Overview

The Restaurant Transitions Team is responsible for ensuring the success of Restaurant transitions within Chick-fil-A through direct involvement with Participants in Chick-fil-A's Leadership Development Program (LDP) . The purpose of the program is to “accelerate growth in talented, driven leaders through dynamic business experiences.”

The Senior Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) is responsible for managing assigned Company Operated Restaurants (CORs) and facilitating successful business transition of CORs (Inc -to-Operator and Operator-to-Inc) with up to 15 Restaurants on their portfolio. The Senior Principal Restaurant Transition Lead is also responsible for overseeing Operator to Operator transitions in their region.

The Sr. Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) works with new and existing Operators, acting as a thought partner who helps them maximize their business opportunity. For new Operators, this partnership includes pre-transition support and post-transition support throughout their first 6 months of business operations. At the 6 month mark, the Sr. Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) collaborates with the Operator and the Operator’s Principal Operations Lead (Ops Lead) to determine if extended support is appropriate. For existing Operators who are transitioning to an existing Chick-fil-A restaurant, the partnership with the Sr. Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) includes pre-transition support only.

The Senior Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) will coach and develop 10-30 Leadership Development Participants, serving as their primary advisor, as they run the day-to-day operations of CORs as Interim Managers.

The Senior Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) is directly responsible for the success of the Company Operated Restaurants, including making high-risk business decisions, setting opening and transition dates, addressing legal and PR needs and ensuring the Chick-fil-A brand is protected at these Restaurants.

At the Support Center, the Sr. Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) is assigned to a Region and Regional Area Teams. It is the responsibility of the Sr. Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) to ensure alignment between all the services the Launch Support Team provides and the Regional priorities.

Within Launch Support, the Senior Principal Restaurant Transition Lead (Sr. RTL) will be tasked with leading special projects and/or special project team(s) designated by Launch Support Leadership. The Senior Principal Restaurant Transitions Lead (Sr. RTL) is required to represent the Launch Support Team with Operators and at the Support Center (e.g. in Operator Fundamentals or LDP Basecamp training experiences).

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.

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

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.)

Restaurant Transition Specialist

• Decide, in partnership with key stakeholders, the Restaurant transition date for Operators
• Partner with senior Support Center staff to ensure a coordinated and successful Restaurant transition, such as Facilities & Equipment and Strategic Reinvestment
• Provide new and existing Operators with the information and resources needed to guide decision-making and the Restaurant-level implementation of initial operational and marketing plans
• Provide operational expertise to new Operators as they refine their business strategies in the first 6-12 months of business operations
• Help new and existing Operators understand the financial tradeoffs and implications of decisions when trying to maximize their opportunity

COR (Company Operated Restaurant) Business Lead

• Own critical business decisions for CORs, including PR, Legal and Market complexities
• Own terminations of Company Operated Restaurant Services Team Member, as well as all other major Team Member disciplinary decisions
• Ensure CORs meet Brand and operational standards while under their management

Operator-Chick-fil-A, Inc. Liaison

• Partner with Support Center staff to ensure a coordinated and successful Restaurant transition and Restaurant opening (Restaurant Development, Facilities and Equipment, Franchisee Selection, 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 businessesRestaurant 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 Multi-Restaurant Operators in the business startup work for new Restaurants and as they manage the daily operations in Company Operated Restaurants (COR)
• Ensure that LDP Participants and Field Events 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

Organizational Influencer

• Ensure the Launch Support Team colleagues are informed of and aligned with Regional Priorities and Area Team Goals
• Share relevant business insights from services rendered by the Launch Support Team with Regional Leadership (e.g. COR Performance, New Restaurant Performance Trends, New Operator Status Update, etc.)
• Offer input on permanent Restaurant closure decisions

Launch Support Team Contributor

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

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivilant 
• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience
• Ability to ingest all menu items
• 8-10 years People Leadership experience or Business Ownership experience

Required Skills:

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

Preferred Qualifications

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

Minimum Years of Experience

Travel Requirements

Required Level of Education

Preferred Level of Education