Learning And Development Specialist

We are seeking a Learning and Development Specialist to support our franchise operations support team, with primary responsibility for new store openings and franchisee training programs. In this role, you will help design, deliver, and manage scalable training programs that enable franchisees, operators, store leaders, and store teams to execute brand standards consistently across the system. You will work closely with operations, franchise business consultants, human resources, food safety, marketing, technology, and subject matter experts to create practical learning solutions that improve store readiness, guest experience, compliance, new initiative adoption, and overall performance.

Primary Responsibilities

• New Store Openings: Lead, coordinate, facilitate, and participate in training activities for new store openings, including pre-opening preparation, franchisee, and store leadership readiness, team member training support, opening-week execution, and post-opening follow-up.
• New Franchisee Training Programs: Design, coordinate, deliver, and continuously improve franchisee training programs that prepare new franchisees and operators to understand brand expectations, operating standards, support resources, compliance requirements, store-level execution, and performance expectations.
• L&D Curriculum Development : design, develop, and enhance instructional materials that strengthen learning effectiveness across franchise operations programs.
• Program Coordination and Execution: Partner with franchise operations, field leaders, franchise business consultants, subject matter experts, and franchisees to ensure new store opening and training programs are practical, consistent, scalable, and aligned with business priorities.

What You’ll Do

• Design, update, and maintain training programs that support team member onboarding, store manager development, shift leadership, guest service, operational routines, brand standards, food safety, technology adoption, franchisee training programs and new store openings.
• Create scalable learning tools, including facilitator guides, learning modules, job aids, checklists, certification materials, quick-reference guides, videos, launch guides, and blended learning programs.
• Coordinate, facilitate, and participate in new store openings, including readiness planning, training schedules, opening support, franchisee coaching, and follow-up after opening.
• Partner with operations leaders, franchise business consultants, HR, food safety, marketing, technology, supply chain, and subject matter experts to ensure learning content is accurate, brand-aligned, operationally practical, and easy to execute in stores.
• Provide ongoing support to franchisees and field teams by answering training questions, troubleshooting learning tools, gathering feedback, and identifying opportunities to improve program usability and adoption.

What We’re Looking For

• 2 or more years of experience in learning and development, store training, franchise support, QSR operations, field training, HR development, or a related role.
• Ability to travel up to 60% overnight to new store openings.
• Ability to come into the corporate office 1-2 days per week when not traveling.
• Experience supporting franchise operations, multi-unit store organization, field operations team, or fast-paced hourly workforce environment preferred.
• Working knowledge of franchise operations, onboarding, guest service standards, brand compliance, labor standards, and manager training practices.
• Experience developing training content for in-store, virtual, and digital learning environments.
• Familiarity with learning management systems, e-learning tools, presentation software, training reporting dashboards, and basic data analysis.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with franchisees, operators, franchise business consultants, field leaders, HR partners, corporate departments, and subject matter experts.

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

• Strong facilitation, coaching, presentation, and communication skills for franchisee, store, field, and corporate audiences.
• Ability to translate brand standards, operating procedures, franchise requirements, and business priorities into clear, practical training tools.
• Strong understanding of franchise operations, franchise support, speed of service, guest experience, product consistency, and store execution.
• Excellent organization, project management, rollout planning, stakeholder coordination, and follow-through skills.
• Strong writing and content development abilities, with the ability to simplify complex processes for franchisees and frontline teams.
• Comfort using learning technologies, virtual meeting platforms, presentation software, reporting tools, and store operations systems.
• Ability to analyze L&D data, training feedback, performance metrics, audit results, and field input to improve program effectiveness and adoption.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build trust with franchisees, operators, field teams, corporate partners, and store leaders.
• Adaptability, urgency, customer service orientation, and a continuous improvement mindset suited to a fast-paced franchise support environment.

How Success Will Be Measured

• Training programs are delivered on time, aligned to corporate brand priorities, and adopted consistently across franchise stores.
• Franchisees, operators, field teams, and store leaders demonstrate improved readiness and execution of brand standards, guest service, food safety, product quality, technology tools, and operating routines.
• Learning content remains accurate, practical, accessible, scalable, and easy for franchise stores to use during daily operations.
• Training participation, completion, certification, assessment, and adoption data are tracked consistently and reported clearly to corporate stakeholders and field leadership.
• Training initiatives support measurable improvements in onboarding speed, manager readiness, guest experience, operational compliance, speed of service, retention, and readiness for new products or initiatives.
• Franchisees and field leaders view the corporate Learning and Development function as a responsive, practical, and valuable partner in improving store capability, consistency, and business results.

Work Environment

Located in Sherman Oaks, CA, this role operates in a corporate support environment with regular collaboration across franchise operations, field leadership, store teams, and cross-functional departments. The position requires participation in training events, support for new store openings, and interaction with franchisees and operators in fast-paced business settings.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation range is $85,000 - $95,000 and will be based on experience, qualifications, location, and business needs. Benefits may include medical, dental, vision, paid time off, retirement plan options, professional development opportunities, and other company-sponsored benefits, subject to eligibility and plan terms.

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