Director of Restaurant Operations

Director Of Restaurant Operations

Diamond Select Staffing is seeking a Director of Restaurant Operations to lead a high-performing Dairy Queen location. This is a hands-on, people-first leadership role rooted in the restaurant itself—ideal for a senior operator who leads from the floor, coaches in real time, and drives steady progress on financial results, guest experience, team development, and day-to-day operations.

Success in this role comes down to two things: being a consistent, visible presence inside the restaurant, and helping the store make measurable progress against clear, shared goals.

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead from the floor as the primary leader and role model for the entire team—general managers, shift leaders, team members, and cashiers.
• Build the team by recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, and developing a high-performing crew; create a strong bench of shift leaders and assistant managers who can run the store to standard.
• Coach and support with clear expectations, regular one-on-ones, check-ins, and performance reviews.
• Build culture by fostering a positive, welcoming, and motivating environment where people grow and want to stay.
• Develop in real time by coaching on service, speed, food quality, cleanliness, and guest interaction—leading alongside the team, not just through reports.

In-Store Presence

• Be on-site a minimum of 40 hours per week, with flexibility to go above during peak business needs.
• Be present when it matters: prioritize peak dayparts and busy periods, including a fair share of nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Work shifts regularly to stay close to operations, model standards, and spot opportunities early.
• Ensure strong leadership coverage across all operating hours; step in to cover key shifts when needed.
• Share opening and closing responsibilities on a rotating basis to keep standards, cash handling, and readiness on track.

HR Oversight & Employee Relations

• Serve as the first point of contact for employee-relations matters, addressing concerns, conflicts, and questions promptly and with care.
• Manage performance fairly and consistently—coaching first, with clear documentation when needed.
• Stay compliant with employment laws, wage-and-hour rules, food safety regulations, and company policies; maintain accurate HR records.
• Schedule thoughtfully to cover busy periods while managing labor costs; apply policies consistently and fairly.
• Keep ownership informed on significant HR matters, bringing recommended next steps along with any concerns.
• Coordinate vacation and planned time-off requests with the Director of HR for Sovereign in advance to ensure coverage.

Operational Excellence

• Uphold Dairy Queen brand standards for food quality, safety, cleanliness, and guest service on every shift.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and vendor relationships to protect quality and control costs.
• Maintain the facility by monitoring building, equipment, and systems to ensure everything is operational and in good working condition.
• Drive sales by supporting local marketing, promotions, and digital-channel adoption to grow traffic and revenue.

Background Profile

• 5–7 years of restaurant management experience, with a strong preference for quick-service (QSR) operations.
• Proven, hands-on track record of running a high-volume store and delivering strong financial and guest-experience results.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and retain front-line teams and shift leaders.
• Strong grasp of restaurant P&L, labor and COGS management, and the operational levers behind speed, digital sales, and guest satisfaction.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced environment, with a flexible schedule including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Bachelor's degree in business, hospitality, or a related field preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct Dairy Queen or comparable QSR/franchise operating experience.
• ServSafe Certified Food Manager (CFM) certification; ServSafe Certified Proctor a plus.
• Working knowledge of POS systems, restaurant scheduling/labor software, and Microsoft Office.

If you're a visible, floor-based leader who builds teams, raises standards, and moves the numbers, we'd love to talk.