Director of Strategic Franchise Initiatives

SLIM CHICKENS•Fayetteville, AR

12d•Onsite

About The Position

This role leads and coordinates all projects related to franchisee and company growth and profitability including but not limited to: EBITDA, Cost Controls, Labor Efficiencies, Team Member Retention, and Revenue Growth. The Director of Strategic Franchise Initiatives will lead projects that pertain to franchisee and company restaurant profitability, collect and organize Profitability and Operational Excellence Best Practices, design and lead the testing and exceptions process, and work with and optimize equipment packaging and layout. This role will also develop tools and resources for franchisees to benchmark financial and operational performance, conduct financial deep dives and profitability audits with franchisees, and build reporting dashboards and KPI trackers to monitor operational health and profitability. Additionally, the role supports the onboarding of new franchisees regarding profitability playbooks and startup guidance. The Director will manage cross-functional projects focused on simplifying operations and improving margins, partner with Supply Chain, Training, and Marketing on systemwide initiatives that impact profitability, and lead continuous improvement reviews to streamline workflows and eliminate operational waste. This position serves as a liaison between franchisees and internal departments to ensure alignment on profitability objectives. The role also collaborates with HR and Training on initiatives focused on team member retention and engagement, analyzes labor models and scheduling strategies to maximize productivity while managing costs, and supports the rollout of technology solutions aimed at labor efficiency. Furthermore, the Director prepares system updates, newsletters, and toolkits related to profitability programs, develops change management plans for major operational and profitability initiatives, and ensures consistent and transparent communications to franchisees during system rollouts. The role also identifies revenue-driving opportunities across the system, supports franchisees in evaluating and executing new unit growth opportunities, partners with Real Estate and Development teams to analyze potential new markets and unit economics, and collaborates on remodeling, rebranding, and prototype initiatives that drive guest traffic and franchisee returns. The Director must have a thorough understanding of Slim Chickens' established operating systems and recognizes the responsibility to stay updated on these systems and the role this position plays in supporting them. This position description is designed to guide the activities of the Director of Strategic Franchise Initiatives. It is not meant to restrict the individual's creativity or limit their thinking, nor does it encompass all the tasks that may be required in this role.

Requirements

Strong organizational, problem solving, and analytical skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce internal documents, presentations, training workshops, collateral materials, and field communications
Demonstrates a consultative approach in working with franchisees, area directors, managers, team members and Corporate Support Team
Service oriented, Guest First
Strong interpersonal skills and a brand champion
Excellent restaurant operational knowledge
Microsoft Office Suite, Power Point, Excel
Laptop computer, Tablet, iPhone, Projector, webinar/online meeting platforms
Learning Management System
Bachelor’s degree preferred
2-3 years in restaurant or project management role
2 + years Data Analytics background a plus
Experience working in a franchise organization

Responsibilities

Lead projects that pertain to franchisee and company restaurant profitability.
Collect and organize Profitability and Operational Excellence Best Practices.
Design and lead our testing and exceptions process.
Work with and optimize our equipment packaging and layout.
Work with project management software to alert key parties to deliverables.
Develop tools and resources for franchisees to benchmark financial and operational performance.
Conduct financial deep dives and profitability audits with franchisees.
Build reporting dashboards and KPI trackers to monitor operational health and profitability.
Support onboarding of new franchisees regarding profitability playbooks and startup guidance.
Manage cross-functional projects focused on simplifying operations and improving margins.
Partner with Supply Chain, Training, and Marketing on systemwide initiatives that impact profitability.
Lead continuous improvement reviews to streamline workflows and eliminate operational waste.
Serve as a liaison between franchisees and internal departments to ensure alignment on profitability objectives.
Collaborate with HR and Training on initiatives focused on team member retention and engagement.
Analyze labor models and scheduling strategies to maximize productivity while managing costs.
Support the rollout of technology solutions aimed at labor efficiency (e.g., scheduling software, AI forecasting tools).
Prepare system updates, newsletters, and toolkits related to profitability programs.
Develop change management plans for major operational and profitability initiatives.
Ensure consistent and transparent communications to franchisees during system rollouts.
Identify revenue-driving opportunities across the system, including upselling, menu mix optimization, and daypart strategies.
Support franchisees in evaluating and executing new unit growth opportunities.
Partner with Real Estate and Development teams to analyze potential new markets and unit economics.
Collaborate on remodeling, rebranding, and prototype initiatives that drive guest traffic and franchisee returns.
Has a thorough understanding of Slim Chickens' established operating systems (e.g., quality, security, office environment, company policies, safety) and recognizes the responsibility to stay updated on these systems and the role this position plays in supporting them.
Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives.