The company needed a Director of Operations who could oversee multi-unit performance, support new location openings, and manage the integration of acquired concepts. The existing leadership team was stretched thin, and delays in hiring meant putting expansion plans at risk. The company had worked with contingency recruiters in the past but found the 20% to 25% fees difficult to justify, especially when hiring for multiple roles across the organization. They needed a recruitment partner who could move quickly, understand the hospitality industry's unique demands, and provide cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality.
Stone Capital Partners executed a streamlined search process over four weeks:
- Mapped the competitive landscape to identify high-performing multi-unit operators in similar concepts
- Built a talent pipeline through direct outreach to candidates not actively on the market but open to the right opportunity
- Conducted behavioral and situational interviews focused on the ability to scale operations and manage ambiguity during rapid growth
- Coordinated a fast-track interview process that included working sessions with the executive team and a site visit to observe operations firsthand
- Structured compensation and equity participation that aligned with the candidate's growth expectations
The search was delivered at a third the cost of a traditional recruiter and 60-day guarantee, saving the client over $45,000 compared to traditional recruiter pricing while providing stronger protection to the client.
The Director of Operations was hired within 30 days and immediately took ownership of expansion planning and team development. In the first year, the company successfully opened four new locations and acquired two additional concepts, all while maintaining operational standards across the portfolio. The new hire built systems for training, quality control, and financial reporting that scaled with the business. The restaurant group's CEO noted that Stone Capital Partners' approach felt more like a true partnership than a transactional recruiting relationship. The firm has since engaged us for additional leadership and management hires as they continue to grow.
