Food Service Lead

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Food Service Specialists to ensure high performance, strong engagement, and consistent execution across all assigned restaurant concepts.
• Establish clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards, holding team members accountable for results while providing ongoing guidance and support.
• Conduct regular one-on-one coaching sessions, field ride-alongs, and performance reviews focused on skill development, discernment, and leadership growth.
• Partner with P&C and Operations leadership on talent planning, onboarding, succession planning, and performance management.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for MIT training, overseeing weekly progress, ensuring full curriculum completion, and maintaining certified training units across brands.

Brand & Program Leadership

• Ensure Food Specialists consistently serve as brand champions and subject-matter experts for all assigned Deli, QSR and FSR concepts.
• Responsible for ensuring that all 3rd party brand audits keep TA in good standing with the brands.
• Provide oversight and direction for the planning, rollout, and execution of brand programs, promotions, and operational initiatives.
• Partner with Marketing and Food Service teams to align field execution with brand strategies, innovation efforts, and consumer insights.
• Able to represent the company at meetings, trade shows, and conventions as needed.

Field Support, Coaching, & Communication

• Set expectations for effective field engagement, ensuring Food Specialists maintain strong, consistent communication with site and restaurant leadership.
• Coach team members on delivering impactful training, operational guidance, and performance feedback to restaurant managers.
• Provide leadership oversight for new restaurant installations, remodels, and operational program launches.
• Serve as a blocking issue point for complex operational, people, or brand issues in the field.

Performance & Financial Management

• Lead the team in driving targeted EBITDA, sales, margin, labor efficiency, and shrink performance across regions.
• Review and analyze financial results, inventory data, and operational KPIs, coaching Food Specialists on using insights to improve performance.
• Ensure strong financial acumen across the region, including understanding P&L drivers, budgets, coverage ratios, and expense management.
• Partner with Food Specialists and site leadership to address turnover trends and implement effective retention strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Representation

• Act as a key liaison between Food Specialists and cross-functional partners including Marketing, TA food team, category managers, Loss Prevention, and Operations.
• Champion continuous improvement by finding opportunities to strengthen programs, processes, and execution across the food offer.
• Support Loss Prevention initiatives and assignments as needed.

Safety, Compliance & Culture

• Promote and model a strong safety-first culture, ensuring Food Specialists actively identify risks and reinforce safe behaviors in the field.
• Oversee and reinforce all Food Safety and general safety standards as part of ongoing operational performance.
• Ensure consistent communication and adherence to all operational, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Reinforce what we value and inclusive leadership practices across all interactions.