Manager, Operations (Corporate-Owned Locations)

The Manager, Operations, Corporate-Owned Centers supports the performance, consistency, and continued growth of the EWC's corporate-owned center portfolio. This role translates operational priorities into practical tools, routines, and action plans; coordinates cross-functional initiatives; and uses business insights to help field leaders improve execution and center performance. The Manager partners closely with Corporate-Owned Center leadership, District Managers, and corporate functions to identify opportunities, remove barriers, and ensure initiatives are implemented consistently across the portfolio. A Day in the Life Operational Standards & Continuous Improvement Develop, refine, and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), playbooks, tools, and field resources that improve consistency, scalability, and ease of execution. Ensure operational processes are practical, field-friendly, and aligned with business priorities and the guest experience. Evaluate operational workflows, identify recurring barriers, and recommend scalable solutions based on business impact, urgency, and feasibility. Establish operating cadences, accountability mechanisms, and follow-up routines that support sustained performance improvement. Field Execution, Audits & Safety Partner with District Managers to drive consistent execution of priority operational initiatives across corporate-owned centers. Conduct center visits, operational audits, and assessments to evaluate execution, safety, regulatory compliance, and adherence to EWC standards. Analyze audit findings and field observations, identify trends and root causes, and partner with field leaders to implement and track action plans. Lead initiatives that strengthen safety practices and reinforce accountability for operational excellence across the corporate-owned center portfolio. Acquisitions & New Corporate-Owned Centers Support operational due diligence and readiness planning for potential acquisitions by assessing current practices, identifying gaps and risks, and documenting integration requirements. Develop and manage operational integration plans for acquired centers, including key milestones, owners, dependencies, communications, and measures of success. Coordinate Day 1 readiness and post-close integration with cross-functional and external stakeholders. Lead the transition with local field leaders of acquired centers to EWC’s operating standards, systems, tools, programs, and performance expectations while accounting for local business needs. Support new corporate-owned center openings by coordinating operational readiness, field leadership preparation, training, supplies, systems, and launch activities. Conduct post-opening and post-acquisition assessments, track unresolved issues, and drive follow-up actions through stabilization. Capture lessons learned and continuously improve opening and acquisition-integration playbooks. Field Capability & Partnership Build strong working relationships with District Managers and Center Managers to understand operational needs and ensure solutions are practical for the field. Facilitate structured problem-solving and cross-market sharing of effective practices. Support the development and execution of training and enablement initiatives for field leaders; reinforce operational standards and best practices through field-based guidance and followup. Partner with L&D and HR to identify capability gaps and implement scalable solutions while maintaining clear ownership of formal training and people-development programs. Cross-Functional Projects & Communications Lead cross-functional projects tied to operational priorities, including developing project plans, timelines, roles, dependencies, success measures, and accountability structures. Serve as an Operations liaison to cross-functional partners and external vendors on initiatives affecting corporate-owned centers. Clarify field requirements, coordinate testing and implementation, and ensure cross-functional solutions are operationally sound. Prepare clear recommendations and leadership updates that communicate priorities, progress, risks, decisions needed, and business impact. Partner with Operations leadership to translate monthly priorities, promotions, and sales driving initiatives into clear field communications and execution plans. Coordinate recurring corporate-owned center meetings, including soliciting agenda topics maintaining meeting invitations and materials, documenting decisions, and tracking follow-up actions. Support annual planning, budgeting, target-setting, and other portfolio-wide planning processes in partnership with Operations and Finance leadership. What Sets You Apart Strong knowledge of multi-unit operations, field execution, operating standards, and location level performance drivers. Business and financial acumen, including the ability to understand center-level P&L drivers and connect operational actions to business results. Strong project-management skills, including the ability to establish clear plans, manage dependencies, maintain accountability, and deliver multiple initiatives on time. Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative information, identify trends and root causes, and translate findings into practical recommendations. Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor communications for field leaders, cross-functional partners, and executives. Ability to influence without direct authority, navigate competing priorities, and build credibility across field and corporate teams. Strong judgment, problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and follow-through in a fast-paced and evolving environment. Ability to create simple, scalable, and field-friendly processes that balance consistency with operational practicality. Ability to travel regularly to corporate-owned centers and work outside standard business hours when operational needs require. Ability to travel up to 50% of the time. Education and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Retail Management, Hospitality, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered. 5+ more years of progressive experience in multi-unit retail, hospitality, beauty, wellness, or another consumer-service environment. Experience leading operational projects across multiple locations, including process improvement, new openings, integrations, or operational audits. Demonstrated ability to partner cross-functionally, implement standardized processes, and use operational data to improve execution and business performance. Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with project-management or business-intelligence tools preferred. *This role is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship* European Wax Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of EWC and operating subsidiaries are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory/management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties. #J-18808-Ljbffr European Wax Center