Sr. Manager, Franchise Development

Job Summary

The Senior Manager, Franchise Development is responsible for driving the expansion and growth of the Circle K franchise network by strategic lead generation for the supervised area assigned, recruiting new franchisees, managing the sales process to contract signing, conducting market analysis, and supporting new franchise partners through the onboarding and launch phase identification, qualification, and onboarding of new franchisees. This role manages the full franchise sales process and also plays a key support role for Franchise Development Managers (FDMs), offering guidance, mentorship, and strategic input to help meet their development targets and ensure alignment with company objectives.

• Identify and qualify new franchise opportunities through proactive lead generation, referrals, and trade show participation.
• Guide prospective franchisees through the entire development process, including Discovery Day, application reviews, business planning, and final approvals.
• Collaborate with shared service teams to vet and qualify proposed sites, including due diligence and financial feasibility.
• Present and negotiate franchise agreements and development commitments in coordination with legal and executive stakeholders.
• Supervise and lead the onboarding experience for new franchisees and act as a liaison between the Prospect and internal departments during the development process.
• Serve as a resource and strategic partner to Franchise Development Managers (FDMs), providing support with deal structuring, pipeline prioritization, and navigating complex franchise opportunities.
• Support the sharing of best practices, help troubleshoot challenges, and coordinate development strategies across regions.
• Review FDM pipeline activity to ensure consistency with broader franchise growth plans and provide additional input when needed.
• Drive individual performance toward key result areas (KRAs), including executed franchise agreements, volume commitments, and development timelines.
• Maintain accurate and updated records of lead status, agreements, and project timelines using CRM tools (e.g., Fran Connect).
• Support and supervise multiple COOP divisions as a shared partner for the Full Franchise initiative.
• Create, build, and communicate project financials through proforma management.
• Represent Circle K at key industry events and regional meetings to promote the franchise offering and expand the brand footprint.
• Oversee and supervise multiple COOP Divisions as a shared service partner advancing the Full Franchise program.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Real Estate, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in franchise development, commercial real estate, or business development.
• Strong interpersonal and consultative skills; able to influence without formal authority.
• Proven track record of managing multiple complex projects across regions.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, and financial modeling tools.
• Proven ability to juggle multiple account management projects at a time, while maintaining sharp attention to detail.
• Demonstrable ability to communicate, present, and influence key stakeholders at all levels of the organization, including executive leaders.
• Franchise experience is an asset in this role.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support in‑person meetings, site visits, and trade shows.

• Experience in the fuel and convenience retail industry.
• Knowledge of Circle K’s franchise operating model and brand standards.
• Background in site development or construction management is a plus.

• Excellent cross‑functional experience working with customer service and product development to improve the entire customer experience.
• Thrives on challenge; views change as an opportunity to grow.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross‑functionally.
• Anticipates outcomes based on experience; makes calculated decisions to maximize sales.
• Strategic thinker who balances short‑term action with long‑term growth.
• Thinks out‑of‑the‑box and challenges the status quo; consistently seeks to identify how things could be improved.
• Identifies…