District Operator

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Some leaders manage restaurants. The best ones build teams that run great restaurants without them standing over every shift. 

That's what we're looking for.

We're a growing Papa John's franchise seeking a Director of Operations who leads with intention, develops people who develop people, and holds a high bar, not because they're told to, but because that's who they are. If you've spent years in multi-unit restaurant leadership and you're ready to own a region and make a real mark on a business that's invested in your success, let's talk.

The Role

You'll oversee a portfolio of fewer than 10 restaurants, with direct impact on the General Managers, teams, and guests inside each one. Your day-to-day will look different every week — store visits, performance reviews, coaching conversations, P&L deep dives, cross-functional collaboration, but your north star stays consistent: operational excellence, people-first culture, and sustainable growth.

This isn't a desk job. It's a leadership role for someone who thrives in the field, leads from the front, and knows that a strong GM is the most powerful business asset a restaurant has.

What You'll Own

Your People. You'll build a leadership pipeline that doesn't depend on you. That means coaching GMs to lead independently, spotting high-potential talent early, and creating the kind of team culture where people want to stay and grow.

Your Numbers. You'll manage P&Ls, labor, food costs, and budgets across the region. You know how to read the data, identify what's driving it, and act before a trend becomes a problem.

Your Standards. Brand compliance, health and safety, customer satisfaction metrics, you don't chase these as checkboxes. You build the systems and habits that make them automatic.

Your Guest Experience. Every decision you make filters down to a customer standing at a counter or opening a delivery bag. You keep that perspective front and center, and you instill it in your teams.

• 3–5 years of multi-unit restaurant leadership, ideally in QSR or pizza/delivery
• Hands-on P&L experience with a track record of hitting performance targets
• A coaching mindset — you measure your success by how well your GMs perform, not by how often you intervene
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills
• The ability to travel regularly between locations within your region
• A genuine passion for hospitality and for the people doing the work every day

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary + performance-based bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Mileage reimbursement
• The autonomy to lead your region your way, backed by a franchise that invests in its leadership

Why This Role

Franchise operations at this level offer something corporate structures rarely do, real ownership of outcomes and real relationships with the people producing them. You'll see the direct result of your leadership decisions in your numbers, your team's growth, and your community. If you want that kind of impact, we want to hear from you.