Careers
The greatest competitive edge our company has is the quality of our employees, evidenced by the excellent job they do every day.
Restaurant Careers
Corporate Careers
Our Company
Our Company
Darden’s family of restaurants features some of the most recognizable and successful brands in full-service dining — Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Chuy's, Seasons 52, Eddie V's and Bahama Breeze. We own and operate more than 2,100 restaurants and are proud to employ 200,000 team members. Together, we create memorable experiences for more than 440 million guests annually in communities across North America.
Our Mission
To be financially successful through great people consistently delivering outstanding food, drinks and service in an inviting atmosphere, making every guest loyal.
Our Values
Being of Service
Inclusion & Diversity
Respect & Caring
Integrity & Fairness
Teamwork
Excellence
Always Learning, Always Teaching
Our History
Darden’s roots can be traced to 1938, when our founder, 19-year-old Bill Darden, opened his first restaurant. The Green Frog, a 25-seat luncheonette in Waycross, Ga., promised “Service with a Hop.” He understood that excellent service would be vital to the success of his restaurant, he treated everyone equally and he welcomed all guests to his tables.
The casual-dining pioneer’s commitment to superior service rings true today — nearly 90 years later — in each of our restaurants across North America. His strong values form the bedrock of Darden’s culture. Serving others is at the heart of our business, and we never forget it.
Executive & Brand Leadership
Darden is led by one of the most experienced leadership teams in the industry.
Learn MoreDoing Business With Darden
Please review the options below to find the right contact within our company.
Contact Info
Corporate Careers
Discover Darden
Our state-of-the-art Restaurant Support Center (RSC) in beautiful Orlando is home to team members working across a variety of functions to ensure our restaurants have everything they need to serve our guests and team members. With eight unique restaurant brands and multiple supporting business functions, the opportunities to learn and grow are endless.
Whether you’re supporting a single brand or our portfolio of brands, you’ll find the work challenging, our results-oriented culture energizing and our passion for serving others contagious.
The teams working at the Support Center include Culinary, Human Resources, Information Technology, Supply Chain, Marketing, Public Affairs & Communications, Finance, Real Estate & Development, Legal, Business Intelligence and more.
Our Five Winning Behaviors
Every team member matters and owns a stake in our success. To thrive at Darden, you must have a desire to win, a passion to serve, and the ability to build relationships along the way.
WE ALL WIN WHEN WE…
- take ownership of our actions, our team, our guests and our business — we don’t give or accept excuses.
- speak in terms of I, We and Us, not They.
- take quick, corrective action if results aren’t being achieved.
- are nimble and shift gears comfortably as situations change, and teach others to do the same.
- show grit and never give up in our pursuit to win.
Benefits
Annual Bonus
Our annual incentive plan allows you to share in Darden’s success.
401(k) Savings
You may contribute up to 75% of your pay on a before- or after-tax basis.
Stock Purchase Plan
After a year of service, you may purchase Darden stock at a 15% discount.
Paid Vacation & Flex Time
Time off is important. We offer traditional vacation days and additional Flex Time to use as you need.
Tuition Reimbursement
Get reimbursed for education expenses related to your position or to prepare for advancement.
Nine Paid Holidays A Year
Our Support Center closes in observance of major holidays.
Casual Dress Every Day
Our casual dress code is one more reason our Support Center is a comfortable place to work.
Dining Discount
Enjoy a 35% discount at all of our restaurants.
RSC Amenities
Take advantage of our onsite Café, Fitness Center, Wellness Center, Credit Union and Dry Cleaner.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications and abilities. We do not discriminate in our employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by the law.
Restaurant Careers
Grow with Us
Our greatest competitive advantage is our people, and our team members are at the heart of everything we do. For many of our team members, Darden is a first employer and, for some, the start of a career path to management positions for those who want to grow with the company.
With more than 2,100 restaurants nationwide, you can continue to grow with us professionally from any location.
1,143 team members promoted into management last year
61% of all Managers were promoted from within
99% of all General Managers and Managing Partners were promoted from within
100% of all Directors of Operations were promoted from within
Our Five Winning Behaviors
Every team member matters and owns a stake in our success. To thrive at Darden, you must have a desire to win, a passion to serve, and the ability to build relationships along the way.
WE ALL WIN WHEN WE…
- take ownership of our actions, our team, our guests and our business — we don’t give or accept excuses.
- speak in terms of I, We and Us, not They.
- take quick, corrective action if results aren’t being achieved.
- are nimble and shift gears comfortably as situations change, and teach others to do the same.
- show grit and never give up in our pursuit to win.
Hourly Team Member Opportunities
Start Your Journey
For many, a job with one of our brands is the start of a rewarding career with our company. For others, it is a stepping stone to further their education or other pursuits. The skills and experience we provide will help you grow and succeed with Darden, or wherever your path takes you.
We also offer a broad range of benefits to make caring for your health, finances and overall well-being easier. Click here for machine-readable files for offered health insurance carriers.
Flexible Work Schedules
Create a schedule that works best for your needs.
Paid Sick Leave
You earn one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, and you can use up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per calendar year.
Weekly Pay
You receive your pay every Friday.
401(k) Savings
If you are 18 or older, you may contribute up to 75% of your pay on a before- or after-tax basis.
Access to Health Benefits
Eligible team members have access to multiple plans with multiple insurance carriers offered through a Private Health Exchange.
Stock Purchase Plan
Eligible team members may purchase Darden stock at a 15% discount.
Anniversary Pay
You will earn an extra payment based on your average hours worked and your tenure after two years of service.
Best-in-Class Training
We invest $40 million a year in training our people, and it begins immediately, regardless of role.
Dining & Other Discounts
Enjoy a 25% discount on food and non-alcoholic drinks at all our restaurants for you and up to seven guests, plus 100,000 discount offers from brands you love.
Our Brands
Our family of restaurants features some of the most recognizable and successful brands in full-service dining. Whether creating everyday memories or celebrating a special occasion, we host life’s big and small moments. In each of our 2,100-plus locations, we strive to create exceptional dining experiences by focusing on culinary innovation and execution, attentive service, and engaging and inviting atmospheres.
Management Opportunities
Build Your Leadership Legacy
With more than 9,500 leadership positions across the company, our Restaurant Managers play a key role in our success and bring our culture to life every day across 10 iconic restaurant brands. Learn more about available opportunities to build your leadership legacy with us.
Giving Back
Fighting Hunger Through Our Harvest Program
We believe that being of service extends beyond the four walls of our restaurants and into the communities we serve. That is why we are committed to help in the fight against hunger. Team members at every restaurant have the opportunity to make an impact through our Harvest program, which donates nutritious, surplus food to local nonprofit partners every week.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications and abilities. We do not discriminate in our employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by the law.
Chris Albanese is Senior Vice President, Finance for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and an Officer of the parent company, Darden Restaurants, Inc.. In this role, he leads the brand finance team responsible for financial planning & analysis, marketing analysis, investment analysis, and operations analysis.
Chris began his career at Darden in 1993 as a Systems Specialist for Employee Services. From there, he went on to work as a Financial Analyst, Sr. Financial Analyst and eventually Manager, Operations Analysis at Red Lobster. After subsequent leadership roles in Supply Chain Finance and Business Analytics, Chris was promoted to Director of Finance for Olive Garden in 2014, where he led the Financial Planning & Analysis and Operations Analysis teams. In 2016, he joined the finance team at LongHorn Steakhouse where he was promoted to Sr. Director of Finance. Chris was promoted to his current role following Darden’s acquisition of Cheddar’s in 2017.
Chris graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Science, and earned an MBA from the University of Central Florida.
Charlie Davis was named Senior Vice President of Operations for Bahama Breeze in 2016. In this role, Charlie is responsible for the operation of more than 40 restaurants, ensuring the Bahama Breeze team delivers exceptional guest experiences and achieves business results. He also plays a critical role in continuing to build a high-performance culture where team members are engaged and proud to contribute to the success of the brand.
Throughout his 27-year career with Darden, Charlie has held numerous leadership positions across the organization. He began his career as a restaurant manager at Red Lobster in 1992, working his way up to General Manager. In 2001, Charlie transitioned to Olive Garden as a General Manager, and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2003 before joining the Bahama Breeze team as Director of Operations in 2011.
Charlie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Administration and Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Christine Wilson was named Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group in 2020. She is responsible for leading the human resources function, including recruiting, training, employee relations and talent development for The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Yard House. These brands combined have more than 260 locations and annual sales of $2.2 billion. Additionally, she oversees Darden Restaurants’ enterprise-wide employee relations function.
Christine joined Darden after its acquisition of RARE Hospitality International, where she started as a server and worked in various roles leading to her promotion to Director of Employee Relations and, ultimately, Vice President of Human Resources.
Christine is a restaurant industry veteran with 32 years of experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Clark University.
Laura Williamson is Senior Vice President of Finance for Olive Garden and an Officer of the parent company, Darden Restaurants, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for overall financial planning and analysis, operations analysis and control, marketing analysis, and capital development review for a brand with more than 900 restaurants, 100,000 team members and more than $4.5 billion in annual sales.
Laura began her career with Darden in 1997 as Supervisor of Sales Cash. Since then, she has held many positions of increasing responsibility in various areas of Accounting, Brand Finance and Enterprise Finance. Her experience includes eight years with Red Lobster at the Analyst, Sr. Analyst, Manager and Director levels, roles supporting Darden Restaurants as Director of Finance and Strategy, Director of Corporate Analysis and as Senior Director of Finance for Olive Garden. Most recently, Laura served as Senior Vice President, Finance for LongHorn Steakhouse.
Laura holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Monika Saxena is Executive Vice President of Marketing for LongHorn Steakhouse and an Officer of the parent company, Darden Restaurants, Inc. Monika oversees brand marketing, culinary and beverage development, consumer insights, guest relations, and media and communications for a company with more than 550 restaurants, 35,000 team members and $2.5 billion in annual sales.
Known for its passion for grilling fresh, tender, juicy steaks – including the signature Flo’s Filet and the Outlaw Ribeye – LongHorn welcomes guests with a warm, inviting, friendly atmosphere reminiscent of the American West.
Monika has served on LongHorn Steakhouse’s Marketing team in various roles for more than 10 years and has also held the position of Vice President of Marketing for Bahama Breeze. Prior to joining Darden, she worked at Johnson and Johnson leading marketing efforts for Motrin, Tylenol PM, and Children’s Tylenol.
Monika holds an MBA from the University of Rochester and a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the Jesus and Mary College in New Delhi, India. Monika lives in Orlando with her husband and two children. When she’s not working, she’s focused on planning the next family adventure.