Description:
ABOUT US
Starbird Chicken is redefining fast casual dining with fresh, craveable food and a welcoming, community-driven environment. Weโre built on bold flavor, genuine hospitality, innovation, and operational excellence. As we enter our next stage of national growth, franchising and real estate development will be central to scaling the brand.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Vice President, Franchise & Development is a senior leader and key partner to the CEO, responsible for driving Starbirdโs national growth across both corporate and franchise restaurants. This executive owns the full development strategyโexpanding market presence, increasing brand penetration, and building long-term revenue. We are looking for a visionary, execution-focused leader who can create repeatable, franchise-ready systems and build a disciplined development engine for a national brand.
WHAT YOUโLL LOVE ABOUT STARBIRD
โข Influence the growth of a high-potential national restaurant brand
โข A culture of innovation across menu, technology, and guest experience
โข Entrepreneurial, collaborative leadership environment
โข A people-first culture grounded in hospitality
โข Opportunity to shape market expansion and franchise growth
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Franchise Growth & Development
โข Lead national franchise strategy and market expansion
โข Build and manage pipeline, territory plans, and growth forecasting
โข Partner with the CEO and executive team on development priorities and investments
โข Create scalable systems, reporting, and infrastructure
โข Own franchise, real estate, and corporate development budgets
Franchise Recruitment & Relationships
โข Build relationships with sophisticated multi-unit operators and developers
โข Lead franchise recruitment, networking, and lead generation
โข Represent Starbird at industry events
โข Evaluate candidates for operational, financial, and cultural fit
โข Lead discovery, presentations, and approval processes
โข Serve as primary executive contact through the development lifecycle
Real Estate & Market Development
โข Lead real estate strategy, market prioritization, and site approvals
โข Partner with franchisees, brokers, and landlords to secure strong locations
โข Support site selection, LOIs, lease review, and development timelines
โข Collaborate with Construction, Design, and Operations on openings
โข Establish scalable development standards and market criteria
Franchise Development & Compliance
โข Oversee development from agreements through openings
โข Ensure franchisees meet development schedules and commitments
โข Manage accurate reporting on deals, pipeline, and market growth
โข Oversee FDD updates, agreements, and regulatory compliance with legal
โข Support renewals, transfers, restructures, and terminations
โข Build systems and tools to support long-term franchise expansion
Requirements:
WHAT WEโRE LOOKING FOR
โข Bachelorโs degree required; MBA preferred
โข 10โ12+ years of executive leadership in restaurant, food & beverage, or multi-unit consumer brands
โข Proven experience scaling brands across corporate and franchise systems
โข Strong relationship builder with a track record of influencing franchise partners
โข Expertise in franchise recruitment, territory planning, and restaurant real estate
โข Strong financial acumen, negotiation skills, and data-driven decision-making
โข High integrity and professionalism
โข Experience building scalable franchise infrastructure and systems
โข Strong understanding of franchise agreements, FDDs, and regulatory requirements
โข Deep knowledge of restaurant unit economics and development ROI