Food Service Director Jobs

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Texas Petroleum Group (TPG) is a retail fuel company managing a large chain of retail gas stations in Texas with a variety of commercial constructs. Operating under the Tradename “Timewise” the team has a strong legacy of operating excellence in the Texas market and take pride in their customer service and bottom-line focus. Acquired by Shell in 2022, TPG is being operating independently as a wholly owned subsidiary. The ownership change brings ambitions for accelerated growth of our business.

Our Retail sites provide customers with the best fuels, and they are evolving to cater to our customers increasing demands for convenience shopping and meet their expectations for quality food service and coffee categories. These categories represent the next area of focused growth for our US Convenience Business. Starting initially with a traditional coffee and food service offering the successful candidate will develop and implement the food service strategy that is relevant to our customers to become a destination category for our stores.

SUMMARY OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As the Director - Food Service, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a food service program with the right range, assortment, and menu that resonates with our customers. Additionally, you will be implementing marketing plans to build awareness and increase demand of this destination category at our Retail sites.

As the business grows, the successful candidate will be responsible for recruiting and building a fresh food and drinks category management team as well as establishing cost effective site merchandising support to ensure the ongoing success of the program.

JOB DUTIES:

The Director - Food Service lead will be responsible for developing food service and coffee programs through partnership with many key supplier partners and will work cross functionally across the business to develop operating procedures, the best integrated customer offer, operating model, and commercial terms. The position works alongside the Global Lead Foodservice and will leverage the best practices and relationships from Shell globally.

Responsibilities:

• Operationalizing programs with supplier partners to make them scalable and tiered with the network with attention to food safety, labor costs, shrink, and supply chain.
• Leading the development and implementation of food service programs, project management of pilots/proof of concepts in partnership with Formats, Real Estate, Operations, and Construction. At the completion of pilot projects, the Food Service Lead will determine the network rollout plan based on the success of the pilot.
• Monitor and measure the category performance, ensuring team maintains a proper balance between long-term view and business demands of the annual category plan.
• The business deliverables for Food & Coffee (sales plan, assortment, pricing, special programs inclusive of seasonal and annual merchandising plan).
• Work in close collaboration across the convenience retail organization inclusive of formats, category management, and supply chain to identify and act upon opportunities to provide incremental value to the business.
• Staying informed of commodity and brand performance trends as well as competitive positions. Maintain positive trade relationships and developing strategic alliances as required with key suppliers.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Direct experience developing and implementing retail food service programs is an imperative and clear advantage in any application. Having worked with or for a nationally branded food service, quick service restaurant, or branded coffee is considered an asset.

The following qualifications will form a key part of the evaluation process and the selection of the candidate for the role:

• Capable of interfacing and influencing people at all levels of the organization. Ability to influence and get work done through others who are not direct reports.
• Deep understanding of retail economics and strong financial analysis skills
• Proven track record of developing, managing, operating, and implementing retail (convenience or grocery) food service program with knowledge of food safety and staffing best practices.
• Ability work in a fast paced environment with a focus on customer service
• Strong decision making, negotiation, communication, and leadership skills
• Excellent food service industry understanding as well as sound knowledge of Convenience Retail business processes in general is a must have

Additional requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, retailing, management, sales, or marketing preferred
• Previous experience in grocery/restaurant/convenience foodservice is preferred
• Previous P&L management required
• Strong marketing background with experience in the management of convenience retailing & consumer packaged goods is a key advantage for candidate
• Must have at least 8 years’ of experience in grocery retail or convenience retail, with a preference in the areas of program development and execution of food service programs.