Regional Director, Operations

Since 1940, Dairy Queen has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.
S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Regional Director, Operations located in the Burlington or Greater Toronto Area. This role will independently provide enterprise-level operational leadership of one of two franchisee regions in Canada. Each region represents several districts with approximately 40 restaurants per district, and multi-million dollar revenue through service fees. Utilize deep knowledge of restaurant operations and staff resources to provide growth-focused guidance, performance coaching and accountability to Operations team and franchisees, in order to achieve measurable short and long-term results aligned to the company’s Strategic Imperatives and the 10x30 plan. Ensure compliance with Company policies and system standards while driving sustained sales growth, transaction momentum, and franchisee profitability. Develop staff to meet current and future needs of the company with an emphasis on enterprise mindset, accountability and execution discipline. Gain and maintain support of key franchisee leadership in achieving their goals and advancing system-wide growth priorities.

Key Accountabilities Include:

• Participate in the development of Operations’ business plan (rolling 1, 2 and 3 year plan) with global Operations senior management team during Operations leadership strategic planning meetings and ensure regional priorities clearly align to enterprise growth objectives and the short and long term brand strategy.
• Based upon the U.
  S./Canada Operations strategy/business plan, assist in the creation of Operations field teams’ annual performance goals with explicit linkage to sales growth, transaction performance, and franchisee health.
• Provide guidance and direction to the Operations team in the development and implementation of an integrated business plan within select markets in region that prioritizes the highest impact growth drivers (i.e., integrated marketing, operations, training, development, and supply chain plan).
• Provide direction to Operations team to ensure franchisees establish disciplined annual business plans with clear growth commitments, reinvestment priorities, and accountability milestones. Assist in establishing systems and schedules to monitor progress and goal achievement.
• Provide leadership from an Operations perspective in developing and managing marketing performance with a bias toward execution consistency and measurable results through effective partnerships with appropriate departments, vendors and franchisees.
• Represent Operations’ goals and interests and provide input across teams when working on cross-functional problem solving and projects to remove barriers to growth execution.
• Oversee and monitor consistent execution and delivery of company strategies to assigned franchisees, to ensure food safety, approved products, procedures compliance, menu compliance, trademark protection, reinvestments, consumer satisfaction and company standards while accelerating progress toward regional growth targets.
• Own the overall performance trajectory and health of the regional franchisee portfolio, prioritizing resources and interventions to accelerate growth-ready franchisees, stabilize underperforming operators, and proactively manage long‑term system risk.

Communications and Interactions with Franchisees

• Travel to districts to visit franchisee stores with business consultants and ensure/validate the B.
  C.’s reported progress against goals and growth commitments.
• When warranted, get directly involved with franchisees on escalated matters that are more complex . including performance gaps that threaten growth, brand standards, or long-term viability. For example, may notify franchisees that they will be issued a default; may make a decision to terminate the franchisee. Respond to customers and franchisees in a timely manner while rein