Dir, International Business Development & Commercialization

GoTo Foods, LLC; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

GoTo Foods, LLC is seeking a Director of International Business Development & Commercialization to drive growth across International and Global Channels. You will lead cross-functional initiatives from pre-signing to first-store openings, manage a 1–3 person team, and ensure stage-gate execution and KPI performance.

You will coordinate go-to-market plans, onboarding milestones, and cross-functional planning across development, design, construction, equipment, supply chain, and marketing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, project management, hospitality, marketing, or a related field.
• 6+ years of progressive experience in program management, franchise development or operations, commercialization, training, consumer products, foodservice, or a related field.
• 4+ years of franchise or comparable multi-unit experience; international franchise experience preferred.
• PMP or comparable certification preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead Franchise Sales Enablement & Pre-Signing Support across International and Global Channels.
• Own onboarding plan from franchise agreement signing through first-store opening with milestones and owners.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning across development, design, construction, equipment, supply chain, menu, technology, staffing, training, marketing, and operations.
• Oversee Funnel and Stages & Gates programs for International and Retail Channels projects.
• Commercialize new brands, markets, channels, and operating models with executable launch plans.
• Define and monitor KPIs for the franchisee journey and maintain commercialization scorecards.
• Lead CRM discipline, pipeline visibility, and onboarding materials for International and Retail Channels.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive presentations

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM

Project management tools

Job description

Job Summary
The Director, International Business Development & Commercialization leads high-impact, cross-functional projects across GoTo Foods International and Global Channels business units. This role drives the growth of international franchise business from sales support and pre-signing presentations through onboarding and first-store opening. The director manages 1–3 direct reports and is accountable for stage-gate execution, KPI performance, growth, and operational excellence.

Job Summary
The Director, International Business Development & Commercialization leads high-impact, cross-functional projects across GoTo Foods International and Global Channels business units. This role drives the growth of international franchise business from sales support and pre-signing presentations through onboarding and first-store opening. The director manages 1–3 direct reports and is accountable for stage-gate execution, KPI performance, growth, and operational excellence.
Essential Functions

• Franchise Sales Enablement & Pre-Signing Support
  • Translate brand strategy, investment requirements, operating models, and support capabilities into clear materials that advance qualified prospects toward signing.
  • Manage the team that maintains pipeline visibility and forecast onboarding needs across International and Global Channels.
• New Franchisee Onboarding & New Store Openings
  • Own the go-to-market plan from franchise agreement signing through first-store opening, defining milestones, owners, dependencies, and escalation paths.
  • Lead franchisee kickoff, project cadence, and integrated planning across development, design, construction, equipment, supply chain, menu, technology, staffing, training, marketing, and operations.
  • Serve as the primary coordination point, resolving risks and ensuring decisions and commitments are completed on time.
  • Transition franchisees to ongoing operations and incorporate lessons learned into future launch playbooks.
• Commercialization Execution & Strategy
  • Oversee Funnel and Stages & Gates programs for International and Retail Channels projects.
  • Commercialize new brands, markets, channels, menu innovation, products, packaging, equipment, technology, and operating models.
  • Convert approved concepts into executable launch plans with clear business cases, milestones, owners, and readiness criteria.
  • Drive timely launches by managing data, stakeholder accountability, and risks to cost, quality, timing, and customer experience.
• Performance Management, KPIs & Continuous Improvement
  • Define and monitor KPIs for the franchisee sales-to-opening journey, including milestones, time to open, readiness, opening quality, budget, risk resolution, and stakeholder satisfaction.
  • Develop and maintain International and Global Channels commercialization scorecards covering schedule, cost, revenue, margin, adoption, launch quality, and business impact.
  • Use performance data, franchisee feedback, and post-launch reviews to improve processes and address root causes.
  • Align priorities, corrective actions, and executive reporting with AOP, business plans, growth targets, and footprint expansion.
• Portfolio, Systems & Team Leadership
  • Lead teams and processes supporting priority industry conventions, customer conventions and customer events inclusive of shipping materials, SWAG, prize giveaways and other items needed.
  • Oversee legal documentation of workflows, issue resolution, and escalations for new business, commercialization initiatives, and Retail Channels.
  • Drive CRM discipline, pipeline visibility, strategic account planning, and effective sales-to-opening handoffs for both International and Retail Channels
  • Support Retail Channels project management, sales enablement, product cuttings and commercialization in alignment with priorities.
  • Oversee franchisee onboarding materials, presentations, playbooks, launch tools, and welcome packages.
  • Recruit, coach, and develop direct reports with clear priorities and accountability.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in business, operations, project management, hospitality, marketing, or a related field.
  

Work Experience

• 6+ years of progressive experience in program management, franchise development or operations, commercialization, training, consumer products, foodservice, or a related field.
• 4+ years of franchise or comparable multi-unit experience; international franchise experience preferred.
  

Skills

• Proven success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from concept or agreement through launch and stabilization.
• Experience creating and delivering executive, sales, and franchisee presentations.
• Knowledge of stage-gate commercialization, KPIs, portfolio reporting, CRM, and project management tools.
• Strong communication, facilitation, analytical, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
  

Certifications

• PMP or comparable certification preferred.
  

Travel Requirement

• May be required to travel up to 25% of the time