Operations Excellence Manager

WHO WE ARE

We’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavor business. It’s been our mission to Serve the World Flavor since we first opened in 1994, and we’re just getting started. 1997 saw the opening of our first brand partner operated Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavor that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry.

Above all else – our success is largely due to our people and our core values, or what we call The Wingstop Way of being entrepreneurial, service-minded, fun, and authentic. We believe having a strong people foundation centered on these collective values creates a crave-worthy culture and talented team, as well as ensures our brand is poised for accelerated growth. We all win together.

WHAT WE’LL NEED

Operations Excellence Manager

The Operations Excellence Manager is a field-focused individual contributor responsible for driving operational consistency, change, and continuous improvement across corporate restaurants nationwide. This role partners closely with Directors, District Managers, Senior District Managers, and cross-functional teams to execute key initiatives, strengthen compliance, and support business growth.

Based in DFW, this role serves as a centralized resource with significant field engagement, requiring 50–75% travel. The ideal candidate is an experienced restaurant operator who can translate strategy into practical field execution, lead projects, build scalable processes, and coach field leaders to deliver measurable results.

Operational Execution & Field Support

• Drive the execution of operational excellence initiatives across the corporate restaurant network to improve consistency, efficiency, and sustainable performance.
• Lead operational pilots and tests; evaluate results and support successful enterprise-wide implementation.
• Conduct operational assessments and gap analyses to identify opportunities to improve execution, guest experience, and restaurant performance.
• Partner with DMs and Sr. DMs to execute key operational priorities across corporate restaurants.
• Provide in-field coaching and support to reinforce standards, systems, and processes.
• Serve as a bridge between corporate strategy and restaurant-level execution.

Continuous Improvement

• Own the Root Cause Analysis (RCA) program for recurring operational issues, identifying systemic drivers and implementing corrective and preventive actions.
• Build structured problem-solving capabilities through RCA, process mapping, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on productivity, waste reduction, quality, and restaurant profitability.
• Establish governance and accountability mechanisms to sustain standardized processes after implementation.
• Conduct operational audits and assessments to evaluate performance and adherence to standards.
• Track follow-up actions and progress to ensure improvements are sustained.

New Restaurant Openings & Acquisitions

• Support the planning and execution of new restaurant openings to ensure operational readiness.
• Lead operational integration efforts for newly acquired restaurants.
• Partner with Operations, Learning & Development, Supply Chain, Finance, Technology, Construction, and HR to identify process gaps and implement scalable solutions.
• Support seamless operational transitions during openings, acquisitions, and other business changes.

Training & Capability Building

• Support the development and execution of training initiatives for field leadership.
• Reinforce operational standards and best practices through hands-on coaching.
• Partner with Learning & Development and HR to identify capability gaps and implement solutions.

Safety & Compliance

• Lead initiatives that strengthen safety standards and regulatory compliance across the network.
• Identify gaps through audits and field visits and implement corrective action plans.
• Partner with field leaders to build accountability for safety, compliance, and operational excellence.

SOP Development & Process Standardization

• Develop, refine, and implement standard operating procedures to improve consistency and scalability.
• Ensure processes are practical, field-friendly, and aligned with business needs.
• Continuously evaluate and improve operational workflows.

Project & Change Management

• Lead cross-functional projects tied to operational priorities, including safety, new restaurant openings, compliance, and process improvement.
• Develop clear project plans, timelines, and accountability structures.
• Drive alignment among Operations, Construction, Training, HR, Technology, Supply Chain, and external vendors.

Success Measures

• Improved operational, safety, and compliance performance across corporate restaurants.
• Reduced process variation through established standards and performance benchmarks.
• Successful adoption of SOPs and operational initiatives in the field.
• Timely, high-quality execution of new restaurant openings and acquisition integrations.
• Increased audit performance and operational consistency.
• A prioritized pipeline of operational improvement initiatives.
• Strengthened capabilities across the DM and Sr. DM population.
• On-time, high-quality delivery of key cross-functional projects.

What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)

• Builds credibility and strong working relationships with DMs, Sr. DMs, and restaurant teams.
• Supports multiple new restaurant openings and/or acquisition integrations with minimal operational disruption.
• Identifies key operational gaps through field visits, audits, and performance analysis, then drives practical corrective actions.
• Delivers clear, field-friendly SOPs and tools that improve restaurant execution and consistency.
• Establishes a prioritized pipeline of operational improvement opportunities and supports measurable progress against key initiatives.
• Becomes a trusted partner to field leadership and cross-functional teams by translating strategy into effective restaurant-level execution.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Five or more years of multi-unit leadership experience overseeing multiple restaurant locations; QSR experience preferred.
• Proven success as a high-performing District Manager or in a comparable field leadership role.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, operational standards, compliance, and field execution.
• Experience leading operational improvement initiatives, pilots, or process-change efforts.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and drive results in a cross-functional environment.
• Experience supporting new restaurant openings and/or restaurant acquisitions preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, with the ability to quickly learn new systems.
• Willingness and ability to travel 50–75%.

WHO YOU ARE 

No job is too small. You recognize that the real work happens in the restaurants, and everything we do should support their success. You stay humble, roll up your sleeves, and always look for ways to help. You learn from others and contribute wherever you can.

You care deeply about doing great work and driving results. You’re curious, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to improve. You don’t just point out problems—you bring solutions, ideas, and perspectives that move the team forward.

You take full responsibility for your work and see things through to completion. You aren’t afraid to fail because you know that failure is a part of learning and growth. You take action, move fast, and keep pushing forward.

You lead with empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence. You collaborate effectively, fostering a culture of trust and constructive feedback. You understand the importance of teamwork and ensure that your actions build others up rather than break them down.

You push yourself and others to be better. You embrace healthy conflict, knowing that great ideas and strong teams emerge from honest, constructive conversations. You believe that leaders create leaders and are committed to fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and continuous improvement.

BENEFITS

FLAVOR PERKS:

• Unlimited paid time off for exempt employees

• One paid volunteer day of your choice

• Competitive bonus structure for eligible roles

• Team member stock purchase plan

• Health savings or flexible spending account options

• 401k – (dollar for dollar on the first 3% and then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2% for team member contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation)

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

• Basic life and AD&D insurance provided

• Pet insurance

• Education Assistance

• Wellness reimbursement program

• Paid maternity and paternity leave

FUN IS THE BEST FLAVOR:

• Lunch provided every Tuesday and Thursday in office

• Discount on Wingstop gift cards

• Onsite game room

Wingstop provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.