AYG Field Development Manager

Now Hiring: Field Development Manager

Position Overview

• Title: Field Development Manager
• Company: AYG Food Services (Layne’s Chicken Fingers)
• Reports To: VP of Operations
• Location: Corporate office, Downtown Houston
• Status: Full-time, exempt
• Pay: $60,000 – $70,000 per year, based on experience
• Travel: Regular local travel to 12 Houston-area restaurants, including Beaumont and Nederland

About the Role

AYG Food Services operates 12 Layne's Chicken Fingers restaurants across the Houston area, with more on the way. Our purpose is to share the joy of great food by creating a welcoming space where every guest is cared for and our team thrives through positivity and growth.

The Field Development Manager is the people partner to our restaurant leadership: General Managers, District Managers, and the corporate office team. You will coach our leaders, build our management bench for new store openings, and help us keep great people and grow more leaders so we can open many more stores. This is a hands-on role in the restaurants, not a desk job. Compliance is handled by our outside HR provider, so your focus is our leaders and our culture.

As AYG grows, this role will grow with it. We are looking for someone who wants to build our HR function from the ground up and take on more responsibility as we open new stores, with a path to lead a larger HR team in the future.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership Development

• Coach GMs and DMs on performance reviews, coaching conversations, and documentation using the AYG Employee Coaching Form.
• Build and track individual development plans for GMs, DMs, and high-potential shift leaders.
• Support the Rising Stars (Crew Member to Leader) program and Pinnacle leadership training.
• Work with the Training Manager to deliver development classes such as the Rising Stars workshop and Train the Trainer.

Leadership Pipeline Staffing

• Track bench strength at every store and identify high-potential team members.
• Forecast GM and DM openings ahead of new store openings and turnover and build a plan to fill them internally and externally.
• Recruit for management positions and sit on management interview panels.
• Represent AYG at job fairs and hiring events.

Retention Engagement

• Visit restaurants regularly and conduct stay interviews with GMs and shift leaders.
• Check in with new and newly promoted leaders at 30, 60, and 90 days to make sure they are trained, supported, and connected to our Purpose and Core Values.
• Conduct exit interviews for leaders, identify why people leave, and recommend fixes.

Employee Relations

• Serve as the first point of contact when a GM or DM has a people issue.
• Coach leaders to resolve issues fairly and early.
• Conduct timely investigations into team member complaints and keep clear documentation.
• Escalate issues with legal risk to the VP of Operations and our outside HR provider.

Office Team Support

• Support the corporate office team with regular check-ins, development plans, and performance reviews.

HR Provider Partnership

Our outside HR provider owns compliance: employment law, required postings, policy updates, and regulatory filings. The Field Development Manager partners with them on any issue that carries legal risk, so you can spend your time in the restaurants with our leaders.

What You Bring

• 3+ years of HR generalist experience, or 3+ years of restaurant or retail management experience with a strong focus on developing people.
• Experience in restaurants, hospitality, or multi-unit retail strongly preferred.
• Comfort coaching managers and having difficult conversations with confidence and kindness.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations and writing clear documentation.
• Strong organization skills and comfort with Microsoft Office, including Outlook and SharePoint. Experience with Alliance, our HR platform, is a plus.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel to all store locations.
• Food Handler's Card within 30 days of hire.

What We Offer

• $60,000 – $70,000 annual salary, based on experience
• Medical insurance, 100% company-paid
• Paid time off paid sick time
• 5 paid holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
• 401(k) Life insurance
• Car allowance Pay advances
• Free meals while working in our restaurants
• Free on-site gym at our corporate office

Come grow with us!
#AYGOps