Job Title: Franchise Training Manager
Remote (Travel up to 75%)
The Franchise Training Manager plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, brand consistency, and successful change adoption across Panera’s franchise network. This individual is responsible for managing end-to-end training for Food Service Operators (FSOs) and Certified Managers, ensuring compliance with the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), and supporting initiative testing to influence adoption in the field.
The role requires strong project management skills, the ability to multitask across multiple priorities, and experience in franchise operations is preferred. The Franchise Training Manager will partner closely with franchise leaders and Panera LLC teams to support certified training environments, uphold brand standards, and deliver scalable training solutions that meet business needs while guiding smooth transitions during operational changes.
Key Responsibilities
Certified Manager Development
- Design and manage structured training schedules for FSO Certified Managers from onboarding through certification.
- Conduct learning check-ins and monitor progress to ensure compliance with FDD requirements.
- Partner with franchise leaders to support certified training environments and reinforce Panera brand standards.
Initiative Testing & Change Adoption
- Serve as a testing partner for new training programs and operational initiatives.
- Pilot programs with small groups, gather feedback, and iterate for national rollout.
- Develop and execute strategies to drive adoption at the café level through clear communication, engagement, and change management principles.
- Identify barriers to adoption and provide solutions that support franchise teams in navigating transitions effectively.
Stakeholder Collaboration
- Build strong relationships with franchise Learning Leaders, Directors of Operations, and Panera LLC teams.
- Influence key stakeholders through data-driven insights and effective communication.
- Act as a liaison between Panera LLC and franchise partners to align training priorities with business objectives.
Industry-Standard Accountabilities
- Ensure all training programs comply with franchise agreements and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain accurate documentation of training schedules, completion records, and compliance metrics.
- Monitor and report on training effectiveness using KPIs such as certification rates, adoption metrics, and feedback scores.
- Continuously improve training content based on adult learning principles and operational best practices.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Hospitality, Education, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 5+ years of experience in training, learning development, or franchise operations.
- Strong project management and multitasking skills; ability to manage multiple priorities under tight timelines.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Proficiency in LMS platforms and digital learning tools.
- Ability to travel up to 75% based on project scope.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in food service or hospitality industry.
- Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design.
- Analytical skills for evaluating training effectiveness and adoption metrics.
Competitive Pay $71,101 to $99,541 annually.
The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.
Saint Louis Support CenterTop Skills
What We Do
Panera began in 1987 as St. Louis Bread Company, a humble community bakery founded with a sourdough starter from San Francisco and a dream of putting a loaf of bread in every arm. While our business has expanded well beyond St. Louis since then, that same sourdough starter is still used in our iconic sourdough bread and the craft of baking bread fresh each day remains at the heart of Panera Bread. Each day, our trained bakers fill our bakery shelves with delicious freshly baked cookies, pastries, bagels, and a range of breads from focaccia to classic baguettes.
We believe in serving delicious, freshly prepared, clean food made with carefully selected ingredients that we are proud to serve our own families. Our menu, crafted by chefs and bakers, features classic, comforting dishes, each with an intriguing twist.
We respect our planet and take measures to lessen our impacts. We believe in treating people with warmth, kindness, and respect, whether it’s a guest in our cafe or one of our associates. And we believe in helping our local communities, especially in times of need.
We’re also focused on improving quality and convenience. With investments in technology and operations, we offer omni-channel access to your Panera favorites – like mobile ordering, catering, and Rapid Pick-Up® for to-go orders, Curbside pick-up and delivery – all designed to make things easier for our guests.
Today, Panera operates as both Panera Bread® or Saint Louis Bread Co St. Louis Bread Company in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Canada.
Panera Bread is privately held by JAB Holding Company. Panera Bread is part of Panera Brands, one of the largest fast-casual restaurant platforms in the U.S., comprised of Panera Bread®, Caribou Coffee® and Einstein Bros.® Bagels.
