A Director of Training and Development is responsible for managing all staff training and professional development programs for an employer or organization. Decides the training requirements of the organization and designs training programs that address staff needs. May also be partially responsible for determining the strategic goals of the organization. Supervises training managers and training staff and evaluates training impact.
Director of Franchise Operations, Training & Development Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen Location:
Houston, Texas /
Field-Based Job Type:
Full-Time Travel:
Extensive Domestic & International Travel Required Position Summary Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is seeking an experienced, highly motivated, hands-on Director of Franchise Operations, Training & Development to support the continued growth of our domestic and international franchise system. This is a senior-level, hands-on restaurant operations position — not a desk-only corporate role . The successful candidate must have extensive multi-unit restaurant and franchise experience and a proven track record of successfully opening 10 or more restaurant locations . This individual will be responsible for the complete operational support cycle of a Russo's franchise location — from reviewing plans, construction progress, kitchen equipment, product logistics and pre-opening readiness through hands-on franchisee training, restaurant opening, post-opening support, financial analysis and ongoing operational improvement. The Director will personally train franchise owners, managers and restaurant teams while also overseeing Russo's overall franchise training program. The position will also support franchise development by representing Russo's at franchise events, communicating with prospective franchisees and helping develop a qualified pipeline of domestic and international franchise prospects. The ideal candidate is someone who can move comfortably between reviewing architectural plans, inspecting a kitchen installation, training a pizza maker, analyzing a restaurant P&L, coaching a franchise owner and meeting with a prospective multi-unit franchise investor. Key ResponsibilitiesFranchise Training & Development Personally conduct hands-on training for new franchise owners, managers and restaurant employees. Oversee Russo's franchise training program for both new and existing franchisees. Train restaurant teams in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Demonstrate proper food preparation, pizza production, pasta preparation, cooking procedures, portioning, recipes, presentation and service standards. Train franchisees and managers on inventory, purchasing, scheduling, labor management, food cost, profitability and restaurant controls. Work directly beside employees in the kitchen and restaurant during training. Evaluate franchise owners and management teams to determine operational readiness before opening. Provide retraining and corrective training when franchise locations are not meeting company standards. Develop franchise managers, restaurant trainers and future operational leaders. Conduct ongoing franchisee education and operational coaching. New Restaurant Openings The candidate must have documented experience successfully opening at least 10 restaurant locations .
Responsibilities include:
Manage and support the operational side of new restaurant openings from development through opening. Develop detailed pre-opening and opening schedules. Coordinate franchisee and employee training. Assist franchisees with hiring and staffing plans. Establish opening inventory and product requirements. Coordinate initial food, packaging and supply orders. Verify restaurant readiness before training begins. Work on-site before, during and after restaurant openings. Lead restaurant teams through opening week. Troubleshoot operational problems immediately. Conduct post-opening operational evaluations. Develop corrective action plans when necessary. Provide follow-up support until the restaurant is operating consistently to Russo's standards. Construction & Development Oversight The Director must understand restaurant construction and be able to work effectively with franchisees, architects, general contractors, engineers, equipment vendors and other project partners.
Responsibilities include:
Review construction progress from an operational perspective. Read and interpret architectural plans, floor plans, kitchen plans, equipment layouts and construction drawings. Review restaurant layouts to ensure they meet Russo's operational requirements. Verify kitchen production flow, storage, preparation areas, service areas and equipment placement. Participate in construction meetings and pre-opening walkthroughs. Identify construction or operational deficiencies before opening. Compare actual construction against approved plans and Russo's specifications. Monitor construction milestones that may affect restaurant training or opening dates. Coordinate with franchisees and contractors to resolve deficiencies. Verify that critical construction items are completed prior to employee training. Provide regular opening-readiness updates to corporate leadership. Help maintain project opening schedules and communicate delays or potential problems. Kitchen Equipment & Installation The Director must have experience reviewing and overseeing commercial restaurant kitchen equipment packages and installations.
Responsibilities include:
Review kitchen equipment specifications for new locations. Verify equipment meets Russo's approved specifications. Review equipment placement against approved kitchen plans. Coordinate equipment delivery and installation schedules. Work with equipment vendors, contractors, installers and franchisees. Inspect kitchen equipment installations. Identify incorrect, damaged, missing or improperly installed equipment. Verify that equipment is installed in the proper location. Confirm equipment is operational before restaurant training begins. Coordinate corrections when installation does not meet approved plans or Russo's requirements. Verify operational readiness of ovens, refrigeration, freezers, prep tables, cooking equipment, sinks, dishwashing equipment, shelving and other restaurant equipment. Evaluate whether kitchen layouts provide proper workflow, production efficiency and food safety. Product Logistics, Supply Chain & Vendor Coordination The Director must have experience establishing product logistics for new restaurant locations.
Responsibilities include:
Coordinate food, packaging, smallwares and operating supplies required for restaurant openings. Work with approved distributors, manufacturers and vendors. Establish initial restaurant product orders. Coordinate delivery schedules based on construction and opening timelines. Verify availability of Russo's approved products. Ensure franchisees are purchasing approved ingredients and products. Establish appropriate opening inventory and par levels. Monitor vendor performance, lead times and product availability. Identify potential product shortages before they affect restaurant operations. Help develop approved alternative sourcing solutions when necessary. Assist with domestic and international product sourcing and logistics. Coordinate with international franchise partners regarding approved products and local sourcing. Help maintain Russo's product quality and consistency across all markets. Franchise Operations Support Serve as a primary operational resource for Russo's franchise owners. Conduct scheduled and unscheduled franchise restaurant visits as appropriate. Provide hands-on support to restaurants experiencing operational challenges. Conduct detailed operational audits. Review restaurant execution against Russo's standards. Evaluate food quality, recipe compliance, portioning, presentation and consistency. Review speed of service, hospitality, cleanliness and food safety. Evaluate restaurant management performance. Review staffing and training levels. Identify operational deficiencies and develop corrective action plans. Establish measurable deadlines for improvement. Follow up with franchisees to ensure corrective actions are completed. Coach franchise owners and managers on improving restaurant performance. Support underperforming franchise locations. Help maintain consistency throughout the Russo's franchise system. Financial Analysis & Restaurant Performance The Director must possess strong financial and analytical skills and be able to read and understand restaurant financial statements.
The position will regularly review:
Profit & Loss statements Weekly and monthly restaurant sales Comparable-store sales Cost of Goods Sold Food cost percentages Labor cost Prime cost Gross profit Inventory Purchasing Product usage Waste Discounts Voids Comps and refunds Average guest check Product mix Delivery sales Online ordering Catering sales Restaurant profitability Guest satisfaction and online reviews The Director will identify financial and operational variances and work with franchise owners to improve restaurant performance. Cost of Goods & Profitability The Director will help franchisees control Cost of Goods Sold and improve profitability by: Reviewing food cost percentages. Comparing theoretical versus actual food cost. Reviewing vendor invoices and product pricing. Verifying approved products and purchasing procedures. Reviewing inventory counts and inventory controls. Identifying excessive waste. Identifying over-portioning. Reviewing recipe yields. Verifying recipe and portion compliance. Identifying unusual cost variances. Reviewing product mix and margins. Developing actionable plans to reduce unnecessary costs while protecting Russo's food quality and brand standards. Sales Building & Local Store Marketing The Director will work with franchise owners to identify opportunities to increase restaurant sales.
Responsibilities include:
Analyze restaurant sales trends. Develop sales improvement plans. Identify local-store marketing opportunities. Help grow catering sales. Develop community outreach opportunities. Identify opportunities to grow lunch, dinner, delivery, takeout and online ordering. Evaluate local competition. Support promotional and menu initiatives. Help franchisees improve average guest check and frequency. Develop strategies for underperforming locations. Training Manuals, SOPs & Operational Systems The Director will be responsible for continuously developing and improving Russo's operational and training systems. This includes writing, updating and implementing: Franchise operations manuals Training manuals Standard Operating Procedures Recipe procedures Kitchen training guides Front-of-house training guides Management training programs Employee training programs New-store opening manuals Opening and closing procedures Restaurant audit programs Food safety procedures Quality-control standards Operational checklists Franchisee onboarding materials Equipment operating procedures Training presentations Training videos and supporting materials The candidate must be able to take operational knowledge and turn it into clear, simple and repeatable systems that can be implemented consistently across multiple restaurants and international markets. Franchise Development & Prospect Pipeline The Director will also support the continued growth of Russo's franchise system.
Responsibilities include:
Help build a qualified pipeline of domestic and international franchise prospects. Represent Russo's at franchise expos, trade shows, conferences and industry events. Participate in Discovery Days and franchise presentations. Meet and communicate with prospective franchisees. Help educate prospective franchisees about Russo's restaurant operations, training and support systems. Help identify qualified single-unit and multi-unit franchise candidates. Support area development and international franchise opportunities. Build relationships with qualified franchise prospects. Follow up with prospective franchisees. Work with corporate leadership and franchise development partners to move qualified prospects through the approved franchise development process. Support franchise development activities in compliance with applicable franchise sales requirements and company procedures. International Franchise Operations This position will provide operational and development support to Russo's international franchise partners.
Responsibilities include:
Travel internationally for restaurant openings, training and franchise support. Train international franchise owners and their management teams. Support international new-store openings. Review international restaurant operations. Maintain Russo's recipes, product quality, service and brand standards. Assist with international equipment and product sourcing. Help establish operating systems appropriate for each market while protecting Russo's core brand standards. Build strong working relationships with international franchise partners. Support international multi-unit development and expansion. Required Experience & Qualifications Candidates should have: 7-10+ years of progressive restaurant operations experience. 5+ years of multi-unit restaurant leadership and/or franchise operations experience preferred. Documented experience successfully opening at least 10 restaurant locations. Proven hands-on restaurant opening experience from construction through post-opening operations. Experience training restaurant franchisees, managers and employees. Strong front-of-house and back-of-house operational experience. Commercial kitchen and restaurant equipment knowledge. Experience overseeing kitchen equipment installation. Experience reading architectural plans, floor plans and kitchen equipment plans. Restaurant construction and development experience. Product logistics and supply-chain experience. Vendor and distributor management experience. Strong restaurant P&L knowledge. Strong Cost of Goods Sold knowledge. Strong understanding of food cost and labor management. Inventory and purchasing experience. Experience developing restaurant budgets and performance plans. Experience improving underperforming restaurants. Experience writing restaurant training manuals and SOPs. Experience conducting restaurant operational audits. Strong leadership and coaching ability. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Strong computer and restaurant technology skills. Experience with POS, scheduling, inventory and restaurant reporting systems. Franchise development or franchise sales experience strongly preferred. International restaurant or franchise experience preferred. Experience working with multi-unit franchise groups is a plus. Language Requirements Strong written and verbal English communication skills required. Bilingual English/Spanish is strongly preferred. Additional language skills are a plus, particularly for supporting international franchise partners. Travel Requirements This position requires extensive domestic and international travel .
The successful candidate must:
Be available to travel throughout the United States. Be willing and able to travel internationally. Possess or be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport. Be available for extended travel during new restaurant openings. Be able to travel on short notice when operational support is required. Attend franchise expos, Discovery Days, training sessions and company meetings. Maintain a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays when required by restaurant openings or operational needs. Physical Requirements This is a hands-on restaurant operations and training position. With or without reasonable accommodation, the employee must be able to: Stand and walk for extended periods, including shifts of up to approximately 10-12 hours during training and restaurant openings. Lift, carry, push or move items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds . Frequently bend, kneel, crouch, reach, twist and move throughout restaurant and kitchen areas. Work on their feet for extended periods. Work safely around commercial ovens, cooking equipment, refrigeration and other restaurant equipment. Demonstrate food preparation and restaurant operating procedures. Work directly alongside restaurant teams when training or operational support is required. Leadership Expectations The Director of Franchise Operations, Training & Development must be a leader who can: Lead by example. Roll up their sleeves and work directly with restaurant teams. Train employees while holding them accountable to Russo's standards. Build strong relationships with franchise owners. Communicate difficult issues professionally. Identify problems and provide practical solutions. Develop managers and franchise owners. Manage multiple projects and restaurant openings simultaneously. Make decisions in fast-paced restaurant environments. Protect Russo's recipes, systems, quality standards and brand reputation. Communicate clearly with franchisees, vendors, contractors, architects, investors and senior leadership. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is equally comfortable: Reviewing an architectural plan. Walking a construction site. Inspecting kitchen equipment installation. Coordinating food and product logistics. Opening a restaurant. Training a pizza maker or line cook. Training a general manager. Coaching a franchise owner. Writing an SOP. Reviewing a restaurant P&L. Analyzing Cost of Goods Sold. Identifying excessive food or labor costs. Developing a corrective action plan. Supporting an underperforming franchise. Meeting with an international franchise partner. Representing Russo's at a franchise show. Speaking with a prospective multi-unit franchisee. We are looking for a proven hands-on restaurant operator and leader — not someone who only manages restaurants from behind a desk. Key Performance Indicators Performance will be measured based on: Successful and on-time restaurant openings. New restaurant operational readiness. Franchisee and management training completion. Franchise compliance with Russo's standards. Restaurant audit performance. Food quality and consistency. Food cost performance. Labor cost performance. Cost of Goods Sold. Restaurant sales growth. Improvement of underperforming locations. Franchisee engagement and support. Development of managers and franchise operators. Completion and implementation of training manuals and SOPs. Successful domestic and international operational support. Growth and quality of the franchise prospect pipeline. Overall improvement and growth of the Russo's franchise system. About Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen Russo's New York Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is an established restaurant franchise built around authentic New York-style pizza, traditional Italian recipes, fresh ingredients, scratch-made food and a commitment to quality. As Russo's continues to grow throughout the United States and international markets, we are looking for an experienced restaurant professional who can help franchise partners successfully develop, open, operate and grow profitable restaurants while protecting the quality, standards and reputation of the Russo's brand.
Position:
Director of Franchise Operations, Training & Development Job Type:
Full-Time Base Location:
Houston, Texas Travel:
Extensive Domestic & International Restaurant Operations Experience:
