VP of Operations

Job Description

Job Description

At NAYA, we’re on an exciting journey - growing fast, sharing authentic, fresh and nutritious Middle Eastern flavors, and building a team that grows right along with us.

Our mission is to build genuine connections through the Middle Eastern flavors that nourish and inspire us

We are looking for an experienced, passionate person to grow with us as we live our mission. If you’re ready to lead with heart, inspire others, and be part of something bigger, NAYA is the place to make it happen.

You will love working at NAYA
We believe great people deserve great rewards. NAYA offers a comprehensive and people-focused benefits package designed to support you at work and beyond, including:

• Competitive pay to recognize your impact

• Competitive bonus plan

Paid Vacation time

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance to keep you healthy and thriving

• Flexible Spending Account

• Commuter benefits to make life easier

• Employee discounts and free NAYA meals — because we believe in enjoying what we serve

• Pet Insurance - because we love our furry friends

• Growth opportunities at every level — we invest in developing leaders from within

Employee Assistance, Pay on Demand, Identity Theft Protection, and much more!

At NAYA, you’ll find more than a job — you’ll find a community that values you, supports your goals, and celebrates your success.

About the Role

The Vice President of Restaurant Operations is a senior leader responsible for driving operational excellence, scaling performance, and building the infrastructure required for NAYA’s next phase of growth. This role partners closely with cross-functional leaders to translate strategy into consistent, high-performing restaurant execution across all markets.

This leader will own field operations, market expansion readiness, and the development of a strong, people-first culture that delivers exceptional guest experiences while driving profitable growth.

How You’ll Make an Impact

Operational Strategy & Business Performance

• Translate company strategy into clear, executable operational plans across all restaurants and markets
• Drive consistent improvement in key performance metrics: sales, transactions, labor productivity, food cost, and store-level profitability
• Establish and reinforce operating standards that ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability
• Build systems, routines, and accountability structures that elevate execution across Area Managers and General Managers
• Partner with Finance to manage budgets, forecasts, and performance targets

Market Growth & New Market Strategy

• Lead operational readiness for new restaurant openings and market expansion
• Develop scalable playbooks for entering and stabilizing new markets
• Partner with Real Estate, Development, and Marketing to ensure successful market launches
• Build regional leadership structures to support multi-market growth (Market Directors, Area Managers)
• Identify risks and opportunities in new and existing markets, adjusting strategy accordingly

Guest Experience & Brand Execution

• Ensure consistent delivery of a high-quality, hospitality-driven guest experience across all locations
• Champion initiatives that enhance speed, accuracy, food quality, and overall guest satisfaction
• Partner with Marketing and Culinary to bring brand and menu initiatives to life in restaurants
• Leverage guest feedback and operational data to continuously improve the experience

People & Culture Leadership

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing field organization rooted in NAYA’s values
• Create clear expectations, coaching rhythms, and accountability across all levels of operations
• Partner with People & Culture to strengthen hiring, onboarding, training, and retention strategies
• Develop strong leadership pipelines (Shift Leaders → GMs → Area Managers → Market Directors)
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement

Compliance & NYC Operational Expertise

• Ensure full compliance with all local, state, and federal labor laws, with deep expertise in NYC Fair Workweek (FWW) requirements
• Partner with HR and Legal to mitigate risk and uphold best practices across scheduling, pay, and employee relations

Who You Are

• A strategic restaurant operator who can zoom out to set direction and zoom in to drive execution
• A builder who thrives in growth environments and knows how to scale systems, teams, and performance
• A strong people leader who develops talent and holds teams accountable
• Highly data-driven, with the ability to translate insights into action
• Hands-on, visible, and present in the field

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of progressive restaurant operations leadership experience - with significant experience in the fast casual sector
• Current or prior experience as a Vice President or Senior Director of Operations in a multi-unit fast casual restaurant brand
• Proven success leading multi-market operations and supporting new market expansion
• Deep experience operating in New York City , including strong working knowledge of Fair Workweek (FWW)and labor compliance
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational performance and improve unit-level economics
• Experience building and leading high-performing field leadership teams
• Strong cross-functional partnership skills (Finance, HR, Marketing, Culinary, Technology)

You will love working at NAYA

• Bonus : 20% (50/50 personal/company performance)
• Health Insurance: NAYA pays 80% individual medical
• Technology Reimbursement : $60/month
• Paid Time Off: 4 weeks Paid Vacation Time/56 hours sick/safe time
• Paid Holidays : 12 days/year
• Other Optional: Commuter Benefits, FSA, LTD/STD, Employee Assistance, Pet Insurance
• Most Importantly: Free NAYA