Elevate: Leader in Training

Leadership Development Director

The Leadership Development Director is a two-year developmental leadership position designed for an individual who desires to pursue future leadership opportunities with Chick-fil-A, Inc., including Corporate Staff or becoming a Chick-fil-A Operator. This role provides hands-on experience leading a high-performing Chick-fil-A restaurant while developing the operational knowledge, business acumen, leadership capabilities, and people-development skills necessary for future leadership opportunities within the Chick-fil-A organization.

The individual will serve as a key member of the restaurant's senior leadership team and will be expected to take meaningful ownership of restaurant results while intentionally preparing for their next career step.

Primary Responsibilities

Restaurant Leadership & Operations

• Lead day-to-day restaurant operations and help ensure consistent execution of Chick-fil-A standards.

• Serve as a senior leader during high-volume and high-pressure periods.

• Develop a strong understanding of both Front of House and Back of House operations.

• Maintain high standards for food safety, food quality, cleanliness, speed, accuracy, and hospitality.

• Identify operational opportunities and implement sustainable systems and solutions.

• Lead through change while creating clarity and accountability for the team.

Business & Financial Stewardship

• Develop a strong understanding of restaurant financial performance and the factors that drive profitability.

• Learn to analyze and influence labor, food cost, productivity, sales, and other key restaurant metrics.

• Participate in budgeting, forecasting, goal setting, and business planning.

• Use restaurant data to identify trends, diagnose problems, and create action plans.

• Understand how daily operational decisions impact the overall financial health of the business.

Talent & Leadership Development

• Recruit, train, coach, and develop Team Members and leaders.

• Build leadership pipelines and succession plans for key restaurant positions.

• Conduct regular coaching conversations and provide clear, actionable feedback.

• Delegate meaningful ownership to developing leaders rather than simply completing tasks personally.

• Create an environment where Team Members feel known, valued, supported, and challenged to grow.

• Identify high-potential talent and create individualized development opportunities.

Customer Experience & Brand Growth

• Champion Chick-fil-A's commitment to remarkable hospitality.

• Analyze customer experience feedback and develop strategies to improve results.

• Help identify opportunities to grow sales and strengthen relationships within the community.

• Participate in marketing, catering, community engagement, and business-development initiatives.

• Protect the Chick-fil-A brand by ensuring decisions and behaviors consistently reflect its standards and values.

Two-Year Development Plan

Year One – Learn, Lead & Execute

The first year will focus on mastering restaurant operations and demonstrating the ability to consistently lead people and produce results. The leader will gain exposure to all major areas of the business, take ownership of key metrics and systems, develop other leaders, and learn how the Operator approaches restaurant strategy and decision-making.

Year Two – Own, Multiply & Prepare

The second year will shift toward higher-level ownership. The leader will oversee larger areas of the business, develop leaders who can operate independently, participate in strategic planning, solve complex business challenges, and complete projects that demonstrate readiness for leadership beyond the restaurant. During the second year, the Operator will also provide intentional mentorship regarding potential Chick-fil-A career pathways, including Corporate Staff, the Leadership Development Program, and the Operator selection process.

Development Opportunities

Throughout the two-year commitment, the leader should receive intentional exposure to:

• Restaurant financials and business planning

• Labor and food-cost management

• Talent selection and leadership development

• Customer experience strategy

• Sales and brand growth

• Marketing and community engagement

• Operational systems and process improvement

• Goal setting and performance management

• Strategic decision-making

• Operator-level leadership responsibilities

• Chick-fil-A Corporate Staff and Operator career pathways

Whenever possible, the individual will also have opportunities to network with Chick-fil-A Operators, Corporate Staff, and other leaders throughout the Chick-fil-A organization.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Has a long-term desire to pursue leadership within Chick-fil-A.

• Is interested in potentially becoming a Chick-fil-A Operator or Corporate Staff member.

• Demonstrates strong character, humility, initiative, and personal responsibility.

• Has a passion for developing people and building high-performing teams.

• Is comfortable receiving feedback and being challenged to grow.

• Can balance relationships with accountability and results.

• Demonstrates strong communication and problem-solving abilities.

• Is willing to learn every aspect of the restaurant business.

• Thinks beyond individual tasks and seeks to understand the entire business.

• Is willing to make a two-year commitment to the restaurant and development process.

Measures of Success

Success in this position will be evaluated through growth and results across Chick-fil-A's critical areas of the business, including Leadership, Talent, Customer Experience, Sales & Brand Growth, and Financial Stewardship. The ultimate goal is not simply for the individual to become an excellent restaurant leader. The goal is to develop a leader who can understand the business, develop other leaders, produce sustainable results, protect the Chick-fil-A brand, and be prepared to pursue their next leadership opportunity within Chick-fil-A.

Work Schedule

• 8 hour shift
• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• Weekend availability
• Holidays
• Overtime