VP Operations- Milwaukee, WI

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About Canteen:

Canteen brings break time to everyone. We combine food, service, and experience backed by industry-leading technology to help companies create a better workplace and connect their employees. Canteen’s solutions include markets, office coffee and snacks, unattended retail, and culinary.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their dedication, collaboration, and passion fuel our growth. Interested in joining our team? You bring the enthusiasm, customer service, and commitment; we’ll supply the opportunity and innovation. Together, we’ll continue to transform our industry.

Come for the job, stay for the career. We are Canteen.

Job Summary

Position Summary

The Vice President of Operations provides strategic leadership for multiple business units, ensuring operational excellence, client satisfaction, financial performance, and regulatory compliance. This executive will lead multi-site operations, develop high-performing teams, strengthen client relationships, and support business growth initiatives while driving a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multi-site operations to achieve financial, operational, and client satisfaction goals.
• Drive performance in client retention, regulatory compliance, food safety, purchasing, culinary standards, and people management.
• Build strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders while identifying opportunities for growth.
• Develop, coach, and mentor management teams to achieve operational and financial objectives.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, labor planning, and P&L performance across assigned operations.
• Analyze business metrics and implement data-driven strategies to improve results.
• Conduct regular site visits and oversee action plans to address performance gaps.
• Support business development efforts, including site surveys, presentations, proposals, and contract negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, financial, HR, and operational audit requirements.
• Communicate company initiatives and priorities while fostering collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• 12+ years of leadership experience in food service, hospitality, dining, catering, or related industries.
• 5+ years of multi-site or multi-unit operational leadership experience.
• Proven success driving financial performance, client satisfaction, retention, and operational excellence.
• Strong leadership experience building, coaching, and developing high-performing management teams.
• Expertise in P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and financial analysis.
• Experience using operational and financial data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success building executive-level client relationships and supporting strategic growth initiatives.
• Experience with hiring, performance management, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Preferred Qualifications

• Dining and catering experience strongly preferred.
• Senior operations leadership experience within food service, hospitality, healthcare, corporate dining, or related environments.
• Knowledge of HACCP, food safety regulations, quality standards, regulatory compliance, and operational audits.
• Experience supporting business development, contract negotiations, and strategic initiatives.
• ServSafe or Department of Health certification preferred.

Core Competencies

This role is ideal for a results-oriented leader who can align teams, drive accountability, strengthen client partnerships, and deliver consistent operational and financial results across a complex multi-site organization.

Associates at Canteen are offered many fantastic benefits.

Full-time and part-time positions offer the followingbenefits to associates : Retirement Plan, Associate Shopping Program, Health and Wellness Programs, Discount Marketplace, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, including Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity Insurance, Legal Services, and Choice Auto and Home Program

Full-time positions also offer the following benefits to associates: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance/AD, Disability Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Employee Assistance Program,Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

About Compass Group: Achieving leadership in the foodservice industry

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Canteen maintains a drug-free workplace.

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