Vice President, Operations

Sodexo Live! is seeking a Vice President of Operations for our Airport Lounge Business Segment. We are looking for an inspirational, dynamic, and passionate leader of premium hospitality food & beverage operations. This position reports directly to the Senior Vice President, Operations and has 5 to 6 direct reports.

This is a remote position with 70% travel initially and there after up to 50%

Candidates should reside on the East Coast or Central and must reside near a major airport.

The Vice President of Operations will lead a $160M portfolio that will manage approx. 26-30 Club - Lounges across the United States and will have responsibility for maintaining and developing client relationships, operational execution, and business planning. You will be a key member of the leadership team, actively supporting business operations, and segment strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate will possess high standards for food and hospitality and be able to translate that into action, inspiration, and accountability within their team. You will be responsible for retaining all current business, developing strong teams, and optimizing profitability to help grow the business.  

This role requires frequent travel to the lounge locations in your operations portfolio of business and is an exciting opportunity to work with your team to apply your current food & beverage operations leadership experience/knowledge to be the bridge that connects, motivates and influences the greater team towards achieving organization goals while identifying and developing future leaders.

• Maintains a strategic relationship with all client contacts within their area of responsibility. 
• Monitors Sodexo Lives’ performance and takes appropriate action to ensure that client requirements are met through service visits and regular communication with unit teams and area support.
• Coordinates information from Operations, Sales, Retention and Web of Influence in order to monitor client organization for possible retention risks or growth opportunities and takes appropriate action. 
• Monitors and takes appropriate action regarding Sodexo Lives’ financial performance.
• Ensures that local leadership provides necessary oversight and resources to all services. 
• Uses leadership and influence ability to ensure that appropriate actions take place and that necessary resources are assigned to retain and grow the client portfolio.
• Facilitates effective ongoing communication with our Sodexo Live team assigned to the portfolio, as well as direction and strategy for client communication.
• Works with local service leadership to achieve growth and retention of the business.
• You will also have responsibility for directing the efforts of all District Managers with a primary focus on growth and guest/client engagement. 

Compensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
• 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
• Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement

More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.

• Must have current premium food & beverage operations leadership experience.
• Must have proven track record as a senior food & beverage operations leader strategically and tactically leading high-volume premium food & beverage operations in multiple locations nationwide preferably in high end hotels and restaurants. Prior airport experience a plus.
• Has a strong P&L background.
• Has proven experience in employee relations and managing consumers in an upscale commercial environment.
• Is a Skilled Change Champion who prepares the team’s culture to adapt to and embrace ongoing, fundamental changes that will enable the business to grow and prosper.
• Is mission-focused, growth- and detail-oriented, committed to operational excellence, and skilled in leading teams in a performance-driven culture throughout a large geographic region.
• Is a strategic leader with a compelling and energetic executive presence and the ability to promote a collaborative, successful partnership with a complex organization.
• Has demonstrated success achieving segment goals by providing the leadership, management, and oversight necessary to ensure that the business has the proper solutions, products, metrics and talent in place to effectively grow the organization and meet/exceed defined revenue, profitability targets, and other KPIs. 
• Is skilled in balancing retention efforts, as well as developing new business opportunities and ensuring that resources are allocated across the territory to ensure operational excellence.
• Demonstrates business and financial acumen with experience forecasting, budgeting, and making necessary adjustments on a week over week basis to ensure successful financial operations.
• Is a skilled communicator with exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with all audiences including the C-suite.
• Is technically savvy, decisive individual who possesses a “big picture perspective” and ability to develop plans with long-range horizons based upon a sound knowledge of corporate expectations (policies, budgets, strategic plans); envisioning intended outcomes and working with others to systematically outline the resources and actions that will be required to produce the desired results; anticipating obstacles to intended strategies and developing contingency plans for use in the event a plan becomes unworkable; and prioritizing objectives to enable the selective allocation of attention and resources.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement - Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience - 10 years
Minimum Functional Experience - 10 years of multi-unit, support, or strategic leadership experience