Director of Operations

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At Call Your Mother we believe that great food is made even better with amazing service and having fun together. CYM is a neighborhood bagel shop and deli with locations in the DMV area, Colorado, Chicago, and Philadelphia on the way! We're looking for new team members with positive attitudes and an eagerness to learn who are as excited about good food & GOOD VIBES.

We’re hiring a Director of Operations based in Chicago!

As we expand into Chicago, we're looking for a dynamic Director of Operations to help build something special from the ground up. This is a hands-on field leadership role for someone who loves restaurant operations, thrives in developing people, and is energized by the opportunity to grow a market.

As the operational leader for Chicago, you'll be responsible for launching new shops, developing exceptional leaders, driving business results, and building a culture that brings Call Your Mother's values to life every day. You'll spend your time where the action is—in our shops, shoulder-to-shoulder with General Managers and team members—coaching, teaching, problem-solving, celebrating wins, and ensuring both our people and our business thrive.

Reporting to the VP of Operations, you'll lead the growth and success of the Chicago market while helping shape the future of Call Your Mother. You'll inspire teams, develop the next generation of leaders, and champion our Core Values (“VIBES”) as we continue to grow our presence in the city.

Company Core Values & Expectations:

• Vibrant – You are abundantly happy, fun, passionate, playful, and kind

• Integrity – You are honest, caring, real, and always strive to do the right thing and take pride in what you do

• Belonging – You will work as a team to make people feel welcome 

• Energy – You are active, proactive, and work hard to make things happen

• Seize the Moment – You make the most of every guest opportunity by saying yes and by trying new things, and by being original

As a CYM leader, you’ll make an impact by:

• Mentoring and developing future leaders through hands-on coaching.

• Creating extraordinary experiences for guests and teams.

• Building a culture where people love coming to work.

• Strengthening the neighborhoods and communities we serve.

• Helping shape the future growth of Call Your Mother.

Your responsibilities will be:

Lead the Chicago Market

• Serve as the senior operational leader for all Chicago-area shops and future growth.

• Build and scale a high-performing market while preserving the culture, hospitality, and quality that define Call Your Mother.

• Act as the connective tissue between shop teams and the Support Team, ensuring alignment, communication, and execution.

• Be the face of Call Your Mother leadership in Chicago—visible, accessible, and deeply invested in the success of every shop.

Be a Hands-On Operator

• Spend significant time working in shops alongside leaders and teams, at times this will look like managing a shop.

• Coach in real time on hospitality, food quality, labor management, systems, and leadership.

• Roll up your sleeves during openings, staffing challenges, high-volume periods, and key business initiatives.

• Lead by example and model the standards you expect from others.

Develop Great Leaders

• Recruit, hire, onboard, coach, and develop General Managers, Shop Leaders, and Team Members.

• Identify high-potential talent and create development plans that prepare future leaders for growth opportunities.

• Foster accountability while creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and empowered.

• Build strong succession plans across the market.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Ensure consistent execution of Call Your Mother's standards for food quality, cleanliness, safety, hospitality, and culture.

• Partner with shop leaders to create schedules, manage labor, control inventory, and drive profitability.

• Conduct regular business reviews, analyzing financial performance, guest feedback, operational metrics, and growth opportunities.

• Lead successful implementation of new initiatives, technology, menu rollouts, and operational improvements.

Support Growth & Expansion

• Lead operational readiness for new shop openings throughout the Chicago market.

• Partner cross-functionally with People, Training, Marketing, Culinary, and other Support Team leaders to ensure successful launches.

• Help establish the operational foundation that supports sustainable long-term growth.

• Bring ideas, insights, and solutions that strengthen the business as we scale.

You’ll be a great addition to the CYM team if you:

• Have 5+ years of multi-unit leadership experience, including at least 2 years in a quick-service, fast-casual, or high-volume restaurant environment.

• Have experience overseeing 7+ locations and managing businesses exceeding $15M in annual revenue.

• Are equally comfortable reviewing a P&L and jumping behind the line to support a busy shift.

• Believe the best leaders are visible, present, and willing to do any job they ask others to do.

• Have a proven track record of attracting, developing, and retaining high-performing teams.

• Possess strong financial acumen, including labor management, inventory controls, scheduling, food cost management, and P&L ownership.

• Are energized by building teams, developing people, and growing businesses.

• Lead with humility, confidence, accountability, and a strong sense of ownership.

• Thrive in fast-paced environments and bring calm, clarity, and decisiveness when challenges arise.

• Are an exceptional communicator, coach, and relationship builder who can influence at all levels of the organization.

• Have successfully led teams through growth, change, and new shop openings.

• Care deeply about culture and understand that great guest experiences start with great team experiences.

• Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and can identify trends and opportunities to improve performance.

• Are hospitality-focused and passionate about creating memorable guest experiences.

• Work a schedule driven by the needs of the business, including weekends and holidays.

• Lead from the field, spending the vast majority of your time in our shops working shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders and team members to drive results, develop people, and support operations.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands for this position include standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50 pounds, and frequently bending and reaching overhead. The role requires manual dexterity to handle tools and equipment, the ability to work in temperatures ranging from hot to cold, and occasional work in tight spaces or outdoor weather conditions. Employees must maintain near-constant communication with multiple individuals, possess close, distance, and peripheral vision, and be able to occasionally sit, squat, and kneel. The position also requires working in a constant state of alertness while adhering to safe work practices.

You’ll love working at CYM because:

• Competitive base salary of $120,000/year plus bonus opportunity.

• Exciting opportunities for growth and development! With CYM’s continued expansion, this role offers a strong foundation to grow your leadership skills and take the next step in your career.

• Great people, real support, and incredible VIBES. We’re focused on a positive, people-first culture where everyone feels they belong and they’re supported. You’ll find a team that’s welcoming, celebrates wins together, and most importantly, keeps things fun every day!

• Great benefits (our team agrees!) Health, dental, and vision insurance (for full-time staff averaging 30+ hours/week), 4% employer match 401k, paid vacation, and paid parental leave, Employee Assistance Program, free Call Your Mother staff meals, free fitness and wellness classes, free English/Spanish classes and DuoLingo reimbursement, team building activities, and more.

We provide equal opportunities to everyone who works for us and every applicant. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We enthusiastically celebrate the diversity of our team and believe that talent, passion, and experience are the only relevant criteria for considering new team members.

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