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Panera Bread

Fast-casual bakery, catering, delivery

Director Retail Operations

Food & Beverage Operations ManagementConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeNewton, MA, USA$119.6k - $136.4k

About the Job

Requirements

  • Multi-unit experience or related experience is preferred but not required.
  • Some college education, certification, or related experience is preferred but not required.
  • Firm understanding of business outcomes, including sales drivers, profit drivers, reading profit-and-loss statements, and financial reports.
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to leverage them to influence others.
  • Self-motivated, with the ability to plan, prioritize, schedule, and manage a market-wide calendar.
  • Ability to build high-performing teams through selection, coaching, and development, with strong coaching skills to continuously develop a team of managers.
  • Ability to motivate and inspire teams, create role clarity, and hold leaders at different organizational levels accountable.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, internet-based tools, and basic computer functions.
  • Strong work ethic and ability to work long and unusual hours.
  • Ability to travel up to 95% within the market, including some overnight travel for cafe visits based on market geography and company meetings; other out-of-market business travel may be required.
  • Ability to walk and stand for long periods during cafe visits, lift heavy items or boxes, perform desk and office administrative work, and commute between cafe locations.

Responsibilities

  • Create the strategy and vision for the market to achieve execution of Panera standards for guest service, market-wide operating systems, profitability, new unit growth, food quality and safety, and people development.
  • Achieve key business results and grow the business by coaching, developing, and holding cafe management teams accountable for executing standards and processes.
  • Understand, apply, and communicate business priorities; serve as a subject-matter expert on Panera operating systems and their application throughout the market.
  • Champion results through collaboration, communication, implementation, and sustained management of new products, processes, and programs.
  • Partner cross-functionally with market- and region-level support teams, including Operations, Human Resources, and business development, to support cafes and drive business results through channel execution.
  • Ensure each cafe management team practices the processes and behaviors needed to meet market goals and protect the Panera brand identity and purpose.
  • Build cafe management teams’ capabilities and performance through Panera’s values and people practices, including recruitment, selection, diversity, equity and inclusion, compensation, development and training, performance management, coaching, and succession planning.
  • Create the market’s people strategy and maintain a talent pipeline to support market growth and talent needs and elevate employee performance and capability.
  • Ensure cafes comply with operational standards, policies, and federal and state employment laws relating to employment, food, and workplace safety.
  • Ensure cafes maintain an inclusive and engaging work environment free of discrimination and harassment.

Desired Qualifications

  • Multi-unit experience or related experience.
  • Some college education, certification, or related experience.

About the Company

Panera Bread

Fast-casual bakery, catering, delivery

Panera Bread operates as a fast-casual bakery-café brand that serves freshly prepared, clean-food meals. Its offering spans a diverse, chef-crafted menu with baked goods and café-style dishes, available through in-store dining and multiple digital channels. The product works via a combination of made-to-order menu items and a broad omni-channel system—including mobile ordering, catering, Rapid Pick-Up, curbside pickup, and delivery—to enhance convenience for customers. Panera differentiates itself through its emphasis on high-quality, clean ingredients, bakery heritage, and a tech-enabled customer experience, backed by a multi-brand portfolio under Panera Brands and ownership by JAB Holding Company. The company aims to make good, nutritious food accessible and easy to obtain across North America by continuously improving the dining and ordering experience through technology and operations.

Company size
10,001+
Company stage
IPO
Headquarters
St. Louis, MO
Founded
1981

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