Regional Director | Full-Service Restaurants
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Base Salary: $130,000–$150,000
Additional Compensation: bonus opportunity + car allowance
We’re partnering with an established full-service restaurant brand to hire a Director of Operations overseeing approximately 7–9 restaurants throughout the Santa Barbara County market.
This leader will be responsible for the operational and financial performance of their restaurants, with a strong emphasis on developing General Managers, strengthening hospitality, and delivering consistent execution. The ideal candidate enjoys spending time in restaurants, building relationships with teams, and taking direct ownership of results.
Success in this position requires strong business judgment and the ability to translate performance goals into clear actions at the restaurant level. You should be comfortable reviewing a P&L, coaching a General Manager, observing service, and helping a team work through operational challenges.
In this role, you will:
- Lead, coach, and develop General Managers, setting clear expectations for restaurant performance, team development, and accountability.
- Own financial performance across the market, including sales, profitability, labor productivity, food costs, and controllable expenses.
- Conduct regular restaurant visits to evaluate operations, reinforce standards, and provide practical coaching to management teams.
- Review financial results and operating trends, identify opportunities, and develop action plans with clear goals and follow-through.
- Drive consistent execution across food quality, service, cleanliness, and the overall guest experience.
- Partner with restaurant leaders on hiring, retention, management development, and succession planning to build a strong leadership bench.
- Identify challenges in underperforming restaurants and lead improvements in staffing, execution, sales, and profitability.
- Support local sales initiatives and community engagement while maintaining consistency with brand standards.
- Reinforce food safety, sanitation, and workplace standards throughout the market.
- Communicate market priorities, restaurant performance, and support needs to senior leadership.
Successful candidates will bring:
- Recent experience overseeing multiple full-service restaurants as a Director of Operations, Area Director, Regional Manager, District Manager, or comparable leader.
- Direct responsibility for leading General Managers and holding restaurant leadership teams accountable for results.
- Strong P&L knowledge and demonstrated success improving sales, managing costs, and increasing profitability.
- A track record of developing managers, strengthening retention, and preparing internal talent for advancement.
- Strong hospitality instincts and the ability to evaluate both operational execution and the guest experience.
- A practical coaching style, sound judgment, and the ability to address performance issues directly and constructively.
- Strong organization and follow-through while managing competing priorities across several restaurants.
This position requires regular travel throughout the assigned market and consistent time working alongside restaurant teams. Candidates should be based in the Santa Barbara County area or willing to relocate.
Apply or message me directly for a conversation.