Since 1940, Dairy Queen® has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

Oversee management of the Corporate restaurants, including the Corporate training restaurant, ensuring both financial and training targets are met.  Develop, deliver, and manage national account partners, operations programs/ processes and tools designed to assist the Operations, R&D, Training, and Marketing divisions; executing initiatives to achieve goals and objectives that ensure dominance within the QSR burger and treat segments. Supervise the Corporate restaurants, including the Corporate training restaurant, ensuring both financial and training targets are met.  Effectively lead, manage, and develop project managers, technical support staff and restaurant management teams in a manner that influences and drives profitable outcomes for franchisees and corporate restaurants.

Essential Functions:

Establishing functional strategies, goals and processes:

• Collaborate with Vice President of Concept Support Services to establish short-term and long-term priorities (1yr., 2 yr., and 3 yr.) that aligns with corporate goals and objectives.  Use a visionary approach to examine current environment and plan for future growth opportunities.
• Lead and monitor the progress of all projects and assist with any necessary adjustments to ensure that proper follow-up is completed on commitments and that projects are completed on a timely basis and on budget.
• Determine strategic plans to elevate and enhance existing projects and resources, in a manner that is appropriately prioritized and balanced against the continuing needs of the cross-functional teams, and our franchisees at large.
• Serve as the primary Operations filter/consultant to the balance of the CSS Team and cross-functional business partners.  Act as the foremost agent and reference for operational input that contributes to and enhances the work that is completed across the organization including, but not limited to, Concept Support Services, field operations, retail technology, brand/marketing, and supply chain.  Actively serve in this role in a manner that ensures that operational realities and opportunities that exist in the field are considered and addressed within the context of programs and content that is created across the department.
• Develop, manage, and coordinate the processes and routines for implementing Operations, Training, retail technology and Marketing programs.
• Ensure effective and professional communications occur between the Concept Support Services department and other IDQ departments, including but not limited to Operations team, Training, R&D, Quality Assurance, Brand Marketing, Retail Technology, and supply chain.
• Represent the Operations department in meetings with internal and external business partners to communicate the goals and perspective of the Operations department that are critical for executing projects.
• Identify, analyze, and monitor market trends in the QSR industry.

Team Management:

• Hire and manage a high-performing team. Provide coaching, feedback and support to team members. Direct the workflow and prioritization of work for the team.
• Establish an environment that maximizes team motivation, productivity, and results. 
• Establish and manage to clear performance expectations.
• Develop staff to meet IDQ’s current and future needs. 

Specialty Area of Focus:

• Oversee management of the Corporate restaurants, including the corporate training restaurant, ensuring both financial and training targets are met.  Consistently implement brand concepts and initiatives in a manner that showcases the value of our corporate offerings.  Analyze and respond to the competitive landscape from an executional and local store marketing standpoint. 
• Develop ongoing bench strength plan for management at corporate store locations.
• Coordinate and approve various department requests to utilize corporate training restaurant and staff for equipment tests, customer data collection, new product executions, and other projects. Establish criteria to measure stakeholder satisfaction with utilization of corporate restaurants. Establish benchmarks for satisfaction and work actively throughout the year to improve performance.
• Lead and oversee the development of operations processes related to expanded business channels of mobile ordering and delivery. Test, validate and launch operational protocols designed to ensure operational excellence of franchisees.
• Drive development, testing and delivery of tools, strategy and tactics designed to improve OSAT scores including building cultures of Fan First Service and BLAST. Serve as the subject matter expert on emerging trends in hospitality excellence. Vigorously engage, support and advocate for increased awareness and company engagement of success metrics.
• Support and contribute to key cyclical meetings (Fall Business Workshops, Winer Workshops, etc.) by authoring content and working towards building cross functional consensus on key operations communication touchpoints.
• Serve as a key leader in cross functional teams designed to improve system promotional readiness execution. Actively work to support promotional readiness team project plans and goals. Maintain visibility and provide operations insight to the Promotional Readiness team on ways to drive better execution in store for national promotions.

Minimum Qualification Requirements:

• B.A. or B.S. Degree in Business, Restaurant Management or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and work experience, required. 
• Must have a minimum of 8-10 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 5+ years of recent/current experience and strong performance results in P&L restaurant management and/or franchise operations business consulting, required. 
• Experience with Retail Technology/ digital business channels a plus.
• Must have a minimum of 5 years of experience managing employees.
• Ability to effectively hire high-performing staff, establish clear expectations: monitor progress and results on an ongoing basis; actively coach employees to develop their skills; regularly provide feedback on employees’ strengths and when they are performing well; provide constructive feedback on areas to develop; create focus on the right priorities; eliminate roadblocks; provide solutions to day-to-day problems for staff.
• Track record of being a strong mentor and coach to professional-level peers.
• Track record of successful project management. Demonstrated capability to effectively manage a high volume of complex and ideally cross-functional projects. 
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of restaurant industry (QSR preferred) and of restaurant operations. Proficient knowledge of marketing, finance and training.
• Experience effectively creating and managing an operating budget. 
• Experience working within a franchisor organization, preferably a QSR brand.
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with the Restaurant Industry and of restaurant operations 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel. Working knowledge PowerPoint. 
• Must be ServSafe certifiable.
• Communication Skills. Strong communication skills, with the ability to effectively articulate and present ideas to a variety of internal and external audiences. Strong public speaking/ presentation skills to present to staff, management peers, senior company management, and franchisees individually and in groups.
• Teamwork and Cooperation. Effectively solves problems with others.  Involves others in matters that impact them. Works towards cross-functional “win-win” solutions. Strong ability to coordinate with other departments (Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, Legal, Design/ Architecture/ Construction, New Development, Quality and Research and Development) to complete projects on time.
• Change and Continuous Improvement. Challenges the status quo. Generates new and viable ideas. Can facilitate effective brainstorming to create solutions and improved processes.  Advances ideas into action. Keeps up to date on new developments and information related to Operations, as well as relevant industry practices and technical developments. 
• Accountability and Drive for Results. Strong ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects and requests simultaneously, within an intense, deadline-driven environment. Makes effective decisions in a timely manner.  Effectively plans and coordinates work; anticipates and adjusts for problems; evaluates results. Adjusts priorities as situations change.  Takes the initiative to find solutions quickly and effectively. When making plans and decisions, takes into account the realities of our franchisee system, as well as the impact to other teams cross-functionally. Uses data and analysis to inform decision-making. 
• Strategic Operations Leadership. Demonstrated ability to assists in developing strategies for achieving operations goals, to translate business strategies into clear objectives and tactics, and to proactively anticipate future trends or problems, their potential impact, and how to address them with relevant strategies.
• Demonstrates the highest level of integrity and trust. Communicate problems and setbacks in an honest and transparent manner that engenders trust from others. Demonstrate professional behavior at all times. Take a stand on difficult issues to “do the right thing; encourage openness and fairness.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Benefits

Our benefit package supports the well-being of our employees and their families.  Our comprehensive benefit package includes, medical, dental, 401K match, paid time off (including volunteer time as well as parental leave) and so much more!  To learn more about our great benefit offerings, click here.

Work Environment

Most positions located out of our global headquarters in Bloomington, MN will work a hybrid work schedule where you will work 2 collaboration days a week.  Additional in office time may be required to support team/project needs.  Positions will be identified as “remote eligible” when consideration will be given to candidates outside of drivable distance to our Bloomington office.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for all who touch DQ.  We believe in and commit to fostering a community where employees bring their authentic selves to work; where we recruit, engage and retain employees, franchise owners and suppliers with diverse background and identities; and where everyone feels welcome engaging with our DQ brand.

IDQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. IDQ participates in the US E-Verify program.  You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.