Franchise Growth Lead — Strategy & Pipeline

El Pollo Loco, Inc.; Costa Mesa (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great Place to Work culture

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance + Hs

401(k) with company match

Paid Vacation + Sick Pay + 12 Paid...

Free El Pollo Loco food + discounts

PerkSpot discounts

Job summary

El Pollo Loco, Inc. is seeking a Franchise Development Manager in Southern California. The role focuses on lead targeting, candidate cultivation, and moving a pipeline toward development agreements, working with the VP of Franchise Growth and cross-functional teams.

The position requires BA/BS and 2–4 years in franchise sales or development, with travel across Southern California and to out-of-state locations as needed. CA driver’s license required.

Qualifications

• Ability to evaluate inbound franchise leads against qualification criteria with independent judgment.
• Ability to manage candidate progression and compliance risk with attention to detail.
• Experience developing and executing email marketing or nurture campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate inbound franchise leads against qualification criteria, exercising independent judgment on which prospects merit advancement.
• Assess candidate readiness at each stage and determine appropriate pace and next steps.
• Own lead targeting strategy and nurture campaigns, including audience segmentation and messaging.
• Manage non-traditional email campaigns end-to-end, tailoring messaging for this candidate profile.
• Monitor RFP dates and requirements, prioritizing pursuits.

Skills

Independent judgment

Organizational skills

Communication

Travel willingness

Education

BA/BS required

Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) a plus

Tools

CRM/database applications

Microsoft Office Suite

Email marketing platforms

Internet research tools

Job description

El Pollo Loco, Inc. is seeking a Franchise Development Manager in Southern California. The role focuses on lead targeting, candidate cultivation, and moving a pipeline toward development agreements, working with the VP of Franchise Growth and cross-functional teams.

The position requires BA/BS and 2–4 years in franchise sales or development, with travel across Southern California and to out-of-state locations as needed. CA driver’s license required.