Director Learning Development Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Pizza Patron- Director of Growth & Development

At Pizza Patrón, we believe exceptional guest experiences begin with exceptional people. We are seeking a dynamic, hands-on, and visionary Director of Growth & Development to lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of our learning, leadership, and development programs across the organization.

This role is responsible for creating a culture of growth by developing our team members, managers, and future leaders through impactful training, coaching, and career development opportunities. The Director of Growth & Development will partner closely with Operations, Human Resources, and Executive Leadership to ensure our people have the tools, skills, and support needed to deliver outstanding results for our guests, teams, and business.

The ideal candidate possesses a "roll up your sleeves" mentality, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and understands that developing people is the foundation of operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and long-term business growth.

Position Overview

The Director of Growth & Development will lead all aspects of training, leadership development, organizational learning, and guest experience initiatives. This position will build scalable programs that improve performance, increase retention, strengthen leadership pipelines, and drive operational consistency across all restaurants.

This role serves as a key strategic partner in developing future leaders while ensuring our restaurants consistently deliver an exceptional guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

Learning & Development Strategy

• Create, develop, and implement comprehensive Team Member, Shift Leader, Management, and Leadership Development programs.
• Design and maintain career development pathways that support internal promotions and succession planning.
• Build and execute a long-term learning and development strategy aligned with company growth objectives.
• Develop and organize training manuals, operational resources, visual aids, e-learning content, and educational materials.
• Maintain and continuously improve training systems, platforms, and learning resources, including Dough Lab and related learning management tools.
• Develop effective onboarding and transition processes for all trainees and newly promoted leaders.

Leadership Development & Culture

• Create programs that identify, develop, and prepare future restaurant and corporate leaders.
• Conduct routine restaurant visits to coach teams, assess engagement levels, strengthen culture, and develop leadership capabilities.
• Follow up with trainees after completion of training to ensure successful application and retention of learned skills.
• Conduct bi-annual leadership development workshops for management teams.
• Serve as a trusted coach and mentor to General Managers, Area Coaches, Trainers, and Operations leaders.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, accountability, coaching, and professional growth throughout the organization.

Operational Excellence & Guest Experience

• Lead and oversee the Guest Experience Program to improve guest satisfaction, loyalty, and service standards.
• Train General Managers and Area Coaches on effective guest recovery and complaint resolution strategies.
• Ensure all restaurants meet or exceed operational, quality, food safety, and guest service standards.
• Partner with Operations to identify performance trends and develop solutions that improve restaurant execution.
• Identify operational, behavioral, and leadership gaps and implement development plans to improve performance.
• Increase sales and profitability through effective people development, operational training, and leadership coaching.

Training Operations & New Restaurant Growth

• Partner with Area Coaches to develop and certify Training Restaurants within each market.
• Create, develop, and manage a high-performing Grand Opening ("GO") Team to support new restaurant openings.
• Assist with the planning, launch, training, and execution of New Restaurant Openings (NROs).
• Travel throughout all markets to ensure consistency in training delivery, standards, and execution.
• Lead workshops, training events, leadership summits, and operational development sessions.

Strategic Partnership & Business Impact

• Partner with Operations and Human Resources to develop and implement recruiting, retention, engagement, and development strategies.
• Develop and track department Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), presenting progress and recommendations to the Executive Team monthly and quarterly.
• Analyze training effectiveness and business performance metrics to drive continuous improvement.
• Communicate training initiatives, updates, and program enhancements across Operations, HR, and Executive Leadership teams.
• Maintain and update Operations Manuals, training standards, and guest experience systems, including SMG.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, Training & Development, Operations Management, Project Management, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and 5+ years of senior-level leadership experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry may be considered.
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and leading large-scale training and development programs.
• Strong understanding of restaurant operations, leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and adult learning principles.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to work independently while influencing teams across multiple markets.
• Excellent verbal, written, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with training and feedback platforms such as SMG, Articulate, Wistia, or similar systems preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% of the time.
• Hands-on leadership style with a passion for teaching, coaching, and developing others.

Why Join Pizza Patrón?

• Make a lasting impact on the growth and development of the Premier Latino Pizza Brand.
• Shape the future leaders of our organization.
• Play a key role in driving company culture, performance, and guest experience.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
• 401(k)
• Monthly Car and Cell Phone Allowance
• Bonus Structure
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays.
• Discounted Gold's Gym Membership.
• Free Weekly Shift Meal (restrictions apply).
• Company Events, Celebrations, and Team-Building Experiences.

Bottom Line

This role is responsible for growing people so they can grow the business. Through world-class training, leadership development, coaching, and operational excellence, the Director of Growth & Development will help create engaged teams, exceptional guest experiences, and the next generation of Pizza Patrón leaders.