Operations Services - Project Manager

Company Background

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is an iconic brand, steeped in history. It is a 77-year old company in a start-up growth phase with great upside opportunity. Named as one of the 10 fastest growing restaurant brands in 2021, according to the NRN Top 500, this is an exciting time to join Handel’s.Since 2020, Handel’s has more than doubled its footprint to over 100 stores, with plans to open 40 new stores in 2023.Along with this tremendous growth comes the need to continue building the operational capabilities and talent necessary to achieve Handel’s short and long-term goals.

The Opportunity

The Operations Services – Project Manager is responsible for assisting with and managing organization-wide operations projects.This position will collaborate with cross functional teams (Subject Matter Experts) to ensure that projects meet the needs of the Handel’s brand.The Project Manager will have a solid background in managing and executing all aspects of a project and have a basic understanding of restaurant operations. This position will lead, manage, document and support all aspects of multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the development of user manuals, training materials, and other documents as needed to enable successful system implementation
• Develop effective project communication plans to ensure implementation & adoption
• Determine and define project scopes and objectives
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with Subject Matter Experts who meet the needs of project completion
• Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan
• Conduct post project evaluations with the project team to measure project impact and share key takeaways
• Assess the resources needed to reach project objectives and manage resources in an effective & efficient manner
• Monitor project progress, set deadlines with Subject Matter Experts, and make adjustments as needed
• Must attend a 5-10 day in-store training session to connect the business needs to the projects
• Prepare status reports by gathering, analyzing, and summarizing relevant information

Qualifications

• Strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices
• Minimum of two years’ experience in a project manager role (restaurant experience would be a plus)
• Prior experience in change management and implementation of change in an organization
• Bachelor’s degree in business, computer science, or related field preferred
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred
• Experience seeing projects from ideation to implementation
• Proven ability to solve and overcome obstacles

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

• Self-motivated and able to manage projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Ability to build strong collaborative relationships, both internally and externally
• Ability to perform analysis and interpret feedback into actionable steps
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, to convey ideas and processes
• Leads projects and initiatives by working closely with key stakeholders, identifying stakeholder expectations on project objectives, scope, and deliverables
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage more than one project simultaneously
• Proven ability to complete work assignments accurately, on-time, and on-budget
• Strong analytical skills to understand project dynamics and business requirements

Location

The Operations Services - Project Manager will be based near Youngstown, Ohio.Candidates must live near the area or be willing to relocate.This role will be a hybrid role with both work from home privileges and in-office requirements, with an average of 3 days/week in office.

Travel requirements for this role; 3-5 days per quarter for in-store observations and feedback collection. Occasional travel to Atlanta office.

Reporting Relationship

The Operations Services - Project Manager will interact with senior leadership and key stakeholders, and will report directly to Handel’s VP of Operations Services.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: Competitive base salary, commensurate with candidate experience and demonstrated skills

Annual Bonus Plan

Generous medical, dental and vision benefit plans

Employee life insurance plan

2 weeks of paid time off (PTO) + paid holidays

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream provides equal opportunity without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, or other legally protected characteristics. EOE/AA.