What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Operations & Franchise Relations Manager position at Sweetwaters Group LLC?
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
Founded in 1993 in the vibrant college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sweetwaters Group LLC is the franchisor of the Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea brand. We are a family-owned, minority-owned, women-led company built on connection, care, and a genuine love for what we do. Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea is a premium coffeehouse brand with a growing regional and national presence. We’re known for our globally inspired beverages and thoughtfully crafted menu of real-ingredient focused pastries, desserts, and sandwiches. At our core, we believe coffeehouses should be warm, welcoming spaces that bring people together, and we are deeply committed to supporting our franchisees in creating community-oriented cafés that reflect this belief.
Our “love what you do” culture shows up in everything—from our marketing and training to the people we invite into our organization, including baristas, managers, and franchise partners. We seek individuals who are passionate about serving exceptional products, building meaningful relationships, and making our guest’s day every day. As we continue to grow, Sweetwaters remains focused on operational excellence and fostering strong, successful franchise relationships that fuel our shared success.
About the Role:
This is a full-time, on-site, in person role in Ann Arbor, Michigan that oversees franchise operations and compliance, strengthens franchise relations, leads franchise development, and provides strategic support to ensure franchisee success. Responsibilities include monitoring business performance, ensuring alignment with brand standards, managing franchisee relationships, implementing operational improvements to enhance franchise growth, and supervising a team of franchise business consultants. Collaboration with various teams, including marketing, training, and supply chain, will be key. This role requires a balance of analytical insight, operational leadership, and emotional intelligence.
If you're looking for a company where you can make a meaningful impact across multiple disciplines, see immediate results, and want the opportunity to grow professionally, we’d like to talk to you.
Who You Are:
- Strong leader with franchise experience in the food industry and proven team management skills.
- Proven ability to effectively and successfully work with cross-functional teams.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with franchisees.
- Proven ability to influence others both with and without formal authority.
- Proficiency in operational strategy, franchise processes, franchise industry standards, and business. performance analysis to support growth and operational excellence.
- Effective communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills to foster trust and resolve franchise-based challenges effectively.
- Knowledge of marketing and training strategies as well as customer service enhancement practices is highly desirable.
- Adaptable, hands-on, and energized by a fast-moving, collaborative environment.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a related field is preferred; relevant experience in franchise operations is a strong asset.
- Ability to travel to various franchise locations as required.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary liaison between corporate operations, franchise business consultants, and franchisees, fostering trust and alignment around brand standards and goals.
- Develop and implement operational strategies that drive performance across key metrics (quality, consistency, labor, cost control, and customer satisfaction).
- Partner with franchisees to support new store openings, ongoing operations, and problem-solving needs.
- Analyze store performance and help operators understand and act on the numbers.
- Influence and guide franchisees toward operational excellence.
- Support company-wide initiatives, training rollouts, and process improvements.
- Lead franchise business consultants and collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product development, and finance.
- Oversee the operations and leadership of company owned locations to have hands-on knowledge of operations and impact of company wide initiatives.
To Apply:
- Include your resume, a short note about why you’re the right fit for this role, and salary expectation.
- apply here: https://sweetwaterscafe.careerplug.com/jobs/2980640