Join Our Team as the Director of Restaurant Operations in a dynamic airport environment!
JFK Terminal 4 - Director of Restaurant Operations
$140,000 - $150,000 / year
Quarterly Bonus + Year-End Super Bonus
Full Benefits Package
Career Growth in a High-Visibility Airport Operation
SSP America operates a diverse portfolio of restaurants across John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4. We work closely with our brand partners and airport authorities to deliver great experiences for the nearly 100 million passengers traveling through our airports each year. With stories of unrivaled hospitality and authenticity at the heart of what we do, our team members bring our airports to life.
We elevate airport food and beverage and take pride in delivering "a taste of place®" throughout North America.
We are excited to offer a career-defining opportunity for an experienced Director of Restaurant Operations to lead the large-scale, multi-brand food and beverage operation within JFK Terminal 4. This is a high-impact leadership role overseeing 18 units making it one of the most operationally complex terminals in our portfolio.
What You'll Do
Operational Leadership
Lead and support a team of multi-unit managers and direct reports, ensuring consistent execution of brand standards, product launches, and promotional programs.
Maintain uncompromising quality, food safety, and operational integrity in all units.
Conduct regular internal assessments to ensure compliance, readiness, and optimal guest experience.
Business & Financial Management
Own full P&L responsibility for a large-scale, multi-unit environment with diverse concepts and brand partners.
Analyze KPI and sales performance trends, forecast business needs, and create action plans that drive sustainable results.
Optimize labor, inventory, and cost structures through effective planning and operational discipline.
People Leadership
Build a strong leadership bench by coaching, mentoring, and developing managers to meet the demands of a complex terminal.
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture with clear expectations and accountability.
Support succession planning and ensure strong leadership continuity across all units.
Systems, Compliance & Process Management
Enforce compliance with SSP policies, brand standards, union requirements, and local/state regulations.
Implement scalable systems and processes that support consistent execution across multiple concepts and unit types.
Partner with internal departments (Finance, HR, Culinary, Brands) to ensure alignment and support operational goals.
Minimum Requirements
Experience & Scale Requirements
Minimum 10 years of progressive restaurant leadership experience with full P&L accountability.
Minimum 5 years of multi-unit leadership overseeing General Managers or multi-unit managers - required.
Experience leading a minimum of 8 operating units within a multi-concept portfolio - required.
Experience managing at least $30 million in annual sales volume - required.
Airport operations experience or leadership in a similarly regulated, high-volume environment - strongly preferred.
Operational & Leadership Competencies
Demonstrated success in stabilizing or turning around underperforming units using systems-based leadership.
Proven ability to build strong cultures, develop leaders, and maintain calm, structured accountability in fast-paced environments.
Experience partnering with cross-functional teams (Finance, HR, Culinary, Brands, Airport Authorities) to achieve operational goals.
Technical Skills
Strong proficiency with POS systems and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Ability to develop operational presentations and reporting for senior leadership.
Diversity Statement
SSP America is an equal opportunity employer. All decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, age, disability, genetic information, or and other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. SSP America will provide reasonable accommodations during the application and interview process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws.
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