Director, Franchise Operations & Standards

Location: Houston, TX

About the Opportunity

Our client, a nationally recognized multi-unit consumer services organization, is seeking a Director of Franchise Operations & Standards to lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of operational standards across a large network of franchised and corporate-owned locations.

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This is a newly created leadership position with significant visibility and executive sponsorship. The successful candidate will establish and own the operational playbook for the organization, ensuring consistency, accountability, and operational excellence throughout the system.

This role is ideal for a leader who has successfully built standards, audit, or assurance programs within a highly recognized franchise organization and understands how to drive adoption across an independent franchise community.

Position Overview

The Director of Franchise Operations & Standards will serve as the organization's authority on operational excellence by developing, testing, implementing, and maintaining system-wide standards that improve consistency, customer experience, and business performance.

The role combines strategic program development with hands-on field leadership and requires strong collaboration with operations, training, marketing, customer experience, and franchise leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Standards

• Develop, pilot, implement, and continuously improve operational standards across franchised and corporate-operated locations.
• Utilize company-operated stores to validate new processes prior to network-wide implementation.
• Own and maintain all operational documentation, including policies, procedures, operations manuals, and standard operating procedures.
• Create scalable operational frameworks that support long-term brand consistency.

Audit, Assurance & Performance

• Lead the organization's operational audit and assurance strategy.
• Design and improve audit methodologies, compliance programs, and operational scorecards.
• Measure performance against established standards and monitor improvement over time.
• Analyze operational data and provide actionable recommendations to executive leadership and franchise owners.
• Partner with field operations and training teams to close operational performance gaps.

Franchise Partnership & Governance

• Build trusted relationships with franchise owners by positioning standards as drivers of operational and financial success.
• Partner with franchise advisory groups and governance committees to gain alignment on operational initiatives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Marketing, Customer Experience, Learning & Development, and Training teams.

Leadership

• Lead and develop a growing team supporting operational assurance, compliance, training, customer experience, and new store implementation.
• Foster a field-focused operating culture through regular site visits and direct engagement with franchise operators.
• Coach team members while building organizational capabilities for long-term success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred.
• 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience within a nationally recognized franchise organization.
• Extensive experience leading operational standards, compliance, quality assurance, audit, or brand consistency initiatives across large multi-unit environments.
• Proven success building operational programs, standards, audit frameworks, or field assurance functions from the ground up.
• Experience designing pilot programs and managing phased implementation strategies with measurable success criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with franchise advisory councils, governance committees, or similar stakeholder groups.
• Strong understanding of franchise business models and the balance between operational excellence and franchisee profitability.
• Experience within private equity-backed, high-growth, or business transformation environments is preferred.
• Willingness to travel extensively to support field operations and franchise partners.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is:

• A strategic builder who creates scalable operational systems.
• A strong relationship builder who earns credibility with franchise owners and executive leadership.
• Data-driven, analytical, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Comfortable holding teams accountable while maintaining collaborative partnerships.
• Resilient and confident navigating challenging conversations around standards and compliance.
• Commercially minded with an understanding of operational initiatives' impact on profitability.
• An influential leader who drives change through trust, data, and execution rather than authority alone.

Why This Opportunity?

This is a unique opportunity to build and shape an enterprise-wide operational standards function from the ground up while partnering closely with executive leadership. The role offers significant influence over operational strategy, franchise performance, customer experience, and long-term organizational growth.

If you have successfully built operational excellence programs within a franchise system and are excited about creating lasting impact across a national network, we'd love to connect.

Compensation: Competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, long-term incentive opportunity, comprehensive benefits, retirement savings plan, paid time off, and travel support. Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates.