Restaurant Operations Specialist

Wings Team/Command Center Operations Specialist

Position Summary

The Restaurant Operations Specialist - New Openings & Field Support is a highly mobile operations leader responsible for supporting restaurant locations across the country, with a primary focus on new restaurant openings, operational support, and special events.

This position will travel extensively to provide hands-on support during new restaurant openings, assist existing locations during periods of increased operational demand, and support special events and high-volume business initiatives. When not traveling, the Operations Specialist will work from the company's Quality Assurance/Command Center in San Antonio, TX, supporting restaurant operations, monitoring business performance, coordinating field resources, and assisting with company-wide operational initiatives.

The ideal candidate is an experienced restaurant leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, adapts quickly to different locations and teams, and can move seamlessly between hands-on restaurant operations and centralized support.

Key Responsibilities

New Restaurant Openings

• Travel to new restaurant locations throughout the United States to support pre-opening and opening activities.
• Support soft openings, grand openings, and post-opening stabilization.
• Ensure operating standards, procedures, service expectations, food quality, safety, and guest experience standards are established and maintained.
• Identify operational challenges during openings and develop timely solutions.

Field Operations Support

• Travel to restaurants across the country to provide temporary operational support.
• Assist locations experiencing staffing, leadership, training, operational, or business-performance challenges.
• Serve as a resource and extension of the Operations leadership team.
• Reinforce company standards, policies, procedures, and operating expectations.
• Conduct operational assessments and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support restaurants during leadership transitions, staffing shortages, high-volume periods, and other business-critical situations.

Special Events & High-Volume Operations

• Provide support for company-sponsored events, special events, large-volume business periods, and other strategic initiatives.
• Coordinate staffing, deployment, service execution, and operational readiness.
• Work closely with local restaurant leadership and corporate teams to ensure successful event execution.
• Remain flexible regarding work schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours when business needs require.

Command Center Responsibilities

• When not traveling, work from the company Command Center to support restaurant operations nationwide.
• Monitor restaurant performance, operational activity, staffing needs, and business-critical issues.
• Serve as a centralized resource for restaurant managers and field leadership.
• Respond to operational issues and coordinate appropriate resources and escalation.
• Assist with company-wide communications, reporting, scheduling, and operational projects.
• Analyze operational information and identify trends or issues requiring field intervention.
• Support the development and implementation of operational initiatives and process improvements.
• Maintain communication with restaurants and field leadership to ensure consistent execution of company standards.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead by example and demonstrate the company's values and expectations.
• Build strong working relationships with restaurant managers, team members, and corporate partners.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, hospitality, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of restaurant management or new restaurant openings preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead restaurant teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
• Experience with special events, high-volume operations, or temporary field assignments preferred.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, staffing, training, guest service, and food safety.
• Strong leadership, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to quickly establish credibility and build relationships with new teams.
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating with corporate and field leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, restaurant technology, reporting systems, and other business applications.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel extensively throughout the United States.

Travel & Schedule

• Extensive domestic travel is required.
• Travel may include extended assignments supporting new restaurant openings or operational initiatives.
• Must be available to work varying schedules based on business needs, including nights, weekends, holidays, and special events.
• When not traveling, the position will be based in the company's Command Center in San Antonio, TX
• Travel requirements may vary based on the company's opening schedule and operational priorities.

Success in This Role

Success in this position requires someone who can step into a restaurant anywhere in the country, quickly understand the operation, build trust with the team, identify priorities, and help deliver results.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable leading a restaurant opening, supporting a struggling operation, managing a high-profile event, or working in the Command Center coordinating support for locations across the country.

Core Competencies

• Restaurant Operations Leadership
• New Restaurant Openings
• Field Operations
• Team Building & Coaching
• Training & Development
• Problem Solving
• Crisis & Issue Management
• Event Operations
• Communication
• Business Acumen
• Adaptability
• Travel Readiness
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement