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

Role Overview

The Vice President of Restaurant Technology & Operations for the Arby’s and SONIC brands is a senior leadership role accountable for maintaining and enhancing the stability, scalability, and performance of technology systems that support restaurant and digital operations across a broad and geographically varied business landscape.

This executive leads multiple managerial teams, overseeing the operational management of in-restaurant, off-premise, and enterprise technology platforms. The mandate includes ensuring continuous availability, consistent service performance, and minimal impact on restaurant and franchise partner functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute short to long-term strategies to drive business outcomes across restaurant technology operations.
• Analyze and improve entire processes or systems, identifying root causes and implementing best practices.
• Formulate tactical and operational plans focused on delivering measurable business results through innovated standards and processes.
• Engage daily with internal and external stakeholders, negotiating and influencing to secure approval of operational concepts and practices.
• Foster an organizational culture that prioritizes franchisee and internal customer satisfaction by promoting a 'starting with yes' approach, enhancing both the effectiveness and perception of IT.
• Develop leadership and performance capabilities among direct and indirect reports, reinforcing a robust succession pipeline.
• Lead financial planning and capital governance at an enterprise level, optimizing resources to promote growth and operational efficiency.
• Direct vendor ecosystem strategies to leverage partners as catalysts for resilience and competitive advantage.
• Own the deployment and operationalization of AI and automation tools to elevate efficiency, decision-making, and service reliability.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 15 years in IT management, with progressive leadership experience overseeing technology programs notably in medium to large enterprises.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives involving business leaders, product managers, and vendors.
• Minimum 10 years of leadership in retail technology environments, preferably including restaurant technologies such as POS systems, kiosks, digital menu boards, and in-store infrastructure.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, or a related discipline; advanced degrees preferred.

Competencies and Skills

• Deep expertise with restaurant industry applications, technical platforms, relevant hardware, and vendor ecosystems.
• Strong leadership abilities complemented by advanced general management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft operating systems and familiarity with at least two other OSs including iOS, Android, or Linux.
• Comprehensive knowledge of ITSM frameworks (e.g., ITIL) with preferred certifications.
• Experience supporting complex, multi-location, and geographically dispersed operations.
• Capability to gather and translate franchisee and end-user needs into operational specifications.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including networking, communication, and presentation abilities tailored for all organizational levels.
• Problem-solving excellence, meticulous organizational talent, and data-driven decision-making aptitude.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite and practical experience applying AI and modern technology solutions.

Additional Information

This leadership role requires an on-site presence of 80% at the Atlanta Support Center.

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company with a portfolio exceeding 33,000 establishments including Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC globally. The company is committed to enhancing food experiences, fostering innovation, and growing its technological capabilities.