Manager, Operational Design - 328 at Zaxbys Franchising LLC – Atlanta, Georgia

The Zaxby's Support Center is looking for an Operational Design Manager to join the Operations Services team. This position manages all aspects of Zaxby's restaurant and site design that impact store operations, with a primary focus on kitchen and drive-thru functionality – partnering with Design & Construction, vendors, and Operations Innovation to ensure restaurant designs support Zaxby's operational platform, including non-traditional QSR environments.

As we continue to grow, our strategies have set us up for success to be the top offering in Chicken Fingerz, Boneless Wings and Zalads. We'd love to have you as part of our team!

This position is based in Atlanta, GA area and allows for a hybrid work schedule that includes 3 in-office days per week. Increased travel (up to ~75%) may be required during rollouts, remodels, or major initiatives.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Company-paid Disability, Critical Illness, and Basic Life insurance
• 401K participation with Company match
• 50% off meal discount at company-owned locations
• Parental Leave
• Child Care Assistance
• Education Assistance Program
• PTO and 9 Company Holidays + 2 Floating Holidays

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Maintain extensive knowledge of all current kitchen designs, layouts, and specifications offered across the company's portfolio
• Review and approve all kitchen and back-of-house (BOH) elevations for operational accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with company standards
• Review all site plan drawings for operational components, workflow efficiency, and adherence to brand requirements
• Approve or deny existing building conversions and franchisee-requested changes to prototype plans, ensuring operational integrity is preserved
• Collaborate with Design & Construction and vendors on the creation and refinement of new prototype designs
• Develop business cases for operational design elements within new prototypes, clearly articulating operational value and ROI
• Implement approved operations improvements into remodel programs at renewal periods
• Lead kitchen development and provide final operational approval for all non-traditional floor plans and formats
• Engage directly with franchisee groups operating non-traditional units to align expectations around space, workflow, and guest experience; ensure both the company and franchisee partners have a clear, shared understanding of expected operations in non-traditional spaces
• Work directly with new franchisees to ensure plans and equipment packages are clearly understood and operationally sound
• Partner with the Operations Innovation team to develop alternate procedures, equipment configurations, and operational standards specific to non-traditional environments; ensure operational improvements are embedded into current, future, and non-traditional restaurant layouts
• Partner with the Equipment Procurement team to conduct regular audits of smallwares and equipment packages
• Establish and enforce Operational Design requirements and inspection processes for license renewals and transfers
• Conduct site visits to verify that only required and approved deviations from approved plan sets are implemented as needed

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Strong knowledge of construction project processes
• Working knowledge of AutoCAD or similar design software
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Strong presentation and organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
• Collaborative mindset with cross-functional teams and external partners
• Strong planning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Familiarity with foodservice equipment, smallwares standards, and kitchen workflow optimization
• Experience supporting franchise systems, non-traditional formats, or multi-concept restaurant portfolios

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience: 3–5 years managing components of construction or operational design projects; architectural experience preferred but not required

Zaxby's Franchising LLC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment decisions based on any factor protected by federal, state or local law.

PAY RANGE
$84,000 - $100,000