Sr. Manager, Franchise Development

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone’s favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,500+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We’re not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we’re also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world:
Yum! Brands.

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn’t been done before, we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries. We’re a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we’re  fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences.

We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más. At Taco Bell, we’re Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below.

We are looking for a member of the Franchise Development team, responsible for driving the growth of the brand by identifying, attracting, and securing high-quality franchise partners. You will be part of a team that supports a key pillar of the Franchising system – franchise recruiting. This role leads strategic recruiting initiatives, manages the full franchise sales lifecycle, and serves as a key steward of the brand’s expansion strategy across priority markets.

This position is ideal for individuals with high accountability, strong analytical skills, great communication style, a partnership mentality, and comfort turning facts into recommendations. The individual must be able to influence cross‑functional business partners and effectively provide the Franchising point‑of‑view on complex business issues to senior management, team members, and franchisees/licensees.

• Design and implement franchise recruiting strategies to achieve and deliver quantified business objectives with measurable growth.
• Lead the full franchise recruiting lifecycle from sourcing and initial engagement through qualification, interview, and onboarding process into the Taco Bell system.
• Establish and maintain relationships with national/local lenders, financial consultants, associations and organizations that may be sources of highly qualified candidates for current and future expansion.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified franchise prospects, including multi‑unit operators to support near and long‑term goals.
• Evaluate financial capability, operational experience, cultural alignment, & market fit for potential candidates.
• Spearhead the end‑to‑end franchise sales process, from lead qualification through agreement execution.
• Serve as a strategic Partner to the Taco Bell Development team to prioritize targeted areas for new franchisees and effectively develop strategies for those areas.

• BS/BA required; MBA preferred (Finance, Marketing, Accounting, Sales, Real Estate, or HR/Recruiting)
• 8+ years of experience in executive‑level research/screening, finance, recruiting, and/or relationship management; multi‑unit franchise/QSR experience a plus
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, communicate, and negotiate effectively with sophisticated operators and investors
• Deep understanding of the QSR franchise business model, multi‑unit economics, and franchise financials, including financial statements and legal documents
• Proven ability to identify talent, navigate ambiguity, and build strong relationships with franchisees, developers, brokers, and lenders
• Highly organized, self‑directed, and proficient in PC tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint);
• Able to travel domestically up to 30%

• Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year‑round flex day Friday
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building)
• Onsite dry cleaning,…