Vice President - Restaurant Technology & Operations - Arby’s & SONIC

Job description

Vice President - Restaurant Technology & Operations - Arby's & SONIC is a senior enterprise leader responsible for the stability, scalability, and performance of technology that enables restaurant and digital operations across a large, geographically distributed organization. This role leads multiple teams of Directors and Managers and owns the operational execution of in‑restaurant, off‑premise, and enterprise technology platforms, ensuring high availability, consistent performance, and minimal disruption to restaurant operations and franchise partners of the Arby’s and SONIC brands. The position focuses on translating business and brand strategies into reliable, repeatable operational outcomes through disciplined operating models, ITSM‑aligned processes, vendor governance, and continuous improvement. The VP establishes and executes mid‑ to long‑term operational plans, oversees complex third‑party ecosystems, and serves as the executive escalation point for technology incidents, service performance, and enterprise rollouts. Success is measured through uptime, service levels, cost efficiency, and the ability to support growth, innovation, and change at scale. As a cross‑functional leader, the role partners closely with Operations, Digital, Finance, and external partners to balance innovation with operational rigor. A core responsibility is building a high‑performance culture that emphasizes accountability, data‑driven decision‑making, and leadership development, ensuring technology operations remain a competitive advantage for a large‑scale enterprise. RESPONSIBILITIES Establishes and implements strategies that have short, mid, and long-term impact on company results Improves upon entire processes or systems leveraging experiences and in-depth understanding of best practices. Extensively analyzes problems to seek understanding of the underlying issue and root cause of the problem Establishes and implements tactical and operational plans for the function of the business. Focus is on strategies to achieve business results, which may require substantial development of new processes or standards Daily interactions with parties within and outside of own job function. May negotiate to influence internal and external parties to accept concepts, practices and approaches of the operational area. Frequently conducts briefings to senior leaders both within and outside the business. Creates a culture and mindset of ‘starting with yes’ – this leader is responsible for franchisee and internal (non-IT) customer satisfaction and builds relationships and an org culture that works to improve both the effectiveness and the perception of the IT organization. Develops and coaches direct and indirect team members to drive strong performance, build leadership capability, and strengthen the succession pipeline Leads enterprise‑level financial strategy and capital governance, optimizing resource allocation to drive sustained growth, operational efficiency, and long‑term financial health. Defines and champions the organization’s vendor ecosystem strategy, ensuring vendors are leveraged as strategic partners to drive enterprise performance, resilience, and long‑term competitive advantage. Within their domain, own the strategy, implementation, and operationalization of AI and automation technologies to improve efficiency, decision making, and service reliability. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS 15+ years of progressive experience in IT management 15+ years of experience leading cross-functional programs with business leaders, product managers, and vendors to deliver complex technology initiatives with measurable results in medium-to-large-sized enterprise environments 10+ years of leadership experience over retail (physical store) technology environments is required; Experience with restaurant technologies (POS, kiosks, digital menu boards/signage, and in-store infrastructure) is highly preferred 4-year Degree in computer science, information systems, or related field; Advanced degree preferred REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, OR ABILITIES Expert knowledge of relevant applications, technical platforms, vendors, and hardware in the restaurant industry Advanced general management and leadership capabilities with proven success leading business or functional teams Expert proficiency with Microsoft operating systems and related software, plus familiarity with at least two additional operating systems, such as iOS, Android, or Linux Expert knowledge with ITSM frameworks such as ITIL; Industry recognized certifications in this area preferred Expert knowledge in supporting multi-modal and geographical disparate locations Expert experience in building business and technical requirements Strong analytical skills, including a thorough understanding of how to interpret franchisee and end-user business needs and translate them into operational requirements Strong networking, relationship-building, and influencing abilities Ability to clearly and concisely communicate to all levels of the organization, including written and verbal communications Confident presentation skills in front of large groups of people both in-person and over video conference Excellent problem-solving ability Exceptional organization, communication skills, and attention to detail Ability to meet deadlines and make sound decisions based on data and stakeholder feedback Ability to work cross-functionally within a highly matrixed organization Expert in Microsoft Office Suite, including but not limited to Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word Strong knowledge in the practical application of AI and other modern technology tools Intimate understanding of technical specification documentation, integration best practices and services-based architecture This position is based in our Atlanta Support Center, with an expected on-site presence of 80%. #LIIB Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.