Director of Restaurant Technology: Ops Innovation

Job Summary

The Director of Restaurant Technology: Ops Innovation will lead the strategic vision and execution of Papa Johns’ next-generation restaurant technology platforms, with a focus on POS systems, payments architecture, and innovation enablement. This individual will manage the RFP process to select and implement a new POS system that aligns with franchisee and business needs, ensuring successful rollout and adoption across the system.

In close collaboration with Operations and cross-functional business leaders, this role will identify and drive opportunities to apply innovative technologies that improve team member efficiency, elevate the customer experience, and streamline in-store operations. The Director will serve as a key interface between internal stakeholders and external technology partners, cultivating strong vendor relationships to support long-term restaurant innovation.

This leader will also be responsible for advancing the company’s payment systems strategy by assessing current-state architecture, identifying risks and constraints, and guiding modernization efforts to deliver secure, seamless, and scalable payment experiences for customers. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in restaurant technology, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and a bias toward action and results.

Duties & Responsibilities (other duties as assigned)

• Lead the RFP process for the selection of the next-generation POS system

• Establish governance and communication frameworks for all stages of the POS lifecycle, including testing, piloting, scaling, and training

• Coordinate with enterprise architecture and cybersecurity teams to ensure new POS aligns with Papa John’s standards for data security and scalability

• Partner with franchisees, operations, and internal stakeholders to define requirements and ensure successful POS rollout

• Oversee POS vendor evaluation, selection, and relationship management

• Manage and mentor the existing engineering team responsible for the current POS infrastructure, enhancements, and issue resolution

• Prioritize legacy POS improvements and stabilization efforts to maintain operational continuity during transition

• Collaborate with Operations to identify opportunities where technology can improve team member efficiency and operational outcomes

• Oversee incident management, software releases, and compliance updates for the existing platform

• Drive the restaurant innovation agenda by identifying, prioritizing, and delivering high-impact initiatives

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and potential technology partners

• Serve as a strategic leader for payment systems modernization and optimization

• Assess current payment architecture to identify risks, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities

• Define and lead efforts to implement a seamless, secure, and scalable payment experience for customers

• Ensure technology solutions align with business strategy and customer expectations

• Develop and manage roadmaps, project plans, and performance metrics for major initiatives

• Manage project budgets with a focus on CapEx and OpEx mix to ensure cost-effective outcomes

• Provide regular communication and updates to senior leadership on progress, risks, and outcomes

• Demonstrate strong leadership skills to mentor, guide, and grow high-performing teams

• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive team culture aligned with organizational values

• Collaborate with business leaders to establish and manage a diverse project portfolio that meets corporate goals.

• Provide leadership and ensure the effectiveness of process for prioritizing projects.

• Partner with IT functions and cross-functional stakeholders to define business requirements and translate business needs into multi-year plans, including project prioritization, scheduling, and resource planning.

• Develop IT strategy (supporting strategy planning and analysis, as well as incubation of new services, ensuring IT investments are aligned with overall IT strategy).

• Help identify strategic value goals in partnership with Finance and align it with IT vision and goals

• Responsible for identifying solutions that add tangible value through cost reductions, improved services or improved quality.

Education, Experience & Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration or relevant work experience

• 8+ years’ progressively more senior leadership IT procurement positions

• 5+ years’ experience in supervisory/leadership role

• Knowledge of various IT systems (i.e. operating systems, applications, databases, servers, networking architecture, routers, switches, firewalls, cyber security etc.)

• Experience with international POS deployments and localization strategies

• Understanding of compliance standards including PCI-DSS

• Familiarity with QSR industry systems such as Brink, NCR, POSitouch, or proprietary platforms

• Experience with enterprise portfolio management processes and standards for IT including governance

• Ability to travel 25-35%

• Experience in Restaurant or Retail Operations preferred

• Proven experience leading large-scale technology rollouts, preferably across a franchise model

Functional Skills

• Analytical Skills: effectively uses data to generate insights

• Planning & Prioritization: highest impact, highest value

• Financial & Business Acumen

• Communicates Effectively and Candidly

• Problem Solving; ability to use rigorous logic to solve problems with innovative effective solutions

• Process Improvement: Strive to continually improve

• Ability to build and leverage talent

• Ability to work in a challenging, fast-paced environment and to adapt to new situations as they arise

• Ability to effectively communicate, inform, and influence senior leaders

• Ability to work cross-functionality on multiple initiatives with a successful record of advancing projects

Our Values

• EVERYONE BELONGS – We believe connectedness and belonging are the essential ingredients to our success.

• DO THE RIGHT THING –We are relentlessly focused on quality and integrity and make the right choices, even when it's difficult.

• PEOPLE FIRST – To craft positive experiences for our customers, we take care of each other first.

• INNOVATE TO WIN – We champion and challenge for a better way in all we do.

• HAVE FUN – We find joy, create meaningful impact and celebrate the journey together

Our Core Competencies

• CUSTOMER CENTRIC - We leverage data and insights to craft a customer experience that builds relationships, cultivates trust, and delivers excellence

• RESULTS DRIVEN – We focus on measurable outcomes by remaining optimistic, tenacious, and persistent even in the face of challenges.

• CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT –We champion for better through strategic risk taking, experimentation and challenging the status quo.

• BIAS FOR ACTION – We courageously lead, drive towards decisions, and maintain agility to meet the demands of our dynamic industry.

• WINNING TOGETHER – We work together to unlock our full potential by actively collaborating and contributing in a cross-functional capacity

     
Papa Johns is an equal opportunity employer.