Franchise Development Manager

ZHONG AN ASSET MANAGEMENT SDN BHD; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading asset management firm is seeking a Project Manager – Market Entry to spearhead the evaluation and negotiation of franchising opportunities from China for the Malaysian market. This influential position will transition into senior operational leadership after brand selection. The ideal candidate will possess strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills, alongside significant experience in franchise development and retail operations, enabling effective market entry strategies.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in franchise development, retail operations, or business expansion.
• Proven experience in market entry, store setup, and franchise expansion.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Identify and shortlist suitable China-based franchise brands.
• Lead discussions and negotiations with brand principals.
• Develop market entry assumptions and rollout scenarios.
• Act as the main liaison with brand principals and suppliers.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving abilities

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Job description

We are seeking a Project Manager – Market Entry to lead the evaluation, selection, and negotiation of China-based retail and snack franchise brands for entry into the Malaysian market.

This role is brand-agnostic at the initial stage and focuses on commercial due diligence, deal structuring, and master franchise / distributorship decision-making prior to execution. The successful candidate will play a critical role in determining brand viability, commercial terms, and rollout strategy before launching 5–10 self-operated stores.

Upon successful brand selection and contract execution, this role is expected to transition into a senior operational leadership position, overseeing market entry execution, retail operations, and franchise expansion in Malaysia.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Identification & Evaluation

• Identify and shortlist suitable China-based retail or snack franchise brands for the Malaysian market
• Evaluate brand strength, scalability, SKU structure, and supply chain readiness
• Assess export capability, overseas experience, and headquarters support model
• Prepare comparative analysis and recommendations for management decision-making

Commercial & Deal Negotiation

• Lead discussions and negotiations with shortlisted brand principals
• Negotiate master franchise or national distributorship agreements
• Secure key commercial rights including territorial exclusivity, pricing and SKU flexibility, and local market adaptation rights
• Work closely with legal advisors to structure commercially sound agreements

Market Entry & Financial Validation

• Develop market entry assumptions and rollout scenarios (1 / 3 / 5 / 10 stores)
• Prepare high-level financial projections, unit economics, and sensitivity analysis
• Validate commercial viability, cash flow sustainability, and scalability
• Identify key risks and propose mitigation strategies

Stakeholder & Project Management

• Act as the main liaison with China-based brand principals and suppliers
• Coordinate with internal teams and external consultants (legal, financial, operational)
• Provide structured updates, insights, and recommendations to senior management
• Shortlist at least three (3) qualified brand candidates
• Comparative assessment of commercial terms, margins, and risk profiles
• Recommendation of one (1) preferred brand with a negotiation strategy
• Preliminary Malaysia market entry and store roll out plan

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, or a related field
• Minimum 5–8 years of experience in franchise development, retail operations, or business expansion, preferably in FMCG or food & beverage retail
• Proven experience in market entry, store setup, and franchise expansion
• Strong understanding of retail operations, supply chain management, and franchise models
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and external partners
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to liaise effectively with overseas brand principals and suppliers, particularly from China
• Analytical and strategic thinking with strong problem-solving abilities
• Results-driven, hands-on, and able to thrive in a fast-paced, startup or growth environment
• Willingness to travel locally and overseas when required
• Ability to communicate in Chinese is an advantage as you will liaise with Mandarin-speaking partners

Application Questions

• Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Malaysia?
• What’s your expected monthly basic salary?
• Which of the following types of qualifications do you have?
• How many years’ experience do you have as a Franchise Development Manager?
• How would you rate your Mandarin language skills?
• Are you willing to travel for this role when required?