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- Tasks: Drive operational excellence and strategic innovation across international markets for Papa John's.
- Company: Join a leading global pizza brand focused on growth and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on operational performance and enhance customer experiences worldwide.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in operational excellence and strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for continuous learning and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
This role is pivotal in driving operational performance, strategic innovation, and scalable growth across international markets for Papa Johns. It focuses on executing operational excellence projects, delivering impactful programs, and leveraging customer experience data to enhance performance. The position ensures brand-compliant processes, streamlined operations, and improved operating standards through data-driven decision-making, ultimately supporting franchisee success and superior customer experiences.
- Strategic Leadership & Business Impact
- Define and execute the operational excellence strategy aligned with business goals, brand positioning, and growth plans.
- Provide strategic advice, translating business challenges into operational solutions that drive performance and profitability.
- Lead cross-functional steering groups to prioritize and govern key transformation initiatives.
- Act as the Project lead on key company level operational initiatives.
- Operational Excellence & Project Execution
- Design, deploy, and execute operational excellence projects across international markets with measurable impact on efficiency, quality, and profitability.
- Drive process optimization to reduce complexity, improve throughput, and enhance consistency in restaurant operations.
- Lead operational readiness for new market entry and expansion, including project planning, execution, and post-launch reviews.
- Continuous Improvement
- Own the development and deployment of standardized operating procedures across all stores to ensure efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
- Implement continuous improvement frameworks to improve speed of service, cost control, quality, and employee productivity.
- Identify operational friction points in-store, delivering solutions through innovation, tech, or process redesign.
- Customer Experience & Data Utilization
- Use customer experience data (e.g., OSAT, SMG, complaints, delivery metrics) to identify gaps and drive improvement.
- Establish benchmarking and reporting systems to track operational KPIs and CX across markets; share actionable insights.
- Prioritise initiatives based on quantified impact to guest satisfaction and unit economics.
- Innovation & Brand Compliance
- Own Ops innovation testing and implementation—from equipment to time-and-motion studies—to drive continuous improvement.
- Build and deliver key tools for market innovation implementation.
- Support new product development (incl. SER process and approvals) and ensure seamless operational integration.
- Ensure operational processes adhere to brand standards while adapting effectively to local market needs.
- Serve as operations POC for new product and menu launches—ensuring process feasibility, kitchen flow efficiency, and frontline readiness.
- Collaborate with R&D, Marketing, and Supply Chain to operationalize menu innovations, balancing speed, quality, and cost-efficiency.
- Lead pilot testing, gather feedback, and optimise execution before national rollouts.
- Technology & Digital Enablement
- Champion digital tools that improve efficiency and customer engagement; scale proven solutions with regional teams.
- Collaborate with North America to localise global initiatives and ensure cultural fit in each region.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Accountability
- Build strong relationships with franchise partners; provide guidance and support to optimise performance.
- Define success measures and ROI for brand projects; hold stakeholders accountable through structured governance.
- Brand Standards & Operational Consistency
- Develop tools and resources that allow the drive the adherence of brand standards across company-owned and franchised stores, liaising with the Global operations Tiger Teams.
- Partner with QA, Marketing, R&D and Training teams to align operations with brand experience, menu strategy, and customer service expectations.
- Oversee and steward the communications and guidance on operational procedures and brand standards communication to stores.
- Training, Culture & Capability Building
- Lead the implementation of training programs focused on operational excellence, including onboarding, leadership development, and continuous learning.
- Build tools to drive performance and foster a culture of excellence.
- Project & Change Management
- Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, cross-functional projects such as store, digital ops rollouts, and ops excellence initiatives.
- Develop project charters, business cases, and implementation plans that align with timelines and ROI expectations.
- Ensure change initiatives are well-communicated, locally adaptable, and embedded through strong change management practices.
- Serve as the governance lead for UK operation process changes and manual updates.
- Functional Skills
- Confident leadership acumen with the ability to set a clear and compelling vision.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage and lead cross-functional teams to peak performance.
- Pace & Flex: An ability to deliver business outcomes at pace.
- Strong project management skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Education, Experience & Certifications
- Essential
- Proven experience as an Operational Excellence Manager or similar role.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite preferred.
- BSc/BA in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field.
- Experience in managing budgets.
- Desirable
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
- Proficiency in using project management systems.
- Experience with LMS or LXP/CMS/LRS platforms.
- Essential
Senior Manager, Operations Excellence, International in Milton Keynes employer: Papa Johns
Contact Detail:
Papa Johns Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Operations Excellence, International in Milton Keynes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their operational strategies and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they’re about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in operational excellence can drive performance and profitability. Tailor your examples to show how you can make a real impact in their international markets.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Operations Excellence, International in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight how your experience aligns with the role. We want to see how you can drive operational performance and strategic innovation, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role is all about strategic leadership, so be sure to include examples of how you've led cross-functional teams or projects in the past. We love seeing candidates who can translate business challenges into operational solutions!
Data-Driven Decision Making: Since this position involves leveraging customer experience data, make sure to mention any experience you have with data analysis or using metrics to drive improvements. We’re keen on candidates who can identify gaps and implement effective solutions.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Papa Johns
✨Know Your Operational Excellence
Make sure you understand the key principles of operational excellence and how they apply to Papa John's. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led that demonstrate your ability to drive performance and profitability through strategic innovation.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Familiarise yourself with customer experience data and operational KPIs relevant to the role. Prepare examples of how you've used data to identify gaps and implement improvements in previous positions, showcasing your analytical skills.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience leading cross-functional teams and steering groups. Highlight instances where you've successfully managed change initiatives and driven team performance, as this is crucial for the Senior Manager role.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement by sharing examples of how you've implemented frameworks or processes that enhanced efficiency and quality. This will show your alignment with the company's focus on operational excellence and brand compliance.