Director, Operations Analytics (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.

IHOP is seeking a strategic, data-driven leader to serve as Director of Operations Analytics. This pivotal role will shape and execute insights that will drive operational excellence, workforce efficiency, cost optimization, and an exceptional guest experience across our system. The ideal candidate brings 8+ years of analytics experience, preferably within the restaurant or hospitality sectors.

Key Responsibilities:

Operations Analytics: Provide analytics that will fuel initiatives to improve productivity, optimize staffing models, and enhance throughput across restaurant operations. Conduct time-and-motion studies and analyze labor efficiency

Initiative Tracking and Measurement: Develop and maintain models, dashboards, and tools to support Brand Leadership Restaurant Excellence and Field Operations teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Restaurant Excellence, Field Operations, HR, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to define KPIs and build scalable reporting and analytics that support data-driven decision-making.

Data Storytelling: Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and compelling narratives for senior leadership, operations teams, and franchisees.

Executive Reporting: Design and maintain dashboards that track key operational metrics and performance indicators.

Operational Optimization: Identify and implement opportunities to streamline operations and reduce costs while maintaining quality and guest satisfaction.

Team Leadership: Mentor and develop the Sr. Analyst of Operations Analytics, fostering a high-performance analytics culture.

Advanced Analytics & Automation: Champion the use of predictive modeling, scenario analysis, and data visualization to drive innovation and efficiency.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, or a related field; MBA or master’s preferred.

8+ years of analytics experience, including 3+ years in a leadership role.

Strong preference for candidates with experience in the restaurant, hospitality, or multi-unit retail industries.

Proven ability to analyze complex data and build business cases
 

Deep understanding of P&L dynamics and unit-level profitability
 

Hands-on experience conducting time-and-motion studies and analyzing labor efficiency is strongly preferred, along with a solid understanding of workforce planning and scheduling optimization.

Deep understanding of operational processes and performance drivers

Exceptional communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence both senior leaders and field teams

Demonstrated success in managing and developing analytics talent

Intellectual curiosity and a proactive approach to uncovering the “why” behind the numbers

Advanced proficiency in MicroStrategy, Excel, Tableau, and statistical tools (e.g., R, Python) preferred

This hybrid role is based in Dine’s Pasadena Restaurant Support Center and requires periodic travel to restaurants to gather insights and deepen understanding of IHOP’s operations. Target base salary 170k-185k based on experience.

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: conduct necessary due diligence on business opportunities and transactions; analyze and handle confidential, proprietary, trade secret and non-public financial information belonging to the company and third parties.

For information on how we collect and use your personal information, please visit our Applicant & Employee Privacy Notice.