Regional Vice President of Operations

Company: Privately Held Contract Hospitality / Foodservice Management CompanyRole: Regional Vice President of OperationsComp: $130K–$170K base + bonusLocation: Michigan-based preferred (Grand Rapids or Detroit ideal)Travel: Heavy regional travel required, expect 2–4 nights/week on the road depending on account cadence*** We welcome candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, including military veterans and leaders from operations-heavy industries. If you've led people and owned outcomes we can teach the hospitality part. ***OverviewThis is a senior field operations role leading a multi-state portfolio of contract dining and hospitality accounts (universities, hospitals, hotels, etc) across the Great Lakes region, with Michigan as the operational hub.The Regional VP of Operations will oversee existing business across ~26 accounts (17x MI, 3x OH, 1x IN, 1x IL, 3x CO, 1x AL)Basing near Grand Rapids or Detroit is most desirable as it makes most of the core territory drivable + ability to access major airports for occasional air-based travel.This is a high-touch leadership role for someone who can lead a disaggregated team, build strong client partnerships, inspect standards, grow account-level performance, and develop the next generation of operators.The company is privately owned, mission-driven, and positioned as a boutique, relationship-heavy alternative to the large national foodservice providers.What You'll OwnLead regional operations across a multi-state contract dining portfolioSpend roughly 2-4 days per week in the field with clients, account leaders, and area directorsUse the remaining time for planning, client follow-up, team development, reporting, and strategic executionBuild and develop a bench of strong operators across the regionDrive sustainable profitability, retention, service quality, hospitality standards, food safety, and operational disciplineMaintain senior-level client relationships and protect long-term partnershipsSupport renewals, organic account growth, and new business opportunitiesTranslate company vision into clear operating rhythm, standards, and accountabilityIdentify operational gaps quickly and coach teams toward better executionWho FitsThis role is ideal for a senior operator who is:High ownershipHumble enough to learn a new industry layerStrong with people, standards, and follow-throughAble to walk into an operation, assess what matters, and raise the barClient-facing and polished, but still willing to get close to the workStrong enough commercially to understand P&L, contract performance, retention, and growthIdeal backgrounds include:Multi-unit hospitality operationsContract foodservice / dining servicesHotels, resorts, senior living, campus services, corporate dining, or complex service operationsRegional / district / area leadership over multiple sitesMilitary officer or senior enlisted leadership with strong post-military operations experiencePut simply, commercial foodservice experience is a strong plus but the broader target is a proven field operator who knows how to lead teams, manage clients, enforce standards, and learn quickly.RequirementsBachelor's degree preferred5+ years of multi-unit operations leadership preferredExperience leading through area directors, district managers, GMs, or site leadersStrong financial acumen, including P&L exposureAbility to manage complex client relationshipsWillingness to travel heavily across the assigned regionMust live near a major airport, ideally GRR or DTWValid driver's licenseWhy This Role MattersThe company is scaling from a strong regional foundation into a much larger national platform. They are looking for leaders who can help professionalize the operating model while preserving the company's high-touch, relationship-first culture.This is a strong fit for someone who wants real operational ownership, visible executive exposure, and a path to larger regional or enterprise leadership over time.