Area Director

Tacombi is a fast-growing, omni-channel consumer and retail brand that is committed to globally sharing Mexican food and culture through hospitality experiences, CPG products, community outreach and digital content. Over the next couple years, we’ll be significantly expanding our footprint across the U.S., which means we are going to hire a lot of people and each one of them needs to uphold our brand promise, embody our core values and always extend Mexican Hospitality – Tacombi’s unique service culture – to our growing customer and employee bases.

The Area Director is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing the operations of multiple taquerias, ensuring that each location aligns with Tacombi’s operational and financial goals, reinforces our values of Fellowship, Resourcefulness and Adventure, while bringing our unique vision to life. This highly organized, detail-oriented, and results-driven individual will report to the Senior Director, Taqueria Operations and will manage a team of taqueria managers, supervisors, and staff to deliver exceptional customer service and achieve optimal business outcomes. This position directly influences the daily execution of our brand, the success of our taquerias, and the growth of our market presence. The Market Area Director will ensure that every element of the Tacombi experience is executed flawlessly, while also maximizing profitability and fostering a culture of excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership:

• Oversee the operations of multiple taquerias, ensuring that each location meets or exceeds company standards in service, quality, and profitability.
• Provide support, direction, and communication to align each taqueria with broader business objectives while best serving their individual communities of team members, customers, and partners.
• Collaborate with the People Ops team to understand and guide management teams on local wage and labor practices.
• Coach and provide real-time feedback to Managing Partners on leading a diverse workforce, fostering a learning environment, and navigating complex people scenarios.
• Maintain a strong pulse on overall health and efficiency.
• Oversee repairs and maintenance budget in partnership with Facilities
• Where applicable, work closely with internal teams and partners to materialize Tacombi’s vision in new and existing markets.

Strategic Direction:

• Set regional strategic direction and OKRs, spearheading tailored business plans for each taqueria while ensuring effective cross-departmental collaboration, including finance, human resources, and marketing, to meet business objectives.
• Develop a deep pipeline of potential Market Partners/Directors to support the growth plan of the business and ensure that talent is cultivated from within. Guide their growth through performance management, clear feedback, and strategic development plans.

Culture:

• Promote and advance a customer-centric culture that prioritizes service to each other, ensuring that the Tacombi experience is consistently delivered to guests and employees alike.
• Coach Taqueria Managers to effectively manage performance, facilitate regular 1:1s, and lead teams through clear action plans, feedback, and succession planning.
• Ensure strong Taqueria Manager and Support Center team relationships, proper documentation of employee relations, and proactive identification of high-potential employees for growth.
• Work closely with Managing Partners to bring the Tacombi brand to life daily for hundreds of guests and 30-40 employees at each taqueria through tools and coaching to ensure they run excellent operations, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility within the team.

Guest Experience:

• Uphold and promote a customer-centric culture that reflects our brand and the tenets of Mexican Hospitality, ensuring gold-standard food quality, pristine restaurant conditions, and consistent operational excellence.
• Ensure guest and employee safety, oversee insurance and workers' comp matters, and develop annual capex plans for repairs and maintenance.
• Foster a culture of service, develop operational tools to be shared across taquerias, empower teams to address issues, and continuously enhance guest satisfaction, maintaining a 4.5+ review average through proactive feedback and training.

Financial Management:

• Own the financial performance of each taqueria within the region, driving sales and improving profitability through targeted action plans and effective management of cost structure, labor and KPIs.
• Partner with the People and Finance Teams to align compensation practices, ensuring we attract and retain top talent while cultivating a passionate culture centered on Mexican Hospitality.
• Partner with Taqueria Managers to drive sales, enhance customer satisfaction, boost employee performance, and optimize taqueria-level profitability across all locations.

Reporting and Collaboration:

• Report directly to the Chief Operating Officer, managing all taqueria managers in designated market—both front and back of house—while collaborating with other departments to ensure seamless operations and goal alignment.

You should have:

• 5+ years in multi-unit management experience
• Bilingual in English and Spanish (required)
• Strong leadership, business acumen organizational, and communication skills
• Excellent problem-solving, project management and decision-making abilities
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Passionate about people, hospitality, culture, and food
• Familiarity with restaurant operations, financial analysis, and marketing strategies
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations and sanitation standards
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and restaurant management software
• Excellent relationship building skills and
• Flexible and adaptable to the needs of a rapidly changing and growing business
• Enthusiasm for the Tacombi brand and its products. Most importantly, you have a love for tacos :)

Annual Salary: $110,000

Tacombi offers equal opportunities to all applicants, and we are committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. We aim to hire, develop and retain top employees through structured processes that reduce bias and promote equity and belonging.