Chief Operating Officer

Corky’s BBQ is a celebrated restaurant brand with over 40 years of legacy rooted deeply in Memphis, Tennessee. Renowned for its authentic hickory-smoked barbecue, Corky’s has established itself as a southern culinary institution recognized for legendary hospitality and memorable guest experiences. This company merges tradition with innovation, proudly maintaining the core values that built its reputation while actively expanding and evolving to meet new market demands. Corky’s is guided by its mission of Legendary BBQ. Legendary People. and envisions becoming the benchmark for hospitality and barbecue quality, fostering growth, innovation, and embracing new opportunities in the restaurant industry.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Restaurant Division at Corky’s BBQ is a pivotal role designed for a seasoned restaurant executive with extensive multi-unit leadership experience in high-volume operations. This executive position involves steering the entire restaurant operations and growth strategy to new levels of success while preserving the culture and quality standards that have defined Corky’s for decades. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will serve as a senior operational leader responsible for driving performance, enhancing profitability, developing talent, and overseeing operational excellence across all locations.

This role transcends traditional operational duties and represents an opportunity to strategically shape the future trajectory of Corky’s BBQ. Ideal candidates are strategic thinkers, culture builders, and hands-on operators. Their expertise in opening and scaling restaurant locations will support Corky’s ambitious expansion into new markets and growth initiatives. Responsibilities span from overseeing financial performance, managing day-to-day restaurant operations, leading new restaurant openings, coaching and mentoring leadership teams, to spearheading operational infrastructure development necessary to sustain a large multi-unit restaurant organization.

The COO will be instrumental in building scalable systems and processes that enable consistent quality, exceptional service, and operational efficiency, ensuring the brand continues to deliver legendary guest experiences. This executive will also champion Corky’s culture, mission, and core values while fostering an environment of accountability and continuous improvement. This position demands comprehensive industry knowledge, strong business acumen, and proven success in managing high-performing teams and multi-market restaurant operations.

This role is based in Memphis, Tennessee, and requires frequent travel. Corky’s BBQ offers an executive-level compensation package that includes a competitive base salary, performance bonuses, long-term incentive opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Joining Corky’s means becoming part of a respected Southern restaurant legacy on the cusp of significant growth and transformation, working alongside a dedicated leadership team to build a scalable platform for future success and innovation.