Food Service Area Manager

As Food Service Area Manager, you’ll be responsible for the operational performance, profitability, food safety, and people development of multiple quick service restaurant (QSR) locations. You’ll provide leadership, coaching, and support to Restaurant Managers while ensuring consistent execution of company standards, franchise requirements, and operational excellence. Travel between assigned locations is required, and schedule flexibility is expected to support business needs.

What You’ll Do:

Operational Leadership

• Directly oversee the daily operations of multiple restaurant locations.
• Conduct routine store visits to evaluate operational execution, cleanliness, food quality, customer service, and brand standards.
• Ensure all restaurants consistently execute company and franchise operating procedures.
• Identify operational opportunities and implement action plans that improve performance.
• Support new store openings, remodels, and operational transitions.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure food safety as the highest operational priority.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, federal, company, and franchise food safety requirements.
• Conduct routine food safety audits and follow-up coaching.
• Conduct regular food safety certification classes
• Ensure temperature monitoring, date labeling, handwashing, sanitation, allergen awareness, and health department compliance are consistently executed.
• Investigate food safety incidents and partner with store management on corrective actions.

Financial Performance

• Drive sales growth and profitability across assigned locations.
• Analyze KPIs including, but not limited to:
  • Sales
  • Labor
  • Food Cost
  • Waste
  • Check Average
  • Guest Counts
  • Productivity
  • Customer Satisfaction
• Develop action plans to improve financial performance.
• Monitor inventory management and ordering practices.
• Investigate and resolve any loss prevention issues.
• Ensure restaurants operate within approved labor and operating budgets.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Recruit, interview, hire, onboard, and develop Restaurant Managers and hourly team members.
• Coach Restaurant Managers through regular one-on-one meetings and in-store observations.
• Conduct performance evaluations and create development plans.
• Build bench strength and succession plans.
• Recognize high performers while addressing performance concerns promptly.
• Foster an environment of accountability, teamwork, and employee engagement.

Customer Experience

• Ensure every restaurant consistently delivers exceptional guest hospitality.
• Coach teams on hospitality standards and customer recovery. Utilizing the Make it Right program.
• Respond to escalated customer concerns and ensure a 24-hour resolution.
• Promote a culture focused on creating loyal guests.

Training & Development

• Lead operational training for Restaurant Managers and new leaders.
• Ensure all required company, franchise, food safety, and compliance training are completed.
• Support implementation of new menu items, equipment, and operational initiatives.
• Reinforce standard operating procedures through consistent coaching.

Partnership & Communication

• Partner closely with Retail Area Managers to create a One Team approach.
• Collaborate with other departments in the main office.
• Communicate company initiatives clearly and consistently.
• Provide timely reporting and updates to Food Service Leadership.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Review restaurant financial reports and operational metrics.
• Monitor payroll, scheduling, labor management, and staffing levels.
• Ensure maintenance requests are completed.
• Maintain accurate documentation and operational records.
• Manage company assets responsibly.

Non-Essential Responsibilities:

Performs other duties as assigned by management.

What You’ll Need:

Education & Experience:

Required

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum of three years of management experience
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record

Preferred

• Associate or Bachelor's Degree in Business, Hospitality, Restaurant Management, or related field
• Multi-unit QSR experience
• Food Safety Certification

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Multi-unit restaurant management experience.
• Extensive knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards.
• Strong understanding of restaurant financials and P&L management.
• Ability to analyze business metrics and develop operational strategies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong conflict resolution and coaching abilities.
• Effective time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple locations simultaneously.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, inventory systems, scheduling software, and operational reporting tools.
• Ability to build strong partnerships across multiple departments.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently.

Core Competencies:

• Leadership
• Coaching & Development
• Operational Excellence
• Food Safety Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Business Analytics
• Strategic Thinking
• Accountability
• Communication
• Decision Making
• Relationship Building
• Customer Focus
• Change Management
• Continuous Improvement

Physical Requirements:

• Standing, walking, bending, stooping, and reaching for 2–5 hours daily
• Frequent use of hands/fingers, operation of kitchen equipment
• Frequent lifting up to 10 lbs; occasional lifting up to 30 lbs
• Visual acuity required for food preparation and driving
• Ability to communicate clearly with guests and team members
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require

Environmental Conditions:

• Fast-paced restaurant environment
• Regular exposure to varying weather conditions

This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company’s at will employment status.

Benefits:

It feels good to work at a company that cares about its customers and its community. We’re always looking for ways to take good care of each other, and that goes for your benefits, too. As a Food Service Area Manager, you’ll be part of the Johnny’s Markets team, enjoying the same perks and benefits as our store employees: 

• Competitive pay with annual raises 
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (after 60 days)
• Flex spending account (after 60 days)
• $10,000 life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance (after 60 days)
• LifeWorks employee assistance program (after 60 days)
• 401K with company match (age 18+, after 6 months of service)
• Paid Time Off plus 6 paid holidays per year

Get to Know Johnny’s

You can feel good about working for the Johnny’s Markets team. Our family-owned, Michigan-based chain of convenience stores can now be found at more than 60 Shell gas stations across Michigan and Northern Indiana, giving people a fun, friendly place to find a great cup of coffee, yummy snacks for the road, and home and car necessities. Wherever we go, we work hard to be a bright spot in the community, doing our best to Be More, Be Good, and Be Neighborly. Come join our team!