Director of Transformation will lead value creation initiatives across Applegreen's US Travel Plaza business, reporting to the Chief Growth Officer. This new role is accountable for driving structured EBITDA improvement through a balanced portfolio of cost optimization and revenue growth initiatives, embedded across a multi-site operating environment.
As a senior leader with a key role in the growth and transformation agenda, the successful candidate will own critical transformation workstreams, lead the transformation office, and partner cross-functionally with Commercial, Operations, Finance, and Procurement to deliver measurable performance improvement. This individual will combine analytical rigor, commercial acumen, and execution discipline to unlock sustainable value, while communicating clearly at executive level and influencing across the organization.
This is a hybrid role with at least 3 days in our Glen Rock, NJ office.
Key Responsibilities: Strategic Value Creation - Lead and deliver structured EBITDA-driving initiatives with an equal focus on cost optimization and revenue growth.
- Identify, prioritize and execute high-impact value levers across operations, commercial, and support functions.
- Develop clear value creation plans with measurable targets, timelines, and accountability.
- Track and report realized benefits, ensuring initiatives translate to sustained P&L impact.
Procurement & Cost Optimization - Drive cost improvement initiatives across key spend categories including GNFR/Indirect Procurement, consumables, repair & maintenance, and utilities.
- Partner with internal stakeholders and suppliers to unlock margin opportunities and improve supplier performance.
- Introduce structured sourcing, benchmarking, and demand management practices where appropriate.
- Act as the organization's key transformation resource with deep procurement-led value creation expertise.
Transformation Office Leadership - Lead the Transformation Office, ensuring effective governance, prioritization, and execution across all initiatives.
- Own and drive transformational workstreams, ensuring delivery against agreed milestones and financial outcomes.
- Establish and run monthly Steering Committees, providing clear progress updates, risk visibility, and decision support.
Pricing & Commercial Execution - Lead the pricing agenda across food and retail, working in close partnership with the VP of Commercial.
- Drive design and execution of pricing strategies, including price optimization, elasticity analysis, and promotional effectiveness.
- Ensure consistent implementation and tracking of pricing initiatives across the estate.
- Identify opportunities to enhance revenue, margin, and customer value.
Required Skills/Abilities: - Strong track record in value creation, transformation, or performance improvement in a multi-site or distributed business.
- Deep understanding of cost drivers, margin levers, and operational performance metrics.
- Experience leading cross-functional transformation programs with measurable financial outcomes.
- Advanced analytical capability, including financial modelling and data-driven decision-making.
- Foster a disciplined, performance-driven transformation culture across the business.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and driving change across complex environments.
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and executional levels.
- Collaborative and influential, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around common goals.
- Excellent communication skills, including experience preparing materials for executive audiences.
- High level of ownership, pace, and delivery focus in a dynamic environment.
- Excellent project management skills and ability to independently manage multiple projects.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Education and Experience: - Bachelor's degree in business, finance, economics, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
- 5-7 years• experience in transformation, project management, operational strategy, or value creation roles.
- Background in leading consulting firms strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated track record of delivering tangible EBITDA impact.
- Experience in travel, retail, foodservice, hospitality, or multi-unit operations preferred.
- Exposure to procurement-driven transformation or cost programs highly desirable.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of all functions that the employee may be required to perform, and the employee may be required to perform additional functions. Additionally, the job responsibilities may change at any time as necessitated by business needs.
