Food Service Specialist

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Job Description:

Retail Food Service Specialist

There’s never been a better time to join TravelCenters of America! For 50 years, millions of professional truck drivers and motorists have called our travel centers home, depending on us daily for fuel, food, truck maintenance and essential services.

Today, TA is amid a major company transformation. Driven by a passionate team, TA is focused on growing its network of travel centers, upgrading more than 100 existing TA, Petro and TA Express locations nationwide, implementing modern technology and embarking on innovative alternative energy and sustainability initiatives.

From our locations across the country, to our corporate headquarters in Westlake, Ohio, every team member is a stakeholder in TA’s transformation. This dynamic environment offers endless career opportunities for individuals interested in sharing their ideas, growing with the company, and shaping TA’s future.

Summary

The Food Specialist is the brand champion and subject-matter expert for operations food service operations (across deli, QSR and FSR concepts) within an assigned region. This role primarily works with the district managers, site leadership and team members, and partners with franchise brand teams, TA Marketing and Food Service category managers, to protect brand integrity, deliver flawless program execution, and drive results. The Food Specialist supports the field through coaching and training, ensures a productive and safety‑focused culture, and helps sites deliver safe food operations and achieve targets in sales, margin, labor, inventory, and EBITDA.

Duties and Responsibilities

Brand & Program Leadership

• Serve as the brand champion and subject‑matter expert for all assigned food concepts, ensuring brand integrity across all stores.
• Responsible for ensuring that all 3rd party brand audits keep TA in good standing with the brands.
• Plan, implement, and support execution of brand programs and promotions.
• Collaborate with Marketing on planning and innovation.
• Utilize at site experience and consumer insights to identify growth opportunities and effective communicates with team leader and food service team in product development and marketing initiatives.

Field Support, Training, and Communication

• Supports the District Manager and the site food team with the execution and implementation of all the food offer programs and marketing initiatives
• Monitor and ensure all training is on target, providing support to restaurant management teams when needed.
• Maintain consistent communication with district and restaurant managers through calls, emails, virtual meetings, and in‑person visits.
• Be knowledgeable and actively involved in new restaurant installations and operational programs.

Performance & Financial Management

• Support sites in achieving targeted EBITDA, sales, margin, and shrink goals.
• Monitor inventory levels to ensure accuracy and prevent loss.
• Evaluate team member turnover and partner with restaurant management to develop effective retention strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Representation

• Assist the Loss Prevention Group with assignments as needed.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional partners to improve programs and execution.
• Perform other duties as required to support division and company objectives.

Safety & Compliance

• Promote a strong safety culture by identifying risks and encouraging safe behaviors across all locations.
• Assist in communicating safety and compliance requirements to field teams.
• Ensure adherence to operational, safety, and regulatory policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 3-5+ years of experience in restaurant/marketing/operations
• Ability to uphold brand integrity and execute programs.
• Servsafe certification or able to pass
• Strong financial acumen (understanding the calculations on the P&L, coverage ratio, budget & expense reports, and teaching team members to understand the same).
• Strong coaching and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word.
• Awareness of industry best practices.
• Willingness for multi‑state travel; valid driver’s license.

Competencies

Accountability – demonstrates and communicates a high level of ownership and commitment to achieving results

Adaptability – adapts effectively to different situations even when under stress or pressure

Communicating – listens; speaks and writes clearly and concisely

Developing others – the desire to foster the long-term growth of others, but without playing the role of a formal trainer or facilitator

Initiative – establishes goals and gets buy-in from teams to achieve results; able to overcome obstacles to reach goals; champions new goals by becoming a strong advocate for change

Problem solving – takes a systematic approach to solving problems rather than reacting to symptoms

Teamwork and co-operations – Call for a strong willingness to work closely with colleagues or with other employees toward a common goal as opposed to working in competition with others.

Our travel centers serve thousands every day; not one traveler is the same and our team must reflect that. We can "return every traveler to the road better than they came" only by understanding and celebrating individualism. TravelCenters of America is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, familial status, ancestry, sex, gender, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, handicap, military service or Veteran status, genetic information or membership in any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. At TravelCenters of America, we invite everyone to make themselves at home.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

This position will be required to lift and carry merchandise items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds and climb a ladder to reach supplies stored in overhead areas as well as to inspect for cleanliness. Must have the ability to stand/walk for up to ten (10) hours/day and sit for periods up to four (4) hours/day. This position will also be required to regularly operate computer equipment efficiently. Good hand coordination, fine motor skills and manual dexterity will be required. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Must be able to work within and outside of standard business hours in exterior and interior conditions. Requires frequent car travel, overnight stays, and air travel. Extensive travel is required which will be around 80% of work schedule. All duties must be performed with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Disclaimer

This job description may not list all duties for this position.   The incumbent in the position may be asked to perform other duties.  TA Operating LLC reserves the right to revise the job description at any time.   This job description is not a contract for employment, and either the incumbent or TA Operating LLC may terminate employment at any time, for any reason.

Why join us
At bp, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and ambitious environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.
There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits ( https://exploreyourbenefits.com/landing.html) to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others!
 
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
 

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Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.