangers & General Managers, client meetings, company meetings and sales presentations. Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time exempt position. Days and hours of work are generally Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. As an exempt position, it is expected that Team Member will devote whatever time necessary to accomplish the goals and responsibilities. This may require extended work hours, evening, and/or weekend work. Physical Demands of the Job: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, walk, talk, and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. The team member must be able to multi-task and tolerate frequent interruptions. Position may require extended hours including evenings and/or weekends, travel to multiple work sites, and frequent out-of-town travel. Must be able to drive his/her own vehicle to other work sites and use his/her own smart phone. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work is performed primarily in an office setting and in a food production/manufacturing environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate (office) to high (production floor/kitchen). The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, and the Company reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Company and team members and is subject to change by the Company as the needs of the Company and the requirements of the job change.

Created: 2026-03-07