We are exclusively partnering with a retail operator that has a footprint of 30+ brick and mortar locations across Illinois and a clear path to continued expansion to hire their next Head of Operations!

We’re building something scalable—not just maintaining what exists—and are looking for a hands-on operator to help lead that next phase. Our model blends operational discipline, customer experience, and local market execution to drive consistent, profitable growth.

The Role

This is not a sit-back-and-report role.

We are looking for a true operator to lead day-to-day performance across all locations—someone who can move seamlessly between strategy and execution, hold teams accountable, and drive measurable results across revenue, service, and compliance.

You will have full operational oversight, leading teams across operations, service, and field execution.

What You’ll Own

Multi-Site Operations

Oversee performance of 30+ locations across Illinois
Drive consistency in execution, service, and profitability across all sites
Identify underperforming locations and implement turnaround plans

P&L & Operational Performance

Own P&L with clear targets for revenue growth and margin improvement
Monitor KPIs (daily revenue, labor efficiency, uptime, etc.)
Translate data into action—not just reporting

People Leadership & Employee Relations

Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of 5 direct managers plus a team of approximately 200 attendants and support staff
Act as the senior escalation point for employee relations issues, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally sound resolution and corrective actions
Build a culture of accountability, urgency, and ownership across all locations

Payroll & Workforce Management

Oversee payroll processes across all locations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
Align staffing levels, scheduling, and labor spend with business performance
Identify and address inefficiencies in labor utilization

Field Execution

Regularly visit locations; this is a high-visibility, in-the-field leadership role
Ensure operational standards are actually being followed—not just documented
Solve problems in real time

Field Marketing & Revenue Optimization

Partner with marketing to execute local, in-market initiatives that drive traffic and revenue
Evaluate effectiveness of field marketing efforts (promotions, signage, local partnerships, etc.)
Adjust strategies based on performance data to maximize ROI at the location level

Compliance & Risk

Ensure all locations operate in full compliance with state industry regulations
Maintain clean, audit-ready operations
Assist with lease renewals and licensing, including business, liquor, and other requirements

Growth & Optimization

Partner with leadership on new location launches and expansions
Improve processes, systems, and operational playbooks
Identify opportunities to increase revenue per location

What We’re Looking For

Core Experience

10+ years professional experience
5+ years in multi-site operations leadership or big box store retail leadership environments
5+ years owning a P&L
Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience
Experience managing distributed teams across multiple locations
Strong preference for: hospitality, retail, gaming, quick service restaurant, route-based businesses, or similar
Proficient with SaaS software applications, such as Restaurant365, Toast, Square, Rippling, ADP, Workday or Sage Intacct

Operator Mindset

You don’t just review dashboards—you fix what’s broken
Comfortable being in the field and holding people accountable
High ownership mentality; low tolerance for excuses

Business Acumen

Strong understanding of P&L management
Ability to connect operational decisions to financial outcomes
Data-driven, but not paralyzed by analysis

Leadership Style

Direct, clear communicator
Able to push performance while maintaining team engagement
Builds leaders—not just manages them

Nice to Have

Experience with regulated environments
Scaling operations (opening new sites, integrating acquisitions, etc.)

Higher Talent Solutions LLC (USA) Jobs

Head of Business Operations