Franchise Onboarding Project Manager

Job Summary:

The Franchise Onboarding Project Manager provides formal onboarding support to franchisees from the time they sign the franchise agreement through the grand opening of their location. This position is responsible for driving the formal onboarding plan to effectively prepare Franchisees to open their clinic, employ a Clinic Director and therapists, and provide care to clients within project timeline, cost, and scope requirements.

Success in this role requires the ability to build trusted relationships, drive accountability, proactively solve problems, and guide multiple franchisees through a complex opening process while maintaining an exceptional onboarding experience.

This is a hybrid position, with some days to be worked remotely every week and some days on-site at our office in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manages a multi-faceted onboarding process via a highly organized project plan that includes all aspects of opening a new Ellie clinic.
• The project timeline should include all required steps, milestones, dependencies, and key owners.
• The role of the Franchise Onboarding Project Manager is to ensure owners and support staff are actively managing tasks, adhering to timelines, and overcoming obstacles.
• Activities include:
  • Adhering to brand standards
  • Site Selection
  • Construction / furniture and fixtures
  • Ellie Systems
  • Attending Ellie Academy
  • Hiring plan, credentialing, payer contracting
  • Ellie preferred vendors for payroll, credentialing, billing, etc.
  • Local marketing outreach efforts
  • Grand Opening
  • Coaching new Franchisees through the development of a business plan, including financial, clinic operations, management of KPI, etc.
  • Partnering closely with Global Operations Support & Training (GOST) to ensure new Franchisees have the knowledge they need to operate clinic
  • Proactively engaging internal and external stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle
  • Providing regular internal and external updates on project status
  • Other duties as assigned or required

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Ability to perform, organize, and prioritize work independently.
• Strong project management skills and experience.
• Strong communication skills, both verbally and in writing; clear, concise, and professional.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with other teams to achieve goals.
• Proficient in utilizing computers, typing, and navigating multiple applications/systems simultaneously.
• Strong working proficiency with Microsoft Office products including Outlook, Calendar, Teams Chat, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.

Education and Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Project Management, Communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered.
• License/Certification: Project management certification preferred.
• Experience: 3 years of experience in project management, implementation, franchise support, account management, operations, or a related field.
• Experience working within a franchise, multi-unit, healthcare, or other highly regulated environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged use of a computer, telephone, or other standard office equipment.
• Use of multiple software applications simultaneously, including video conferencing platforms.
• Ability to communicate information effectively by phone, video, and written correspondence.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb stairs, or lift up to 10 pounds for office needs.
• Minimal travel (0-25%).

About Ellie Mental Health:

Ellie Mental Health is an outpatient mental health organization dedicated to making high-quality, compassionate care more accessible. Through a growing network of more than 230 independently owned clinics across 34 states, Ellie supports individuals, couples, families, and children with both in-person and telehealth services. Our mission is to transform the culture of mental health care by providing creative solutions that make wellness accessible in every community.