Director of Empowered Operations

• Are you frustrated that your leadership potential has been boxed in by bureaucracy?
• Are you annoyed that your work feels meaningless?
• Are you hungry to grow with a modern, dynamic and visionary coffee brand that is going places?

We’re looking for a Director of Empowered Operations who thrives in transformation, who sees scaling not as chaos but as choreography. You’ll turn vision into repeatable excellence — leading with compassion, precision, and relentless drive for results. This role is for the exceptional leader who can bring order.

Joining Mothership means committing to more than a shift. We expect craft, care, and a genuine contribution to the culture we're building together. Every team member signs a Position Commitment Form on day one — because we take who we bring into this community seriously

ABOUT US

Mothership is an independent craft coffee brand rooted in community and connection. We're built for the ones who are going somewhere — students, creatives, builders, and dreamers who want to sharpen their craft, find their people, and launch into whatever comes next. If you show up with intention and care, you'll fit right in

About You

You’ve led teams, scaled systems, and built operations that hum. You love data but lead with heart. You’re the type who can move from a conversation about EBITDA to a café floor walkthrough — and both matter equally to you. You are disciplined, forward-thinking, and thrive in environments that value autonomy and continuous improvement. You believe that operational excellence is an act of love — love for your team, for your customers, and for the craft.

The Role

The Director of Empowered Operations ensures Mothership Coffee runs like a living organism — structured, dynamic, and always evolving. You’ll oversee the daily performance across all cafés, commissary, roastery, and event activations. You’ll implement scalable systems, mentor leaders, ensure compliance, and drive profitability while protecting the brand’s heart.

You are the bridge between vision and execution — translating company strategy into precise operational action.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all daily operations across cafés, commissary, and events to ensure consistency, quality, and excellence in guest experience.
• Translate the CEO’s and COO’s strategic vision into actionable systems that support rapid scaling and franchising growth.
• Manage and develop Area Managers, Café Managers, and Assistant Managers with intentionality and alignment to Culture Index profiles and company performance goals
• Partner with HR and Legal to ensure compliance with Nevada labor laws, safety standards, and internal SOPs.
• Drive performance through KPIs — throughput, labor %, waste, COGS, and profitability.
• Collaborate cross-departmentally with Marketing, Finance, and HR to align initiatives and support enterprise goals.
• Partner with the CFO to manage operational budgets, evaluate vendor contracts, and oversee financial accountability.
• Support new café openings, build-outs, and expansion into new markets.
• Create frameworks that reinforce accountability, sustainability, and innovation across the organization.

Required Skills / Abilities

• 5+ years of multi-site café or restaurant leadership experience.
• Proven success scaling teams and systems in high-growth environments.
• Expertise in financial literacy, KPI management, and operational forecasting.
• Technology-forward — fluent in Google Workspace, Slack, Asana, POS systems, and labor dashboards.
• Strong emotional intelligence, mentorship experience, and communication skills.
• Highly organized, decisive, and proactive.
• Experience managing compliance, health, and safety standards.
• Ability to lead through rapid change 

Compensation & Benefits

• $95,000- $105,000 annual salary. Negotiable based on experience. 
• Competitive compensation package. 
• Health and medical benefits 
• Quarterly performance bonuses
• Leadership development opportunities
• Travel and growth within expansion markets
• The Launchpad Program At Mothership we invest in where you're going — not just where you are. As a team member you'll have access to our Launchpad Program, which includes skills development resources, mentor connections, a defined internal growth pathway, and a community that celebrates your wins inside and outside of work.
  

KPIs

• EBITDA & Location Profitability
• Labor % & COGS Targets
• Throughput & Deployment Model Adherence
• Employee Retention & Leadership Pipeline Development
• Corrective Action Resolution Cycle Time