VP of Franchise Development

One River School of Art + Design•Englewood, NJ

67d•$130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Founded in 2012 "one river" west of New York City, One River School is on a mission to "transform art education" in America. With 15 schools across six states and national expansion ahead, we offer innovative programs that make learning contemporary art and design fun and accessible for all ages. As we enter our next phase of growth, we're seeking a dynamic, strategic, and results-driven Director of Franchise Development to lead our national expansion to identify and secure franchise partners to bring One River's creative mission to communities across the country. The VP of Franchise Development is a senior strategic leader responsible for growing One River School's national footprint through franchise sales, marketing, and onboarding excellence. Reporting directly to the CEO, this individual will own the full franchise development lifecycle - from lead generation and discovery to deal closure and launch support - while ensuring each new franchisee's success. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial, high-energy relationship builder who combines business acumen with a passion for creativity and education. They bring a proven track record in franchise development and thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in franchise sales or development, preferably within high-end, service-oriented industries
Proven success building young franchise systems and launching new territories
Strong understanding of digital marketing funnels, CRM systems, and data-driven sales pipelines
Demonstrated ability to create and manage franchise marketing campaigns and PR efforts
Experience overseeing FDD filings, state registrations, and franchise agreements.
Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship management skills
Passion for creative education, entrepreneurship, and building mission-driven partnerships.
Self-starter with a balance of strategic vision and hands-on execution

Responsibilities

Drive the complete franchise development lifecycle: lead generation, qualification, discovery, due diligence, and deal closing.
Collaborate with the Leadership Team to design the national franchise sales strategy to achieve annual growth goals.
Build a strong, values-aligned network of franchise partners who share One River's vision to make art education accessible nationwide
Collaborate with the Marketing and Leadership team to design and manage a high-performing franchise marketing funnel.
Partner on lead generation campaigns, paid media, and digital funnels that attract and convert qualified prospects.
Support Franchise PR initiatives by developing content that supports media outreach to elevate One River's national visibility.
Conduct engaging discovery sessions, presentations, and franchise events that communicate One River's mission, financial opportunity, and business model with clarity and inspiration.
Serve as the brand ambassador and storyteller - representing One River School with credibility and enthusiasm in meetings and conferences.
Oversee the legal and regulatory aspects of franchise development, including Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), franchise agreements, and state registrations.
Collaborate with Legal, Operations, and Finance to ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient processes.
Partner with Operations, Training, and Marketing teams to support onboarding, school openings, and successful market launches.
Build systems to track KPIs across the franchise development funnel.
Analyze and present performance data and insights to inform leadership decision-making.
Continuously refine the sales process to improve conversion rates and franchisee satisfaction.