Overview

8The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is responsible for supporting the business startup phase for Chick-fil-A’s Core Restaurant Concepts and Satellite Location Concepts. The support of Satellite location concepts includes an emphasis on Licensee Locations run by Food Service Providers. Additionally, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) may support the Beyond the Restaurant Innovation Team to open new types of sales concepts for Chick-fil-A, Inc. The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) supports these business needs through direct involvement with Participants in Chick-fil-A's Leadership Development Program (LDP). The purpose of the program is to “develop future leaders for the organization while supporting Operator and business needs.”

The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is directly responsible for ensuring a successful opening and handover of new Restaurants. Therefore, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is entrusted with making business decisions that set the Operator and the business up for sustained success. These decisions include setting the Restaurant opening date and determining the appropriate level of LDP support. The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is also responsible for overseeing the stewardship of the Field Events Staff budget for each new Restaurant opening.

The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) partners with Operators, acting as a thought partner who helps them maximize their business opportunity. The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) supports Operators who are new to Chick-fil-A (i.e. New Operators) and existing Operators who have been selected for an additional opportunity (e.g. Multi-Restaurant Operators). For New Operators, this partnership includes pre-opening support and post-opening support throughout their first 6 months of business operations. At the 6 month mark, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) will collaborate with the Operator and the Operator’s Principal Operations Lead (Ops Lead) to determine if extended support is appropriate. For existing Operators, the partnership with the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) includes New Restaurant Opening support only. The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) will support a rolling business portfolio of 10 to 15 Operator relationships at any given time.

At all Restaurant openings, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is responsible for providing direction, oversight and development for LDP Participants. The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) will serve as their primary supervisor as they provide on-site support for Operators, including providing documented feedback. There are typically 2-3 LDP Participants assigned to a New Restaurant Opening. Depending upon the size of business portfolio, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) could be responsible for 10-20 participants at any given time.

At the Support Center, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is responsible for building and maintaining strong working relationships with all Support Center staff who support new Restaurant openings (e.g. Marketing/PR, Restaurant Development, DTT, Facilities and Equipment, etc.). The Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) is also responsible for ensuring alignment between the Restaurant opening decisions and market priorities.

Within Launch Support, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) will participate on short-term special project teams and/or assignments designated by Launch Support Leadership. Additionally, the Principal New Restaurant Lead (NRL) may be tasked with representing the Launch Support Team with Operators and with Stakeholders at the Support Center (e.g. in Operator Fundamentals or LDP Basecamp training experiences).

This role is based at the Chick-fil-A Support Center in Atlanta, Georgia and involves 40-60% (note: 2 days = 40%; 3 days = 60%) travel during the business work week.

Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

Responsibilities

Strategic Coach

• Build trusted advisor relationships with new and existing Operators
• Provide strategic advice to help Operators establish a healthy, sustainable Restaurant business
• Steward and share leading practices as well as connect Operators to resources and business experts (i.e. Leadwell, Drive-thru Consultant, etc.)

New Restaurant Start-Up Specialist

• Provide new and existing Operators (esp. MROs) with the information and resources needed to guide decision-making and the Restaurant-level implementation of initial operational and marketing plans
• Provide Food Service Providers and other Chick-fil-A, Inc. approved business partners with the information and resources needed to establish the people, operating systems and processes required for a positive Chick-fil-A guest experience
• Collaborate with Operator and Internal New Restaurant Stakeholders to determine Restaurant opening date. Stakeholders include Restaurant Development, PR/Marketing, DTT, etc.
• Provide operational expertise to new Operators as they refine their business strategies in the first 6-12 months of business operations
• Oversee the stewardship of the Field Events Staff budget
• Help new and existing Operators understand the financial tradeoffs and implications of decisions when trying to maximize their opportunity

Operator-Chick-fil-A, Inc. Liaison

• Partner with Support Center staff to ensure a coordinated and successful Restaurant opening (Restaurant Development, Marketing/PR, Facilities and Equipment, etc.)
• Represent the field realities across the Support Center to ensure informed decisions are made and tools and resources are created to support healthy, sustainable Restaurant businesses

Restaurant Operations Specialist

• Provide hyper-focus on the fundamentals of proven operational practices (e.g. evaluate all menu items including taste, color, and temperature)
• Partner with Operators and Food Service Providers to identify and mitigate risks associated with food and people safety

LDP Assignment Supervisor

• Supervise individual LDP Participants on assignment, as they assist Operators in the business startup work for new restaurants and concepts
• Ensure that LDP Participants and Field Event Staff are adhering to Chick-fil-A operating standards and are equipping Operators and their Team Members to do the same.
• Steward the ongoing leadership development of LDP Participants using the LDP Competency Model
• Provide direct leadership and coaching to LDP Participants and capture written feedback via PowerApp

CFA Representative

• Protect the Brand by advising on and holding Operators, LDP Participants and Field Events Staff accountable to Chick-fil-A standards, systems, measurements, strategies and tools
• Attend Chick-fil-A, Inc. and Cathy Family sponsored activities and events (e.g. Restaurant Dedication), coordinating with Area Director and Operations Lead on how / when to share the Chick-fil-A story

Launch Support Team Contributor

• Participate in special project team(s) designated by Launch Support Team Leadership
• Represent services provided by the Launch Support Team with Operators and with Stakeholders at the Support Center

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 8 years of relevant professional experience
• Ability to ingest all menu items

Required Skills:

• Foundational business acumen
• Strong time management and work prioritization skills
• Strong personal initiative with limited need for close supervision
• Ability to distill complex, disparate data into actionable insights
• Good problem solving and analytical skills
• Strong level of learning agility
• Strong competence in self-awareness and the awareness of others
• Ability to build relationships, coach and influence individuals and groups
• Ability to work well in a team environment
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with significant complexities
• Experience driving continuous improvement and motivating individuals to act
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong active listening and listening for insights skills
• Strong emotional intelligence
• Strong follow through on commitments in a timely manner
• Ability to provide clear and consistent feedback
• Strong level of learning agility
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Results orientation
• Positive orientation towards difficult challenges
• Good computer skills (word processor, spreadsheet, etc.)
• Strong academic background and desire for ongoing personal development

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Professional Coaching Certification
• Restaurant operations experience

Minimum Years of Experience

Travel Requirements

Required Level of Education

Preferred Level of Education