Manager, Operations Technology (IHOP)

Based in Pasadena, California, Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN), through its subsidiaries, franchises restaurants under Applebee's Neighborhood Grill Bar®, IHOP® and Fuzzy's Taco Shop® brands. With over 3,500 restaurants combined in 18 countries and 354 franchisees as of December 31, 2023, Dine Brands is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information on Dine Brands, visit the Company's website located at www.dinebrands.com.

Job Location Type

Hybrid

The Manager, Ops Technology is a key leader within IHOP’s Restaurant Excellence team — driving operational transformation through technology. This role ensures our in-restaurant tech stack is optimized, reliable, and future-ready to unlock new levels of performance for franchisees.

You’ll partner with IT, Operations, and cross-functional teams to deliver scalable technology solutions that improve efficiency, enhance guest experience, and simplify operations. This position reports to the Head of Restaurant Innovation.

What You’ll Do

Optimize In-Restaurant Tech Stack

• Partner with Tech to evolve restaurant systems, including Tablets, POS, KDS, Payments, Reporting, third-party integrations, and Learning & Development platforms.
• Diagnose and resolve operational pain points by applying deep restaurant operations knowledge to tech challenges.
• Lead tech onboarding for new restaurant openings and ownership transitions, ensuring seamless setup and activation.
  
  

Kitchen Display System (KDS) Implementation & Production Optimization

• Lead the development and deployment of KDS logic across IHOP restaurants, including routing, order sequencing, and time-based firing to optimize kitchen flow and accuracy.
• Partner with Tech and Ops teams to configure and validate system logic that supports diverse menu combinations and order modes.
• Analyze KDS performance data (ticket times, order accuracy, cook times) to identify improvement opportunities and translate insights into actionable operational changes.
• Build ROI and impact models to quantify performance gains and support data-driven investment decisions.
  
  

Support on Tech Operations needs

• Partner with IT to rapidly resolve incoming technology concerns flagged by restaurants
  
  

Voice of the Operator & Strategic Tech Leadership

• Act as a fierce advocate for franchisees and restaurant teams.
• Proactively identify pain points, resolve issues with urgency, and ensure systems align with real-world operational needs.
• Drive the rollout of new platforms and tools—from ideation and proof of concept to testing and deployment (e.g., new tablet programs).
• Collaborate across Brand, IT, and Operations to implement technologies that elevate guest experience and operator efficiency.
• Influence stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment and momentum.
  
  

Operate Like an Entrepreneur

• Experiment, iterate, and move fast.
• Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, constantly seeking ways to improve system performance and unlock new value.
  
  

What You Bring

• Proven ability to leverage technology and data to diagnose operational challenges and partner with cross-functional teams to design scalable, real-world solutions.
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills, with experience driving initiatives from concept to field validation and rollout.
• Ability to translate complex operational problems into actionable, measurable improvement plans.
• Comfort navigating ambiguity, simplifying complexity, and driving clarity in fast-paced environments.
• A bias for action, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to influence at all levels — from field operators to senior leadership — through clear, data-informed storytelling.
• Target base salary $120k-135k depending on experience
  
  

Skills & Requirements

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, Operations, or a related field. Minimum 7 years of experience in technology operations, including 2 years in a leadership role managing a division’s technology stack. Strong preference for candidates with experience in restaurant, hospitality, or multi-unit retail environments
• Technology Fluency: Familiarity with restaurant tech stacks and integration points. Should be with fluent with all components of tech stack including what is currently deployed and what are potential alternatives – including POS systems, kitchen display systems, credit card processors, financial reporting, loyalty platforms, labor scheduling tools, digital ordering platforms
• Operational Acumen: Deep understanding of restaurant operations, labor and cost levers, and performance drivers. Proven ability to identify and execute efficiency improvements through technology enhancements
• Analytical Thinking: Skilled at diagnosing root causes, interpreting data, and building actionable solution plans
• Leadership & Influence: Demonstrated success in managing and developing high-performing teams. Exceptional communication and storytelling skills with the ability to influence both senior leaders and field operators
• Vendor & Partner Collaboration: Experience working with external technology partners on building roadmaps that align with brand vision
• Executional Agility: Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, cross-functional, in-office environment while also engaging directly with field teams. Willingness to travel 20% to stay connected to frontline realities
  
  

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dine Brands Global strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act and/or other applicable laws and regulations in other jurisdictions.

Dine Brands reviews criminal history in connection with a conditional offer of employment. The following is a list of all material job duties which Dine Brands reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: implement brand standards such as food safety at all restaurants for a uniform guest experience; physically inspect restaurant premises belonging to franchisees; and facilitate frequent and close interactions with franchisees, franchisee employees, guests, and other third parties.

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