Food Service Specialist

Job Family Group:

Retail Group

Retail Food Service Specialist

There’s never been a better time to join Travel Centers 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Account…