Vice President of Operations

Job Description

At Refreshments, we believe operational excellence is the foundation of sustainable growth. We are seeking a transformational Vice President of Operations to lead a multi-market region, accelerate performance, and shape the future of our business.

Reporting to the Regional Vice President, this executive leader will be responsible for driving growth, profitability, operational execution, client retention, and talent development across a complex, geographically dispersed portfolio. The Vice President of Operations serves as the senior operational leader for the region, partnering closely with Sales, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Supply Chain, and other business partners to execute strategy and deliver exceptional client experiences.

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a combination of strategic vision, operational discipline, commercial acumen, and inspirational leadership. The successful candidate will build high-performing teams, create accountability at every level of the organization, and foster a culture focused on execution, innovation, and continuous improvement. 

This position is remote with 75% travel. 

What You Will Lead

Regional Business Performance

• Own regional operating results with full accountability for revenue growth, profitability, client retention, safety, and operational execution.
• Translate enterprise strategy into actionable regional plans that drive measurable business outcomes.
• Establish clear priorities and performance expectations while ensuring disciplined execution throughout the organization.
• Leverage data, financial insights, and operational metrics to identify opportunities and accelerate performance.

Growth & Client Partnership

• Partner closely with commercial leaders to drive organic growth, strengthen customer relationships, and expand strategic partnerships.
• Ensure exceptional service delivery that enhances client satisfaction, retention, and long-term value creation.
• Identify innovative solutions and emerging opportunities that position the business for continued success.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Recruit, develop, and retain exceptional leaders capable of delivering results and building strong teams.
• Create a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Coach and mentor district and market leadership teams to elevate performance and prepare future organizational leaders.
• Lead through influence, collaboration, and visibility while fostering trust across all levels of the organization.

Operational Excellence

• Drive consistency, standardization, and continuous improvement across all operational processes.
• Champion initiatives that improve productivity, service quality, safety performance, and financial results.
• Lead organizational change efforts and ensure the successful implementation of strategic business initiatives.
• Promote a culture that embraces innovation while maintaining operational discipline.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with Finance, Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Safety, and Compliance partners to achieve shared business objectives.
• Build strong partnerships that enable effective decision-making and execution across the enterprise.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to executive leadership.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership experience with significant multi-site operational responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading large, geographically dispersed teams in a complex service-driven environment.
• Proven track record of delivering sustained revenue growth, profitability improvement, and operational excellence.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large-scale budgets and P&L performance.
• Exceptional ability to lead organizational change, drive accountability, and execute strategic initiatives.
• Experience building high-performing leadership teams and developing talent pipelines.
• Outstanding communication, influence, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable operating in an environment of growth, change, and continuous improvement.

Leadership Characteristics

The ideal candidate is:

• Strategic – Sees around corners, anticipates challenges, and creates plans that position the business for long-term success.
• Results-Oriented – Relentlessly focused on outcomes and accountable for delivering commitments.
• People-Focused – Builds strong teams, develops leaders, and creates an engaging culture where people can thrive.
• Business Acumen – Understands how operational decisions impact clients, growth, profitability, and enterprise value.
• Change Leader – Energizes teams through transformation and successfully leads complex initiatives.
• Collaborative – Builds strong partnerships and influences effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Decisive – Makes sound decisions with confidence, balancing risk, opportunity, and business impact.

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.