New Restaurant Opening Planning Manager

Company Description

At Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers® we serve only the best tasting and most craveable chicken finger meals. It’s our ONE LOVE®. Our Crew make it happen, our Culture makes it unique and the Community makes it all worthwhile.   

Every talented Crewmember in our Restaurant Support Office (RSO) is important to our success and a value to our rapidly growing Company. We all work with a sense of purpose and focus on our chicken finger meals, Customers, Crew, Communities and Company Culture. We are constantly striving to Raise The Bar. The future for Raising Cane’s is growth focused and we’re on the path to being one of the top 10 restaurant companies in the United States.    

Job Description

The Growth Planning Manager develops strategic plans and processes to support the company’s overall growth plan, with a primary focus on New Restaurant Openings (NRO) and new market entries. This role is responsible for developing efficient deployment schedules to maximize capacity and reduce costs, creates efficiencies for the Growth Field Team to allow an execution focus. The Growth Planning Manager owns all relative interdepartmental relationships, communication in relation to growth both internally and externally, and works cross-functionally to maximize support to their function.

Your Impact and Responsibilities:

• Manages, develops and supports the NRO team Coordinators and Specialists to support the company’s growth plan including setting performance and team expectations
• Manages NRO tools and schedules for the optimization of growth resources
• Enhances, updates and maintains all resources, reference aids and other materials related to growth
• Provides ongoing analysis and recommendations to maximize efficiency, reduce cost and achieve optimal opening plans
• Identifies gaps in current processes and formulates plans by updating and developing processes to drive positive change and ensure scalability
• Analyzes needs of the field team to develop, modify and improve existing programs
• Serves as a liaison between the field team and all departments in relation to growth activities
• Owns all communication internally and externally as it relates to growth
• Drives growth team adherence to company policies
• Conducts post opening evaluations to make informed decisions on how to improve future opening plans
• Identifies growth team training needs and recommends innovative solutions to address performance gaps
• Works cross-functionally to drive growth initiatives and support successful openings
• Utilizes project management system to track all growth-related information and documents and continues to evolve designated project management system
• Provides detailed reporting on turnover and opening schedule, date changes, trainer roster, costs related to openings, etc.
• Recommends trainer staffing and placement to support optimal growth plan
• Provides strategic plans and recommendations for non-NRO deployment with specific goals
• Analyzes the ROI for trainer deployments specific to both new and existing restaurants
• Forecasts demand and proactively determines strategic logistical support sequences and timing for NRO team support and company initiatives
• Owns updating and dissemination of all schedules, cadence meetings, process improvements and team updates including company pipeline reports and company alignment reports
• Works with internal partners and external vendors on order guide updates and procurement of materials necessary for successful openings
• Facilitates the process for identifying, recruiting and selecting Certified NRO Trainers, alongside Regional Leaders of Growth
• Determines strategic logistical support sequences and timing for field support and initiatives roll outs
• Administers performance data used in the measurement and maintenance of scorecard standards and weekly updates
• Submits accurate performance bonuses for field NRO Teams

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working with a multi-unit, service company; restaurant or retail preferred
• 2+ years of professional level experience in human resources, training or professional environment
• Advanced time management, project management and problem-solving skills and the ability to lead teams and resolve problems effectively
• Expertise in a variety of technology systems including Microsoft Office and QuickBase
• Thorough understanding budgets and the ability to drive cost efficiencies
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with the capacity to quickly pivot
• Able to handle highly confidential information and maintain strict confidentiality in a time-sensitive manner
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able