Leadership Development Program

PEAK Performance Development Program

Real Leadership. Real Business Ownership. Real Growth.

What is PEAK?

The PEAK Performance Development Program at Chick-fil-A Gateway Park is an intensive, 2–2.5 year leadership and business development experience designed for high-capacity individuals who want to accelerate their growth.

This is not a traditional management training program.

You’ll step directly into the fast pace and intensity of a high-volume Chick-fil-A restaurant. You’ll make decisions, solve problems, lead people, own results, and learn how a real business operates every single day.

You’ll work alongside an award-winning Chick-fil-A Operator and experienced leadership team who will invest directly in your development—and you’ll be expected to turn around and develop the leaders coming behind you.

What You’ll Develop

Over the course of PEAK, you’ll gain real-world experience in:

Leading Yourself

Build the discipline, self-awareness, resilience, and personal ownership required to lead at a high level.

Leading Others

Learn to coach, challenge, inspire, and develop people while building high-performing teams.

Operational Excellence

Experience the complexity and intensity of operating a high-volume restaurant where speed, quality, hospitality, and execution matter every day.

Business Ownership

Learn how decisions impact sales, profitability, labor, talent, customer experience, and long-term business growth.

Communicating Clearly

Develop the ability to communicate expectations, give feedback, navigate difficult conversations, and influence others.

And as you grow, you’ll be expected to develop others. PEAK isn’t only about what you can learn. It’s about your ability to multiply what you’ve learned into the people around you.

PEAK may be a great fit if you:

• Thrive in fast-paced, high-expectation environments
• Are competitive and internally driven
• Want feedback and actively seek opportunities to improve
• Enjoy leading and developing people
• Aren’t afraid of hard, hands-on work
• Want meaningful responsibility early in your career
• Take ownership rather than waiting to be told what to do
• Care about both people and results
• Want to discover how much you’re capable of

This program will be demanding. You’ll work on your feet. You’ll lead in real time. You’ll navigate difficult situations, high-volume days, changing priorities, and the everyday realities of running a business with a large team.

Learn Alongside Proven Leadership

You’ll work directly alongside the Operator and leadership team at Chick-fil-A Gateway Park and gain exposure to the decisions, challenges, and opportunities involved in leading a growing business.

Our Operator’s track record includes recognition through:

• Chick-fil-A Rookie of the Year
• Symbol of Success
• Guardians of the Brand

Where Does PEAK Lead?

PEAK isn’t designed to prepare you for one specific job.

Some participants may pursue opportunities within Chick-fil-A. Others may take what they’ve learned into entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, graduate school, or entirely different industries.

Our goal is for you to leave PEAK knowing how to lead yourself, lead others, and own a business—and having the confidence and experience to take those skills wherever you go next.

Compensation

• Base Pay: $28.50/hour — approximately $59,280/year based on a 40-hour workweek

Benefits

• Healthcare: Up to $12,000/year in employer contributions
• Paid Time Off: 88 hours/year
• 401(k): Employer match
• Free Meals: Approximately $3,120/year in value
• Leadership Stipend: $1,000/year
• PEAK Development: Monthly speakers, workshops, leadership development, and exposure to Chick-fil-A, Inc. subject-matter experts
• Sundays Off

Total Value

$77,000 in estimated annual compensation & benefits value

Estimated based on a 40-hour workweek and full utilization of available benefits. Actual annual compensation and total value may be higher based on hours worked, benefit utilization, and 401(k) participation.