About Salem’s Fresh Eats: At Salem’s Fresh Eats , we’ve redefined fast-casual dining by combining variety, quality, and convenience under one roof. Since 1988, we’ve proudly served fresh seafood, flame-grilled wings, gyros, and more, crafted to order with the finest ingredients. With 14 locations and growing, our family-owned business is rooted in tradition, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional food and hospitality. As we expand across the Sunshine State and beyond, our operations leadership team is more vital than ever to our continued success. Job Overview: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a key executive leader at Salem’s Fresh Eats, overseeing all day-to-day restaurant operations, driving organizational excellence, and steering the company’s growth strategy. This role is ideal for a highly experienced operations executive with a background in the restaurant industry, especially seafood, and a proven ability to scale brands while maintaining quality and culture. The COO will work directly with the CEO to execute Salem’s vision and ensure operational success across all locations. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute operational strategies that align with the company’s short- and long-term goals. Collaborate with the CEO to lead and implement growth and expansion initiatives. Champion a culture of performance, innovation, and accountability. Operational Oversight: Manage daily operations across all Salem’s Fresh Eats restaurants to ensure efficiency and consistency. Implement, track, and analyze KPIs to improve service, productivity, and profitability. Oversee inventory, supply chain, and vendor relationships to optimize operations. Quality Control: Develop, enforce, and continuously improve quality control standards across all locations. Ensure adherence to food safety, sanitation, and regulatory standards. Address and resolve quality-related issues quickly and effectively. Financial Management: Oversee operational budgets, cost control measures, and financial performance. Use financial analysis to inform strategy and operational decisions. Ensure accountability for revenue, expenses, and profitability. Staff Leadership: Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing field operations and management team. Cultivate a collaborative, positive, and inclusive work environment. Conduct performance reviews and create leadership development plans. Customer Experience: Ensure that every restaurant consistently delivers exceptional guest service. Champion customer-first initiatives and develop feedback systems to drive improvements. Lead efforts to resolve guest concerns and elevate the brand reputation.
Process Improvement: Identify inefficiencies in current workflows and develop scalable, tech-enabled solutions. Standardize operating procedures across all locations. Foster innovation in service delivery and operational execution.
Growth & Expansion: Lead new restaurant openings and market entry strategies. Analyze potential acquisition or franchising opportunities. Ensure smooth integration of new units into the Salem’s operating model.
Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal operational, labor, and food safety regulations. Develop and enforce risk management procedures and internal controls. Conduct internal audits and evaluations to maintain operational integrity.
Education & Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field (required). MBA or advanced degree in a related discipline (preferred). Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, with at least 5 in an executive-level role. Extensive background in multi-unit restaurant management, with seafood experience highly preferred. Strong command of quality control, operations planning, and team development. Exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities. Technical Skills & Tools: Financial acumen with P&L management and forecasting. Familiarity with restaurant management systems, inventory software, and POS platforms. Proficiency in Excel and other business intelligence/reporting tools. Understanding of labor cost models, food costing, and supply chain logistics.
Requirements Valid Driver’s License. Ability to pass background check and drug screening. Willingness to travel frequently across locations. Availability for weekends, holidays, and peak operational hours. Ability to work legally for any employer in the United States.
Success Measures: Consistent achievement of operational KPIs across all locations. Successful new restaurant openings delivered on time and within budget. Improvement in guest satisfaction scores and retention. Cost efficiencies implemented without compromising quality. Strong employee engagement and reduced management turnover.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Employment Eligibility Notice: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship now or in the future.
