IT Project Coordinator - New Restaurant Support

Summary

The IT Project Coordinator – New Restaurant Support owns the IT workstream within the New Unit Growth program, ensuring all infrastructure, systems, and hardware are properly configured, delivered, installed, and tested in alignment with construction schedules and operational milestones.

Beyond new unit openings, this role serves as a critical operational bridge between restaurants, IT vendors, and the internal IT team. The role manages restaurant IT escalations, oversees vendor relationships and service coordination, supports service related invoicing, provides application backup support, and leads or contributes to special projects that strengthen restaurant technology operations.

People

1. Serves as the primary relationship owner for restaurant technology vendors, driving accountability, service levels, and issue resolution.
2. Partners with restaurant leadership, warehouse operations, and home office teams to resolve technology issues.
3. Builds strong partnerships with restaurant leaders and Operations to ensure timely escalation management and clear communication.
4. Coordinates cross-functionally with internal IT team members to align support efforts and project execution.
5. Influences vendors and stakeholders without direct authority to ensure commitments are met.

Thought

• Evaluates vendor performance trends and identifies opportunities to improve service delivery, response times, and cost efficiency.
• Applies structured problem solving to recurring restaurant IT issues and escalations.
• Balances competing priorities across vendor management, operational support, and special initiatives.
• Identifies process improvements that increase scalability and reduce operational friction.
• Assesses infrastructure and equipment risks.

Results

• Ensures operational uptime and technology reliability across restaurants, warehouse, and home office.
• Maintains strong vendor performance through proactive coordination and follow through.
• Successfully leads and participates in special projects that enhance technology reliability, connectivity, and efficiency across the restaurant portfolio.
• Supports successful new restaurant openings with technology readiness aligned to business milestones.
• Ensures accurate and timely processing, coding, and submission of vendor invoices.

Self

• Demonstrates strong ownership and follow-through across multiple concurrent responsibilities.
• Operates effectively in dynamic, high demand environments.
• Maintains attention to detail in financial coordination, invoicing, and project documentation.
• Continuously develops technical, vendor management, and project management capabilities.
• Models a service first mentality, responding to needs with urgency, accountability, and a collaborative spirit.

Education/Skills/Experience:

• · Experience successfully managing small to medium sized technical / IT Projects.
• · Bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology, or related experience.
• · Experience with restaurant IT troubleshooting and support a plus.
• · Strong experience or background with network equipment, including hardware installation and configuration, cellular back up and redundancy testing, managed firewall and switch configuration, wireless networks and device connectivity. A practical or working knowledge of infrastructure and networking equipment is required to be successful in this role however, all installation, testing, and Tier II/Tier III troubleshooting will be performed by a 3 rd party vendor.
• · Proven ability to quickly troubleshoot and resolve issues related to hardware, software functionality, Tier I or first level triage for system support. Excellent problem solving and troubleshooting skills are a must.
• · Strong communication skills, both written verbal and with presenting to large groups, program teams, and/or executive leadership.
• · Will require some light travel (5-10%) to construction site during the installation and testing phases of the restaurant opening. Infrequent overnight travel possible.
• · Preferred experience with coordinating projects with vendors.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time and work in a restaurant and office environment.
• Ability to lift at least 20 pounds.
• Regularly required to stand and walk; talk or hear, in person and use hands repetitively to finger, handle electronics and other standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; bend, kneel and crouch and climb.