Retail Operations Innovation Coordinator

We started Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in a yellow truck on the streets of NYC in 2008 with a mission to make good ice cream that makes you feel good.

Nowadays, people can spend so much time on what’s “healthy” they don’t stop to consider what’s healthy. As far as we’re concerned, happiness is healthiness. We strive to ensure every scoop, store and employee feels and creates one community to contribute to the overall brand.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hiring a full-time Retail Operations Innovation Coordinator, based out of Williamsburg Brooklyn. With 70+ locations nationwide and ambitious growth plans, we are looking for a dynamic, hands-on team player to support our continued expansion and ensure operational excellence across the field. The ideal candidate is someone who is highly organized, hardworking, and can thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment (and loves ice cream!).

As our Ops Innovation Coordinator, you will be responsible for driving operational success across our retail locations nationwide. This role demands a high level of adaptability, problem-solving, and the ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced, rapidly scaling business.

You will spend at least 50% of your time in our ice cream shops, directly overseeing operational challenges and opportunities, owning rollouts, pilots, and ensuring our retail teams deliver an exceptional customer experience while adhering to Van Leeuwen’s high operational execution standards. You must have the flexibility and capacity to travel up to 50% of the time to support new store openings, audits, and operational initiatives across all markets.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

STORE SOPs AND SYSTEMS

• Collaborate with field leadership to “write the book” on store operations through the design and implementation of scalable store SOPs and systems
• Develop, distribute, and manage the library of key ops communication materials (e.g. memos and SOPs), ensuring all content is clear, comprehensive, and thoroughly researched
• Manage the shared resource drive, so all levels of shop team members (from scooper to Area Managers) have access to up-to-date documents
• Own the content (e.g. checklists, walkthrough evaluations) on our ops execution platform, to ensure operations are being executed smoothly on a daily basis

OPERATIONAL TROUBLESHOOTING & PROBLEM SOLVING

• Navigate complex and “gray” areas within operations, identifying creative solutions to overcome challenges
• Be a trusted partner to store leadership by defining the standards and providing guidance on everything: from inventory management, to shop organization, to labor deployment, and more

INNOVATION IMPLEMENTATION

• Collaborate closely with other departments, such as marketing, supply chain, and human resources, to ensure cohesive execution of new operational initiatives (e.g. new menu items, shop technology/software, and tools)
• Act as a boots-on-the-ground resource during pilot periods and full-fleet change rollouts to ensure full alignment on consistent and high-quality execution of operational changes

NEW STORE OPENINGS

• Project manage and quarterback the cross-functional needs for turnover from construction to operations management
• Support new store openings by providing operational oversight during the pre-opening and opening phases.
• Drive the new store opening launch calendar, and ensure shop needs are being met in a timely fashion
• Ensure the seamless integration of store operations from day one of service

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management preferred, or a related field
• 2+ years experience in retail operations management or related fields, with a proven track record of success in a quick-service or multi-location environment.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate solutions to complex problems through a variety of mediums (e.g. verbal presentations and written documents)
• You are a curious and quick self-starter, with the ability to thrive in ambiguous situations, solve problems creatively, and adapt quickly to changing business needs.
• You have a strong instinct and passion for efficient and effective operations and people
• You possess a strong attention to detail and extremely organized
• Strong proficiency in project management tools (e.g. Asana, Airtable, Notion) and Excel
• Open to travel 30-50% if needed, and can be accessible and flexible in working hour

Compensation & Benefits

$65,00.00 – 80,000.00 annual compensation depending on experience, paid weekly

Eligible for annual 5% bonus

• Employee Scoop Card (Enjoy Ice Cream from any of our scoop shops nationwide)
• Medical, Dental + Vision Insurance with 70% Employer Contribution
• 401k with up to 4% Employer Match
• Cell Phone Reimbursement Plan
• Wellness Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Time Off – 3 Weeks / 120 Hours Total
• Paid Sick Time
• Yearly Performance Reviews

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is committed to pay transparency and equity among all employees and provides employees an environment where pay transparency and dialogue on compensation are allowed. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream complies with Equal Employment Opportunity laws as well as federal, state, and local laws on compensation, pay transparency, and pay equity.

The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held.

Salary Range

$65,000—$80,000 USD

Here at Van Leeuwen, Good Ice Cream Is For Everyone! As an equal opportunity employer, we strive to foster a welcoming, diverse environment for every employee and customer. We pride ourselves on the creativity that goes into our ice cream and is built in our stores (by YOU) that help us meet our missions and values.

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