Dir-Int'l Development-EMEA

CKE Restaurants, Inc.; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 661,000 - 1,102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Performance-based bonus

Job summary

CKE Restaurants, Inc. seeks a senior leader to drive international franchise expansion, overseeing multi-market strategies across Europe and India, with Middle East involvement. The role requires strong negotiation, partnership development, and a strategic, growth-focused mindset.

The candidate will collaborate with marketing, operations, finance, legal, supply chain, and quality assurance to ensure successful market entry and performance, with flexible location in Europe or Dubai.

Qualifications

• Proven track record leading multi-unit expansion in franchise-heavy environments.
• Experience in international franchise development, preferably QSR or retail.
• Strong negotiation and deal-structuring capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with strong commercial and financial insight.
• Entrepreneurial, fast-paced, growth-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead franchise development and new market entry across Europe, prioritizing UK, France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands; spearhead similar efforts for India.
• Support Middle East expansion; manage and grow existing pipeline and secure future growth commitments.
• Identify and secure high-quality franchise partners aligned with brand objectives.
• Lead complex negotiations and development agreements from initial engagement to execution.

Skills

Multi-unit expansion

Franchise development

Negotiation skills

Commercial acumen

Entrepreneurial mindset

Travel willingness

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Lead franchise development and new market entry across Europe, with priority markets including the UK, France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands; spearhead the same for India.
• Support and contribute to franchise expansion initiatives across the Middle East; manage and grow existing pipeline and secure future growth commitments.
• Identify, assess, and secure high-quality franchise partners aligned with long-term brand and commercial objectives.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and development agreements from initial engagement through to execution.
• Build and maintain a strong international network of investors, franchise partners, and strategic stakeholders.
• Conduct market assessments, white space analysis, and partner evaluations to support scalable and sustainable growth.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams across marketing, operations, finance, legal, supply chain, and quality assurance to ensure successful market entry and franchise performance.
• Provide regular market insight, commercial analysis, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Act as a senior representative of the business in external partner and investor engagements.
• Provide value-added advice and influence to enable the growth agendas of existing partners; secure, negotiate, and execute strong development agreements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES

• Proven experience in multi-unit expansion is essential.
• Strong background in franchise development within QSR is highly preferred.
• Candidates with experience in multi-unit retail or commercial real estate development will also be considered.
• Demonstrated success in international new market entry, particularly across Europe.
• Exposure to the Middle East and/or India markets is advantageous.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to operate confidently at senior stakeholder and investor level.
• High level of commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to assess deal viability and partner capability.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating in a lean, fast-paced, and growth-oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Europe, the Middle East, and India.
• Senior leadership position with significant ownership and influence over international growth.
• Direct exposure to executive leadership and private equity stakeholders.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary and performance-based bonus.
• Flexible location, with the option to be based in Europe or Dubai.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Satellite office, if available, Home office, field work (restaurants)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sitting for extended periods of time, using telephone, typing and/or operating a computer and/or mouse
• Travels as needed Internationally, approximately twenty-five (45)%

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

May perform any or all of the following duties:

• Lead franchise development and new market entry across Europe, with priority markets including the UK, France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands; spearhead the same for India.
• Support and contribute to franchise expansion initiatives across the Middle East; manage and grow existing pipeline and secure future growth commitments.
• Identify, assess, and secure high-quality franchise partners aligned with long-term brand and commercial objectives.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and development agreements from initial engagement through to execution.
• Build and maintain a strong international network of investors, franchise partners, and strategic stakeholders.
• Conduct market assessments, white space analysis, and partner evaluations to support scalable and sustainable growth.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams across marketing, operations, finance, legal, supply chain, and quality assurance to ensure successful market entry and franchise performance.
• Provide regular market insight, commercial analysis, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Act as a senior representative of the business in external partner and investor engagements.
• Provide value-added advice and influence to enable the growth agendas of existing partners; secure, negotiate, and execute strong development agreements

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS/CORE COMPETENCIES

• Proven experience in multi-unit expansion is essential.
• Strong background in franchise development within QSR is highly preferred.
• Candidates with experience in multi-unit retail or commercial real estate development will also be considered.
• Demonstrated success in international new market entry, particularly across Europe.
• Exposure to the Middle East and/or India markets is advantageous.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to operate confidently at senior stakeholder and investor level.
• High level of commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to assess deal viability and partner capability.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, comfortable operating in a lean, fast-paced, and growth-oriented environment.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Europe, the Middle East, and India.
• Senior leadership position with significant ownership and influence over international growth.
• Direct exposure to executive leadership and private equity stakeholders.
• Clear progression roadmap into a Chief Development Officer - International role.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary and performance-based bonus.
• Flexible location, with the option to be based in Europe or Dubai.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Satellite office, if available, Home office, field work (restaurants)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sitting for extended periods of time, using telephone, typing and/or operating a computer and/or mouse
• Travels as needed Internationally, approximately twenty-five (45)%

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.