Franchise Development Manager

Evaluate inbound franchise leads

Evaluate inbound franchise leads against qualification criteria, exercising independent judgment on which prospects merit advancement and which should be declined, with authority to make that determination without pre-approval.

Assess candidate readiness

Assess candidate readiness at each stage of the development process and determine the appropriate pace, sequencing, and next steps, adjusting standard timelines based on candidate-specific risk factors.

Manage lead targeting and nurturing

• Own lead targeting strategy and lead nurturing email campaigns, including audience segmentation, content creation, and message positioning, exercising judgment on cadence, targeting priority, and messaging approach based on candidate tier and performance data.
• Analyze campaign results and adjust strategy accordingly.
• Manage non-traditional format email campaigns end-to-end, applying independent judgment to tailor messaging and targeting for this distinct candidate profile.

Monitor and track RFPs

• Monitor and track RFP dates and requirements across target markets, exercising judgment on prioritization and go/no-go recommendations for pursuit.

Ensure compliance documentation

• Ensure required candidate documentation (NDAs, FDD receipts, applications, and related materials) is obtained and verified per compliance requirements, exercising judgment in identifying when a documentation gap or inconsistency is material enough to pause or escalate a candidate's progression.

Make suitability recommendations

Review and help structure terms of the franchise development agreement for approved candidates, flagging any terms that carry elevated risk before the agreement is finalized. Conduct the final compliance review before a deal is finalized, exercising judgment to identify issues that could jeopardize the agreement, in addition to confirming required steps in the process have been completed.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams

• Partner with marketing, operations, legal, real estate, and design & construction, using judgment to resolve conflicts or gaps between departments that affect candidate progression.

Represent the brand

• Represent the brand at trade shows and conferences, exercising judgment in evaluating lead quality and prioritizing follow-up.

CRM management

Maintain the franchise development CRM with current candidate status and documentation, and use CRM data and campaign reporting to inform targeting and process recommendations. (Administrative in nature; not intended to represent the majority of the role's time or substantive responsibilities.)

Career Path

This role is designed to build toward broader franchise growth leadership responsibility. As the incumbent demonstrates sound independent judgment in qualifying candidates, marketing and outreach strategy, compliance risk evaluation, and reliable execution across the development process, they will be positioned for advancement.

Qualifications

• BA/BS required; Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) a plus.
• Minimum of 2–4 years of franchise sales, development, or coordination experience required, preferably in multi-state food and/or retail operations.
• CA driver's license required.

Pay Range

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. At El Pollo Loco, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range. Individual pay decisions will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.