WHAT IS KIDSTRONG?
KidStrong is a fast-growing child development program with centers located across the US, as well as an online platform. Our milestone-accelerator program for kids walking through 11 years old. We help parents discover their child’s superpowers and build future-ready kids who are confident making friends, run the playground, and raise their hand high in the classroom. In other words…kids who will win at life.
Our science-based curriculum is taught by professional coaches and focuses on developing character, physical and brain superpowers in each child. Culture is everything at KidStrong, and our people want to work with great people; want personal and professional growth; and want to make an impact.
OPEN ROLE: The VP of Franchise Operations reports directly to the COO. This is a hybrid position that will be permanently based out of our Frisco HQ, and will thus require a permanent local presence (i.e., must live in DFW area - not commute outside of DFW and commute from distant residence). This role adds value in a broad range of activities that directly contribute to the success of the brand. The position leads the team responsible for opening new franchise units and ensuring ongoing, sustainable success for franchise units across KidStrong Nation.

The Franchise Operations Team drives franchise partner engagement, profitability, satisfaction, and growth. The VP of Franchise Operations oversees new store opening, training and education, franchise partner field support, help desk and communication, brand protection and alignment, events and collaboration as well as vendor partner management.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Leadership

• Provide servant leadership for our franchise partners as they develop and acclimate to the business model to support and deliver initiatives that serve our strategic plan and performance objectives.
• Establish critical success factors, goals, and systematic KPIs to enable monitoring of new center opening and post open franchise partner health via scorecards and structured team meetings. Guide decisions, encourage engagement, provide support and maintain accountability, urgency and effectiveness.
• Lead goal setting and progress updates for direct reports.
• Lead and influence across multiple levels throughout the franchisor organization and with area developers/franchise partners all the while fostering a collaborative, cohesive team environment.
• Create an environment that encourages creative problem solving, critical thinking and innovative idea sharing.
• Provide leaders and stakeholders with regular status updates, feedback and appropriate reporting on key initiatives and objectives.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Operating Officer to maintain and guide implementation of policies, procedures and tests developed by the operations and development teams.
• Create relevant training documentation and conduct ongoing training for staff.
• Participate in annual conventions, seminars or business meetings, and attend franchise grand openings as directed.

Franchise Partner Business Support

• Support our Franchise Partners by providing strategic leadership, direction and accountability to a team of trainers, franchise business consultants and support staff. Source, interview, hire, coach and develop the franchise operations support team while cultivating a culture of accountability and high performance under our company values.
• Assess and determine franchise performance gaps, opportunities and operational needs across the system and develop initiatives and drive them to completion accordingly.
• Translate the overall business strategy into day-to-day execution, providing coaching and feedback to both franchisees and direct reports who support our franchisees.
• Oversee franchisee success strategies that create operational efficiencies and EBITDA growth.
• Develop and follow through on strategic action plans to deliver against brand and unit level performance objectives.
• Ensure system-wide uniformity, adoption and adaptation of operational standards and procedures and develop programs to monitor performance against standards.
• Develop, implement and maintain tools to better gauge success of franchisees including scorecards and performance dashboards.
• Provide related recommendations, training, follow-up and general assistance to franchisees.

REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:This role requires advanced business operations skills in a service-related industry as well demonstrated leadership of high performing teams. A successful leader will leverage significant experience in franchise operations, business planning and implementation as well as change management to drive impactful initiatives on time and budget to deliver the strategic objectives of the organization.

• Franchise experience is a must-have
• 7+ years experience leading a team responsible for large-scale service operations (especially unit level mgmt)
• Ability to influence without authority; servant leadership mentality
• Excellent collaboration, leadership, communication, and decision-making skills; ability to balance strategy and execution of various change activities
• Must be comfortable and effective in influencing stakeholders at all levels in the organization
• Creative, out of the box thinking/problem solving
• Ability to build authentic working relationships externally (franchisees) and internally (colleagues)
• This position requires travel throughout the year with overnight stays
• Aggressive self-starter and a strong team player who is flexible with a positive “can do” attitude
• Persuasive communicator
• Demonstrated ability to function independently, multi-task and realign priorities as needed
• Entrepreneurial spirited, self-starter who is highly motivated
• Demonstrated ability to work calmly in a fast-paced environment while effectively managing multiple opportunities
• Ability to remain highly flexible and adapt to changes during times of high growth

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position manages the large Operations Team. Management, mentoring, communication and interpersonal skills are critical for this role.

Sphere of Interaction

• This position will work closely with KidStrong Developers , Operations, Marketing and various members of the HQ team on a day-to-day basis.

Operations & KidStrong DNA / Competencies

• To perform this role successfully, a person must demonstrate the following areas:
  • Data Driven - Keen use of intellect to understand and use metric to produce actions and results. Successfully convey facts, data, and information to ADs and internal teams. Remain curious and ask the right questions with a critical spirit and the conviction that data is vital for better understanding, evaluating, and deciding, impacting the surrounding environment. Decisiveness with logic and data at the foundation of decision making.
  • Brave - Willing to say hard things for the right reasons. Puts success of the ADs and KidStrong team above personal comfort zone.
  • Brand Focused - Loyal to KidStrong brand and formula for success. Understands and committed to the KidStrong way. Represents KidStrong and requires ADs and all team members to uphold KidStrong standards and represent KidStrong to the highest quality.
  • Strategic - Strategic thinking, analytical reasoning, and decision making, executive presence, creative problem solving, and emotional intelligence are all required for this role. Equipped to align people and goals. Capability to build the assessment, planning, and execution phases of Center management and development.
  • Goal Oriented - Always focused on the end, collaborative goal. Leads by example and shepherds a team to arrive at agreed upon goals.
  • Excellent Communicator - Strong ability to influence, organize and communicate (speaking, written, presentation) across all levels of the organization. Above average communication skills including a high IQ and EQ communication style.
  • Passion - Stays focused on the KidStrong Goals. Goal oriented and high performing.
  • Coachable - Establishes and holds high standards
  • Community Builder - Clear, concise, communication. Approachable, with a genuine desire to support growth and success within the KidStrong community.
  • Professional - Commitment to strong communication and integrity. A leader and expert in your role, or a commitment to becoming one.
  • Great Teammate - Consistent and honest feedback and commitment to KidStrong.
  • Natural Leader - High EQ, strong relationship building, diplomacy, urgency, all with a collaborative approach are critical in this role. Upholds KidStrong Values; creates vision for others.

Flexible work from home options available.

This franchise is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of this franchisee. All inquiries about employment at this franchisee should be made directly to the franchise location, and not to KidStrong Corporate.