Director of Operations - Central Region

Job Description

At Refreshments, operational excellence is the foundation of sustainable growth. We are seeking an experienced, field-oriented Director of Operations to support the Central Region by driving execution, improving consistency, and accelerating performance across a complex, multi-market business.

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, this leader will serve as a key operational partner across the Central Region, with informal authority over regional operations and formal responsibility for one assigned District. In addition to direct operational accountability, this role will serve as an informal leader and thought partner across the broader region, helping translate strategy into disciplined execution, measurable outcomes, and sustainable operating routines.

This role is responsible for supporting revenue growth, profitability, client retention, service execution, safety, employee engagement, operational efficiency, fleet readiness, and margin improvement. The successful candidate will bring strong business judgment, operational discipline, financial acumen, and the ability to influence leaders at multiple levels of the organization.

This is a highly visible, field-facing leadership role requiring the ability to balance strategy with hands-on execution. The Director of Operations will help identify performance gaps, simplify complex operational challenges, build accountability, and support a culture focused on safety, service, continuous improvement, and results.

This is a remote position with up to 80% travel. 

What You'll Lead - Operational Leadership & Growth

Regional Operational Excellence

• Serve as a key operational partner across the Central Region, helping drive consistency, standardization, and continuous improvement across core operating processes.
• Translate regional priorities into actionable plans that improve service execution, productivity, safety, client satisfaction, and financial results.
• Support Market Center and District leaders in identifying performance gaps, root causes, and practical solutions that can be executed in the field.
• Establish clear expectations, operating routines, and follow-up mechanisms to ensure disciplined execution across assigned areas of responsibility.
• Champion operational initiatives that improve productivity, service quality, employee engagement, safety performance, revenue, EBIT, and margin.

Assigned District

• Maintain formal operational responsibility for one assigned District.
• Lead business performance for assigned areas, including revenue growth, profitability, client retention, safety, service execution, employee engagement, and operational discipline.
• Support the continued integration, stabilization, and optimization of this acquired business, ensuring alignment with Refreshments standards, systems, expectations, and operating practices.
• Build strong leadership routines within assigned operations to improve communication, accountability, staffing, service execution, and financial performance.
• Ensure leaders maintain a safe, healthy, compliant, and productive environment for employees, clients, customers, and consumers.

Growth & Client Partnership

• Drive growth within the existing client base by partnering with Sales, Operations, and Market Center leadership to identify opportunities, strengthen relationships, and improve service delivery.
• Ensure exceptional customer service and operational execution that support client loyalty, retention, and long-term value creation.
• Identify innovative solutions, process improvements, and emerging opportunities that position the business for continued success.
• Partner with commercial leaders to support organic growth, improved client penetration, and execution of strategic service offerings.

What Youll Lead - Performance, Leadership & Operational Readiness

Performance, Financial Discipline & Margin Improvement

• Leverage data, financial insights, and operational metrics to identify opportunities and accelerate performance.
• Understand and analyze key performance indicators, including revenue, EBIT, margin, labor, route performance, order trends, inventory, service levels, client retention, customer satisfaction, and safety.
• Educate and coach leaders on the operational levers that impact margin, productivity, service execution, and financial performance.
• Help leaders move beyond reporting results by identifying actions, owners, timelines, and measurable improvement plans.

Leadership, Talent & Change Management

• Model key leadership behaviors and reinforce a culture of safety, service excellence, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Lead through influence, collaboration, and visibility while fostering trust across all levels of the organization.
• Coach and mentor District, Market Center, and functional leaders to elevate performance and prepare future organizational leaders.
• Lead organizational change efforts and support the successful implementation of strategic business initiatives.
• Champion service, safety leadership, employee engagement, and other key initiatives that strengthen culture and performance.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Maintain strong working relationships with key functional partners, including Sales, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Supply Chain, Safety, Fleet, and Compliance.
• Partner with functional leaders to remove barriers, improve decision-making, and support execution across assigned operations and the broader Central Region.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and operational thought partner to regional leadership.
• Partner with business unit leaders and stakeholders to inspire change, support adoption of new processes, and improve business outcomes.

Fleet, Safety & Operational Readiness

• Provide fleet oversight, including operations, maintenance, safety expectations, vehicle utilization, and operational readiness.
• Ensure adoption of Aramark processes, systems, tools, and operating routines.
• Reinforce safety expectations and ensure leaders are actively managing safe work practices, compliance, and risk mitigation.

At Aramark, developing new skills and doing what it takes to get the job done makes a positive impact for our employees and customers. Job duties may change or new ones may be assigned without formal notice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree highly preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of leadership experience in Food Service, Hospitality, Facilities, Business Management, Direct Store Delivery, Retail, Route Operations, Warehouse Operations, Service Operations, Equipment Maintenance, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant experience in operations leadership, route-based operations, warehouse management, service/equipment maintenance, or similar business environments.
• Proven leadership experience with responsibility for financial performance, operational execution, client service, and/or P&L outcomes.
• Strong understanding of operational metrics, financial drivers, productivity levers, margin improvement, and performance management routines.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, build alignment, and drive accountability across multiple locations, functions, and leadership levels.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively with frontline employees, Market Center leadership, regional leadership, clients, and functional partners.
• Ability to diagnose operational issues, simplify complex problems, and support practical, sustainable solutions.
• Experience leading change, implementing new processes, and improving business performance in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required; Salesforce experience preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety, service excellence, employee engagement, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to lead in a diverse environment with a strong focus on client and guest service.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Leadership Characteristics

The ideal candidate is:

• Operationally Disciplined – Understands that great strategy means nothing without consistent field execution.
• Results-Oriented – Focused on measurable outcomes and accountable for delivering commitments.
• Influential – Able to lead without always having direct authority, building trust and alignment across the region.
• Financially Savvy – Understands how operational decisions impact revenue, margin, EBIT, labor, productivity, and client retention.
• People-Focused – Builds strong teams, develops leaders, and creates an engaging culture where people can perform.
• Change-Ready – Comfortable leading through integration, transformation, ambiguity, and evolving business needs.
• Collaborative – Builds strong partnerships across Operations, Sales, HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Fleet, Safety, and Compliance.
• Practical – Can diagnose problems quickly and turn complex issues into clear, executable action plans.

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.