Multi-Unit Restaurant Leader

Operations Manager - Multi-Unit Restaurant Leadership

John F. Kennedy International Airport – Terminal 4
$100,000 base + quarterly & year-end bonus potential
Comprehensive benefits package

Be the leader who elevates leaders.

SSP America is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee multiple restaurant concepts at JFK Terminal 4. This is a high-visibility, hands-on leadership role focused on coaching, developing, and holding Restaurant General Managers accountable for operational excellence, financial performance, and brand standards.

Reporting directly to the onsite Director of Operations, this role is ideal for a proven multi-unit leader who thrives in high-volume environments and knows how to turn standards into habits — and managers into strong business owners.

What You’ll Do

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Restaurant General Managers across multiple brands and concepts
Hold GMs accountable for execution, results, and consistency
Serve as a teacher and mentor, reinforcing best practices in operations, finance, and people leadership
Drive performance across:
Food quality and execution
Guest experience and service standards
Labor, food cost, and controllables
Compliance, safety, and brand standards

Partner closely with the Director of Operations to align priorities, solve problems, and execute strategy
Ensure systems, processes, and reporting are consistently followed
Support forecasting, budgeting, and financial reviews — and teach GMs how to manage their P&Ls
Identify gaps, address underperformance, and celebrate wins

What We’re Looking For

Minimum 7 years of restaurant or foodservice management experience
Minimum 5 years as a Restaurant General Manager in a full-service restaurant with bar
Prior multi-unit leadership experience overseeing General Managers strongly preferred
Proven ability to coach, develop, and hold leaders accountable
Kitchen management experience desirable
Strong operational and financial acumen - expert-level P&L knowledge
Comfortable leading in high-volume, fast-paced environments
Strong communicator who can partner with executives, union leaders, and diverse teams
Proficiency with POS systems and Microsoft Office
High School Diploma required; post-secondary education preferred
Ability to meet airport security requirements

Why Join SSP America

Lead in one of the most dynamic airport environments in the country
Work for a global food & beverage leader with multiple brands and growth opportunities
Make a real impact by developing strong General Managers
Competitive compensation with bonus potential
Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, PTO, 401(k) with company match, and EAP

Ready to Lead at the Next Level?

If you’re energized by developing leaders, driving accountability, and running great businesses in a high-volume environment — we want to hear from you.

About SSP America

We’re food traveler experts serving travelers. With restaurants in over 60 airports, we bring local favorites to passengers across North America. If you thrive in action, teamwork, and moving fast — this is your place.

SSP America is an equal opportunity employer. All decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, age, disability, genetic information, or and other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. SSP America will provide reasonable accommodations during the application and interview process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws.

We use Traitify as part of our hiring process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT under NYC Law 144. As part of the hiring process, Traitify provides us with a candidate assessment which is one of the many factors that we review in making interview decisions; there are no cut offs, and all applications are visible to the hiring team. The Traitify tool has been reviewed by an independent auditor and results of the audit may be viewed here: https://tinyurl.com/yc3dwnhp