Operational Excellence Director

Salute Hospitality delivers dining solutions for the military. American owned and mission ready, we support service members, families, and base communities each day, with wellness built into everything we do: menus designed for strength, energy, and endurance, from chefs who treat every meal as part of the job. Capability Built. Mission Ready. Here for the Full Journey.

The Director, Operational Excellence is a senior leadership role within Aramark’s Salute program — our military and defense food service brand operating across U.S. military installations nationwide. This position is responsible for driving continuous improvement, data-informed decision-making, and operational standardization across the Salute portfolio, ensuring the program operates at the highest levels of efficiency, compliance, and quality. 

Combining the disciplines of operational process improvement and business intelligence, this role leads both the development of lean, scalable operational systems and the data strategy that measures and accelerates their impact. The Director partners closely with Salute operations, culinary, contracts, finance, and technology teams to identify improvement opportunities, build performance infrastructure, and translate data insights into actionable field execution. 

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in operational excellence methodologies, a working knowledge of data and reporting tools, and the leadership capability to drive meaningful, lasting change across a complex, geographically dispersed federal food service program. 

Job Responsibilities

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

Develop and execute strategies that improve operations while aligning with program goals, company standards, and contract requirements.
Analyze workflows to identify inefficiencies and implement improvements using lean and data-driven methods.
Lead cross-functional initiatives and create standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and accuracy across locations.
Partner with regional and field teams to improve processes and overall performance.
Support change management efforts to successfully implement new tools, processes, and standards.
Oversee project execution and ensure initiatives are completed on time with measurable results.

Business Intelligence & Data Strategy

Define and manage reporting strategies aligned with business goals.
Build and enhance dashboards and reports that provide clear, real-time insights.
Use data visualization and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI) to solve problems and drive improvements.
Ensure performance metrics are accurate, scalable, and meaningful.
Collaborate across teams to prioritize high-impact, data-driven initiatives.

Performance Monitoring & KPI Management

Establish and track KPIs across operations, including food safety, labor, inventory, quality, and cost control.
Develop automated dashboards and self-service reporting tools for leadership and field teams.
Monitor trends, identify risks and opportunities, and drive timely corrective actions.
Prepare Quarterly Business Reviews with key insights for leadership.

Process Standardization & Compliance

Develop and maintain SOPs across all operational areas.
Ensure compliance with food safety standards, federal contracts, and regulatory requirements.
Conduct audits and operational reviews to ensure adherence and identify improvements.
Support safety initiatives and maintain alignment with company safety standards.

Technology & Systems Ownership

Lead improvements to operational systems and tools, including production, inventory, and reporting platforms.
Translate business needs into system enhancements in partnership with IT and technology teams.
Manage pilot programs and support successful rollout of new technologies.
Evaluate and implement equipment and technology to improve efficiency and safety.

Labor, Inventory & Cost Optimization

Improve labor models to balance staffing needs with cost efficiency.
Optimize inventory practices to reduce waste and improve utilization.
Partner with finance and operations to manage budgets and improve margins.
Identify logistics and warehousing improvements to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

Qualifications

Required 

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Data Science, Information Systems, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. 

8+ years of progressive experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, business intelligence, or a closely related field, with at least 3 years in a leadership role. 

Military experience required — active duty, reserve, or direct professional experience working with or within a military installation environment. Familiarity with the operational structure, compliance expectations, and tempo of a federal food service or contracting environment is essential. 

Demonstrated expertise in lean methodologies, Six Sigma principles, and change management strategies. 

Hands-on experience with data visualization and business intelligence tools, including Power BI or equivalent platforms. 

Strong project management skills with a proven track record of leading complex, cross-functional initiatives to measurable results. 

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and executive presentation skills. 

Ability to influence, collaborate, and motivate teams across a geographically dispersed, matrix organization. 

Willingness to travel up to 50% to military installations and Aramark operational sites nationwide. 

Preferred 

Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification; Lean certification a plus. 

PMP or equivalent project management certification. 

Experience with Department of Defense (DoD) food service contracts or Government Food Service (GFS) programs. 

Familiarity with military dining operations, DFAC standards, or federal food service compliance requirements. 

Prior experience with Aramark, Sodexo, Compass, or a large managed services food service company. 

Experience with food production software, inventory management platforms, or enterprise operational systems in a food service environment. 

Education