Manager - Development & Franchise Recruiting

When our square shaped burgers made their first sizzle on the scene more than 50 years ago, people knew our approach wasn’t like any other. Same goes for the way we support our employees. Our culture of openness, flexibility, and inclusiveness allows everybody to flourish in their own way. If you’re looking for a career where you can be part of the action as we continue to grow our iconic brand - We got you!

The Manager - Development & Franchise Recruiting supports the Wendy’s US brand growth plan by driving the strategy, process, tools, and teams required to effectively identify, evaluate, and select new franchise candidates. They help to drive new unit growth and facilitate franchise transactions through the vetting and approval of new franchisees. This manager partners in the creation and recommendation of well-developed programs and incentives required to attract new franchise talent and accelerate brand growth. They will also provide candidate and new franchisee support in the traditional development arenas. This role, which is part of our development organization, reports directly to the Director, Business Development and Franchise Recruiting.

Responsibilities

• Drives Wendy’s new franchise recruiting efforts across US. Manages all new franchise recruiting programs/processes and drives the recruitment, selection, and placement of new franchisees. Helps to manage efforts of the Recruiting Specialist to ensure candidate progression through the pipeline. Manages and evolves reporting and tracking for prospective franchise candidates. Coordinates and executes new franchise recruiting interviews, meetings, and events including Discovery Day(s). Establishes and converts leads into new franchisees. Partners with Wendy's Legal team, Company-Led Development and Franchise Management to grant franchise rights and onboarding plans. Must understand all aspects of the Wendy's franchise agreement and franchise disclosure document, programs and incentives including Own Your Own, Build-to-Suit, and REPP.
• Leads all marketing and communications efforts related to new franchisee opportunities. Develops and maintains new franchise recruiting website, marketing materials, public relations, and resources that heighten the awareness of the Wendy’s brand, franchising, and new growth opportunities. Manages new franchise candidate inquiries from website, internal, and external sources. Partners with Communications, 3rd party creative firms and agencies to develop and evolve marketing and PR materials and communications strategy related to recruiting and new development. Partners with Franchise Management, Company Development and Legal partners to update and evolve important information provided in the FDD and/or shared from the FDD, earnings releases or other Company communications.
• Drives the evolution of franchise recruiting strategies and programs. Partners with Development and Operations leaders to evaluate market growth potential vs. franchisee capability to identify new franchise targeted recruiting needs and priorities. Works with cross-functional business partners, notably Real Estate & System Optimization, to establish strategies and programs required to support new unit growth and acquisitions by new franchise candidates. Prepares presentations and materials required to drive decisions with Senior Leadership.
• Engages with 3rd party strategic relationships and partnerships associated with recruiting and development, such as IFA, Franchise Times, Retailers, Fuel Partners, Lenders, Brokers, and Developers. Attends key industry conferences and networking events to establish relationships and leverage key resources across the financial, broker and development community that can help to identify new franchisee leads. Partners with Franchise Development/Management and Finance leaders to help educate franchise lending partners on company initiatives to drive franchise recruiting efforts to support company growth initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with at least 10 years professional work experience preferably in a corporate environment with an emphasis in franchising, recruiting, new restaurant development and/or strategic development.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including written and verbal communication; strong organizational skills with ability to multi-task and prioritize; analytical, problem solving and trouble shooting skills; must be highly driven to achieve results.
• Detailed knowledge of franchising and new restaurant development related policies and procedures. Knowledge of law (real estate, franchise, contract, business), real estate and financial management/accounting. Experience franchising domestically is required.
• Experience with management and supervision of direct and indirect employees.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Experience with graphic design tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) is desired.

Wendy’s was built on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe®," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand.

The base pay range for this position is listed below. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and budget for the open position and also may vary depending on the candidate’s job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other relevant factors. This range does not include an estimated value for any benefits, bonus, or other incentives that may be applicable based on position. * The target annual bonus for this role is 20% of annualized base salary, based on actual company and personal performance.

Our square burgers make us different and so do our benefits! Our restaurant support roles are eligible for a wide array of benefits, including things such as parental leave, free EAP sessions, company 401k match and other great offerings. For more details about our benefits, including an overview of eligibility and terms for certain benefits, please visit our benefits website, www.wendysbenefits.com.*

NOTE: Wendy’s benefits, bonus, and other incentives are governed by the applicable legal plans and policies and, where appropriate, may be subject to Board approval an individual award agreement terms. Those documents supersede all other information regarding Wendy’s benefits, bonus, and other incentives. Wendy’s retains the right to amend or terminate its plans and policies at its sole discretion, in accordance with applicable plans, policies and laws.

Education: Bachelor's Degree

Travel: 50%

Pay Range: $99,000 - $173,000 Annually