Vice President - IT Restaurant Systems Greater Fayetteville, AR Area

Job Details: Job Location: Fayetteville, AR 72703, We’re not just another chicken joint—we’re one of the fastest-growing brands in the game, built on hand-made food and bold ambition. At Slim Chickens, every tenderloin gets the royal treatment: brined, buttermilk-soaked, hand-breaded, and cooked fresh to order. That same care and craft goes into how we grow our people. If you’ve got hustle, heart, and an entrepreneurial spark, this is the place to prove yourself and shape your career. Our team thrives on real connection—working fast, thinking big, and building something that makes an impact every day. Here, you’ll be trusted to make decisions, empowered to own your work, and part of a crew that’s taking this brand to the next level. Slim Chickens is growing fast. The only question is—are you ready to grow with us? PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The Vice President – IT Restaurant Systems position is accountable for setting the company’s IT strategy and roadmap for restaurant technology across the domestic and international system, directing the restaurant technology project portfolio, and responsible for oversight of day-to-day support, implementation, and management of the Company's technology infrastructure at both the restaurant and corporate levels, including but not limited to Point of Sale, Back office and related systems. This role partners with executive leadership and franchisees to deliver technology that drives guest experience, operational efficiency, and franchisee profitability. ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES Technology/Software Implementation • Owns the IT strategy and roadmap for the company for all restaurant technology (POS, BOH, Digital Menu Boards, Mobile App, etc.) to comprehensively plan and lead future technology initiatives and projects to meet company objectives, and presents technology investment recommendations to executive leadership and the franchise system • Leads execution and project management of all core IT projects end to end from initial concept and strategy to development, testing, pilot, deployment, and post deployment support, including both internal resources, contractors, and vendors • Leads the implementation of the Company's POS and Back Office technology solutions with minimal disruption to operations • Builds, leads, and scales the Restaurant Systems team, including IT Support Analysts, to oversee all POS and Back-office database management including but not limited to menu items (core and LTO’s), inventory, and labor management • Collaborates with both internal teams and franchisees to ensure project goals and timelines are met • Owns PCI compliance, including the annual PCI review, and restaurant data security and incident response readiness • Leads deployment & management of internal IT tools (Monday.com, Claude, etc.) • Develops, coaches, and mentors direct reports and builds talent depth and succession for the IT function • Owns the IT operating and capital budget Technical Support • Ensures restaurant and leadership teams receive reliable, ongoing support of IT platforms against defined service levels • Oversees day to day management of all core IT platforms and restaurant technology vendors, including contract negotiation and vendor performance management • Establishes process and structure for IT technical support teams end to end from troubleshooting issues to reporting metrics and performance • Ensures issue tracking and root-cause analysis to help the Company identify and address the sources of common problems • Provide clear concise communication and documentation for all teams • Ensure IT team members are knowledgeable and are fulfilling their responsibilities to the end users Growing The Brand • Provides support to all new restaurant openings, and remodels related to their IT systems including configuration of new locations in the restaurant systems; CrunchTime, Brink • Leads in the selection, testing and implementation of new hardware and software platforms to support continuous improvement in the technology infrastructure for our customers • Sets restaurant technology standards and supports international franchise partners in adopting approved systems IT Strategy • Establishes both short term (6-12 month) and long term (3-5 year) roadmap for restaurant technology • Sets project priorities, timelines, and expectations in partnership with executive leadership • Proactively seeks out new technology that can give the Company a competitive advantage • Effectively evaluates how new technology will complement existing solutions and business practices • Presents technology strategy, investment cases, and ROI to the executive team and franchise system Project Management • Leads key technology projects from end to end (concept, sourcing, development, pilot, deployment, and post-deployment support) to solve business problems, improve guest experience, and improve franchisee profitability • Coordinates with department leadership to prioritize and scope solutions that fit with Company goals and collaborates cross-functionally to ensure project success • Collaborates with franchise system to ensure IT strategy and project goals and success are aligned and met · Oversees corporate project management (Monday.com) tools’, admin and accessibility and vendors supplying third party project management support. · Oversees corporate AI platforms, including licensing, administration, governance, acceptable-use policy, and usage limits. IT Budget • Develop and manage the annual IT operating and capital budget to stay within target • Report budget performance and return on technology investments to executive leadership • Manage IT Projects and timelines to ensure that the budget expectations are met Slim Chickens systems principles and objectives: Has a thorough understanding of Slim Chickens' established operating systems (e.g., quality, security, office environment, company policies, safety) and recognizes the responsibility to stay updated on these systems and the role this position plays in supporting them. Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is designed to guide the activities of the Vice President – IT Restaurant Systems. It is not meant to restrict the individual's creativity or limit their thinking, nor does it encompass all the tasks that may be required in this role. Physical Activities: Primarily performed in an office environment. Involves entering and retrieving information on a computer and visually verifying details, often in small print. Regularly presents information to executive leadership, franchisees, and small or large groups. Travel: Requires periodic domestic travel to restaurants, franchisee and vendor sites, or other work sites, which may include overnight stays. Core Values: 1. Recognition · Willing to challenge themselves and others and move out of comfort zone · Recognizes Outstanding Actions Daily · Finds ways to motivate an influence other with positivity 2. Teamwork · Actively shares job knowledge and teaches others · Recognizes the needs of others and offers assistance without waiting to be asked · Treats fellow team members with respect and courtesy in all interactions 3. Results · Looks for solutions and does something with their ideas, and displays a willingness to make things successful with a positive attitude · Embraces new ideas, technology and processes. · Displays a willingness to listen to feedback, learn from experiences and apply these things to their actions. 4. Integrity · Accepts responsibility for mistakes made, and takes steps to prevent them from happening twice · Trust in one another · Is loyal and makes a personal Investment in the brand · Franchise, vendors and teammates hold you in high regard 5. Passion · Speaks the truth, respectfully, and with a sincere desire to improve others and the brand · Communication is genuine, timely, done in the right form and delivered with positive intentions · Shows a great deal of pride in their work and willingly goes above and beyond to help Slim Chickens be an industry leader · Acts with urgency and remains calm under pressure.Qualifications: Requirements and Competencies: · Degree in MIS or other technology major or an equivalent amount of training and experience · Proven track record leading technology strategy and infrastructure for a multi-unit restaurant or franchise brand · Proven ability to define business needs and select/install appropriate technology solutions · Broad technology knowledge · Strong problem-solving ability · Proven skills to provide good internal customer service · Proven ability to design, implement and maintain a reliable network with strong data security · Proven ability to work with a team solve unique business problems with technology · Demonstrated success building and leading high-performing technology teams and managing multi-million-dollar budgets and vendor contracts · Executive presence, with the ability to influence and communicate effectively with C-suite leaders, franchisees, and vendors Technical Experience: · Experience in technology role supporting business and guest facing applications · Appropriate technical knowledge of network equipment, laptop computers, operating systems, AI platforms such as Claude, mobile devices, POS and back-office application to support execution of business objectives · Strong understanding of 3rd party platform integrations in the restaurant and support center environments · Functional technical knowledge of Brink POS hardware and software · Functional technical knowledge of cloud-based software – POS and online ordering preferred · Functional technical knowledge of A/V equipment supporting restaurant’s menu and LTO boards Industry Experience: · 10+ years in restaurant or food and beverage technology, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role; multi-unit franchise experience preferred · Technical knowledge of back-office restaurant solution system Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, technology or equivalent experience Preferred Education: Master’s degree in information system technology or equivalent