National Director (Franchise)

BNI Global; Milano; On-site; EUR 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

BNI Global in Milano is seeking a National Director to lead country-level growth, optimize operations, and ensure brand execution across franchised regions. You will connect global strategy with local delivery, recruit and support franchisees, manage the P&L, and deliver a well‑received national conference.

The role requires 10+ years in franchise leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a readiness to travel 30-40%.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive franchise leadership experience.
• Experience leading senior managers or geographically distributed teams.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Willingness to travel 30-40%.

Responsibilities

• Identify growth opportunities for Membership expansion across franchised regions.
• Drive national expansion, brand positioning, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Own P&L for franchised regions and oversee budgeting and forecasting.
• Plan, execute, and evaluate the country’s national conference for branding and profitability.
• Recruit, onboard, and support franchisees and regional leaders.
• Ensure operational excellence, governance, and scalable processes.
• Foster leadership development and transparent cross-country communication.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Communication

Cross-cultural leadership

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business management or related field

Equivalent experience

Job description

Position Summary

The National Director leads country-level growth, operational excellence, and brand execution across franchised regions. This role serves as the primary connector between global strategy and local execution, navigating and supporting teams of sales, operations, Membership, localized marketing and communications, and training resources to strengthen BNI’s presence and performance within the country.

Position Summary

The National Director leads country-level growth, operational excellence, and brand execution across franchised regions. This role serves as the primary connector between global strategy and local execution, navigating and supporting teams of sales, operations, Membership, localized marketing and communications, and training resources to strengthen BNI’s presence and performance within the country.
The National Director recruits, onboards, and supports franchisees and regional leaders, manages the financial performance of the franchised regions, and ensures the successful delivery of a well‑received national conference that engages franchisors, franchisees, and Members. This leader ensures a unified brand experience, strong Membership outcomes, and alignment with BNI’s mission, vision, and core values.

National Growth & Market Development

• Identify, prioritize, and lead Membership growth opportunities across franchised regions, ensuring alignment with national and broader organizational goals.
• Drive market penetration by overseeing national expansion efforts and strengthening brand positioning in collaboration with Operations, Marketing, HR, Finance, Legal, and Membership teams.
• Monitor performance trends across franchised regions and develop targeted strategies to improve Chapter health, retention, and Member satisfaction.

P&L Ownership & Financial Leadership

• Manage the P&L for franchised regions, ensuring financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and alignment with growth targets.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance reviews for franchised regions.
• Ensure financial decisions support long‑term network health and Member value.

National Conference Leadership

• Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of the country’s annual national conference, ensuring it is well‑reviewed, brand‑aligned, and profitable.
• Oversee cross‑functional coordination for programming, logistics, marketing, and attendee experience.
• Ensure the conference delivers value to employees, franchisees, and Members while reinforcing BNI’s mission and brand promise.

Franchise Leadership Support

• Recruit, onboard, and support franchisees and regional leaders, ensuring they have the tools, training, and guidance needed for success.
• Partner with franchisees and their field leaders to deliver a consistent brand experience and uphold BNI’s standards, systems, and code of ethics.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to regional leaders, providing coaching, accountability, and strategic guidance to drive performance.
• Build and maintain strong Team spirit among Directors and key contributors across franchised regions, reinforcing collaboration, trust, and shared accountability.

Cross‑Functional Coordination & Alignment

Work hand in hand with the National Director in Italy responsible for CORE regions, maintaining full collaboration across all strategic and operational aspects of the position and remaining fully synchronized in communications and engagement with the National Team and regional stakeholders.

Build and maintain strong Team spirit among individuals on the National Team, recognizing this as a key requirement for effective national leadership and execution.

• Work closely with global functional leaders (Operations, Marketing, Training, Membership, Technology, Finance) to ensure seamless coordination and alignment of initiatives.
• Collaborate with local communications and marketing teams to ensure clear, timely, and brand‑aligned messaging across the country.
• Partner with membership enrollment and support teams to ensure a high‑quality experience for Members, Directors, and Ambassadors.

Operational Excellence & Business Performance

• Ensure national compliance with BNI systems, policies, legal requirements, brand standards, and code of ethics across all franchised regions.
• Drive operational efficiency by establishing repeatable processes, optimizing workflows, and ensuring consistent execution across diverse markets.
• Strengthen scalability by implementing systems, tools, and operating rhythms that support sustainable growth, operational consistency, and future expansion.
• Prepare accurate, timely analyses and reporting that communicate business results, trends, risks, and opportunities, enabling data‑driven decision‑making.
• Reinforce adherence to BNI’s operational standards, quality expectations, and performance benchmarks through regular reviews, coaching, and structured follow‑up.
• Cultivate strong relationships with vendors, partners, and external stakeholders to ensure reliable, compliant, and efficient national operations, including events and conferences.

Culture, Leadership Development & Engagement

• Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning across the country’s franchise network.
• Support leadership development by identifying talent needs, recommending development pathways (including existing and potential leaders).
• Ensure transparent, timely communication with all stakeholders, strengthening trust and alignment across the national network.
• Any additional duties needed to help demonstrate our core values, drive our vision, and fulfill our mission.

Demonstrated Competencies:

• Accountability & Integrity
• Business Acumen
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Cross-cultural Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Leading leaders
• Relationship Building
• Resilience
• Strategic Thinking

Required Qualifications:

• Fluency in English
• Fluency in Primary language of country
• 10+ years of progressive franchise leadership experience, including leading senior managers or geographically distributed teams
• Willingness to travel 30- 40%
• 7+ years of financial management experience including measurable results of P & L management
• Proven track records of change management, expertise, consolidation, and growth
• Bachelor’s degree in business management or a related field or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience in Corporate environment governance, policies, KPI reporting for US based international groups
• 3 – 5 years of experience working within a multinational organization
• Culture of performance

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or EMBA from competitive program

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Working Conditions apply globally. The Physical Demands section is included to meet U.S. regulatory expectations and may not apply to individuals located outside the United States. Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.

This is a full-time position. This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

An equal opportunity employer