(Grocery) Regional Director of Produce

Job OverviewThe Director of Produce Merchandising and Operations is responsible for leading merchandising strategy, field execution, and operational performance for produce and related fresh programs across GBC Food Services franchise kiosks located primarily in grocery stores and other host locations. This role supports all company programs, with a primary focus on assigned regions, and is accountable for driving sales, margin, freshness, food safety, operational consistency, and franchisee and client satisfaction.This position serves as a key leader between corporate strategy and field execution, partnering closely with franchisees, clients, and internal stakeholders to ensure strong merchandising standards, effective operations, and sustainable business growth. The role requires independent judgment, strong business acumen, and the ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on operational support. Regular travel within and outside assigned regions, sometimes with limited notice, is required to support franchisees, client needs, new openings, audits, training, recoveries, and other business priorities.Supervisory ResponsibilitiesMay directly supervise field support personnel, trainers, business consultants, merchandising specialists, and other operations team members as assigned.Provides leadership, coaching, direction, and accountability for field execution and operational performance.Participates in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, performance management, and development of team members within the function.Partners with franchisees and regional stakeholders to reinforce standards, operational expectations, and business improvement plans.Key ResponsibilitiesLead produce merchandising and operational strategies that support sales growth, gross margin, freshness, quality, and consistent execution across franchise kiosks and host locations.Support all GBC Food Services programs and initiatives as needed, with a primary focus on assigned regions and field execution priorities.Develop and maintain merchandising standards for assortment, display, pricing, promotional execution, seasonal transitions, product rotation, and inventory management.Partner with franchisees to improve in-store execution, profitability, labor efficiency, freshness standards, and overall operating performance.Build strong relationships with host location clients to support service levels, visual presentation, issue resolution, and ongoing business alignment.Conduct regular field visits, business reviews, store walks, audits, and operational assessments to identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities.Analyze key performance indicators including sales, margin, shrink, spoilage, waste, inventory turns, labor, customer experience, and compliance metrics.Develop and execute corrective action plans for underperforming locations, programs, or processes.Collaborate with supply chain, procurement, culinary, training, finance, food safety, and leadership teams on product launches, sourcing changes, pricing adjustments, and operational initiatives.Support new kiosk openings, transitions, resets, pilots, remodels, and recovery efforts to ensure successful implementation and adherence to standards.Create and maintain operational playbooks, scorecards, reporting tools, and field communication processes that improve consistency and scalability.Identify and lead process improvement initiatives related to forecasting, replenishment, shrink reduction, merchandising execution, client satisfaction, and franchisee support.Ensure all programs within scope are executed in compliance with food safety, sanitation, brand, and company standards.Reinforce and monitor adherence to all applicable operational procedures, documentation, and audit requirements.Provide training, coaching, and field guidance to franchisees and support teams on merchandising practices, quality standards, and operational expectations.Escalate material operational, client, franchisee, or compliance concerns to leadership with recommended solutions.Support budget, planning, and performance discussions by providing operational insight and recommendations based on field conditions and business trends.Represent GBC Food Services professionally with franchisees, clients, vendors, and internal stakeholders.Travel extensively as needed to support business operations within and outside assigned regions, including overnight travel and travel on varying notice.CompetenciesStrong strategic and operational leadershipExcellent business judgment and decision-making abilityHigh level of accountability and follow-throughStrong analytical and financial acumenRelationship-building and stakeholder managementEffective coaching and performance developmentExcellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skillsStrong organization and project management skillsAbility to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentAdaptability and responsiveness to changing business needsRequired Skills/AbilitiesStrong knowledge of produce merchandising, freshness standards, inventory rotation, shrink control, spoilage management, and operational best practicesStrong understanding of multi-unit operations in foodservice, grocery, retail, franchising, or other fresh/perishable environmentsAbility to evaluate business performance using sales, margin, labor, and operational data and translate findings into actionable plansExperience partnering with franchisees, clients, and cross-functional teams to improve execution and resultsProficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and OutlookExperience with POS, ERP, inventory, reporting, or business intelligence systemsAbility to influence outcomes across a decentralized operating environmentAbility to work independently while also collaborating effectively across departmentsStrong attention to detail and commitment to brand and operating standardsAbility to travel frequently, including overnight and short-notice travel, based on business needsServSafe Manager Certification requiredEducation and ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Food Service Management, Supply Chain, Merchandising, Agriculture, or a related field preferredEquivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered8+ years of progressive experience in produce merchandising, fresh foods, field operations, category management, or related operational leadership roles required5+ years of leadership experience supporting multi-unit operations preferredExperience working with franchise systems, host location environments, grocery-based operations, or prepared foods programs strongly preferredExperience in food safety, quality assurance, operational compliance, and field performance improvement preferredPhysical RequirementsProlonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computerFrequent standing and walking during field visits, store walks, audits, and operational support activitiesFrequent travel by car and air as required by the business, with varying notice.Occasional bending, reaching, and lifting of up to 30 poundsAbility to work in cold refrigerated environments.Ability to work in retail, warehouse, production, and refrigerated environments as neededWork EnvironmentCombination of corporate office and field-based work environmentsRegular presence in grocery stores, franchise kiosks, and other host locationsExposure to refrigerated, storage, backroom, and food production areas during site visitsFast-paced environment requiring flexibility, urgency, responsiveness, and strong cross-functional collaborationSchedule may include early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends depending on travel, client needs, openings, or operational prioritiesOther DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.