Franchise Operations Consultant

KFC Corporation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Taco Bell is seeking a Franchise Operations Consultant, a senior leader who acts as a trusted advisor to franchise organizations and internal partners. The role drives portfolio performance by aligning franchisees with Taco Bell’s priorities and enabling execution that strengthens sales, transactions, guest experience, digital adoption, and brand standards.

Using strong business acumen and leadership, this person translates enterprise strategies into actionable plans, delivers measurable

Qualifications

• Experience in multi-unit restaurant or franchise operations is preferred.
• Ability to influence owners, operators, and cross-functional partners without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with clear recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute portfolio strategies, operating plans, and business routines for franchise networks.
• Serve as strategic advisor to franchise owners, influencing performance across sales and guest experience.
• Lead business reviews translating performance data into clear commitments and outcomes.
• Analyze performance using metrics, field observations, and feedback to identify opportunities and set priorities.
• Drive adherence to brand standards including food safety, guest experience, and operational excellence.
• Champion adoption of major brand and transformation initiatives including digital and product launches.
• Balance franchisee realities with enterprise objectives while maintaining accountability to brand goals.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to remove barriers and improve portfolio performance.
• Mentor franchise leadership through coaching and structured accountability routines.
• Monitor portfolio health and provide leadership with actionable resolution plans.
• Share best practices to drive consistency and sustainable improvements.

Skills

Franchise operations

Stakeholder influence

Analytical skills

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone’s favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,500+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We’re not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we’re also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands.

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn’t been done before… we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries.

We’re a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we’re at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más.

At Taco Bell, we’re Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below.

About the Job:

The Franchise Operations Consultant is a senior franchise operations leader who serves as a trusted advisor to franchise organizations and internal business partners. This role drives portfolio performance by aligning franchisees to Taco Bell’s strategic priorities and enabling execution that strengthens sales, transactions, guest experience, digital adoption, operational excellence, and brand standards.

Using strong business acumen, operational expertise, and influential leadership, this individual translates enterprise strategies into actionable plans that deliver measurable results. They provide performance insights, identify growth opportunities, build organizational capability, and help franchise leaders successfully adopt key business and transformation initiatives.

The Franchise Operations Consultant partners closely with cross-functional teams across Field Operations, Training, Marketing, Digital, Development, Finance, Legal, and People & Culture to remove barriers, mitigate risks, and accelerate business outcomes. This role serves as a critical connection between franchisee needs and enterprise objectives, ensuring the brand is protected while positioning franchise organizations for long-term success.

This position is remote and must be based in Ohio/Michigan

The Day-to-Day:

• Develop and execute portfolio strategies, operating plans, and business routines that align franchise organizations with Taco Bell’s growth priorities and key initiatives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to franchise owners and operators, influencing performance across sales, transactions, guest experience, digital adoption, and operational execution.
• Lead business reviews that translate performance data into actionable insights, clear commitments, and measurable outcomes.
• Analyze business performance using operational metrics, field observations, and franchisee feedback to identify opportunities, diagnose root causes, and prioritize actions.
• Drive accountability to Taco Bell’s brand standards, including food safety, guest experience, quality, speed, training, marketing execution, and operational consistency.
• Champion adoption of major brand and transformation initiatives, including digital, loyalty, REV, remodels, product launches, and operating model enhancements.
• Navigate competing priorities and business challenges by balancing franchisee realities with enterprise expectations while maintaining accountability to brand objectives.
• Partner cross-functionally to resolve barriers, support execution, and improve portfolio performance.
• Strengthen franchise leadership capability through coaching, feedback, recognition, and structured accountability routines.
• Monitor portfolio health, identify performance risks and capability gaps, and provide leadership with clear recommendations for resolution.
• Share and scale best practices across franchise organizations to drive consistency, operational excellence, and sustainable performance improvements.
• Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement while modeling Taco Bell’s values and leadership expectations.

Is this you?

• 5+ years of multi-unit restaurant, QSR, franchise operations, field leadership, or related experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant professional experience.
• Proven ability to influence franchise owners, senior operators, and cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect operational, financial, digital, and guest experience metrics to business performance.
• Experience leading portfolio strategy, performance improvement initiatives, change adoption, and business reviews across complex stakeholder groups.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to simplify complex information and provide clear recommendations.
• Ability to hold partners accountable to commitments, performance expectations, and brand standards with professionalism and respect.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience coaching leaders to strengthen operational execution, talent readiness, and change leadership capabilities.
• Ability to travel as needed to support franchisee meetings, market visits, business reviews, and field execution.
• Demonstrated growth mindset, sound judgment, and the ability to lead with Smart, Heart, and Courage in a fast-paced environment.

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Remote work schedule and year-round flex day Friday
• Car allowance and monthly cell phone & internet reimbursement
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution fromYum! Brands with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name

Salary Range: $110,500 to $129,900 annually + bonus eligibility + benefits

**The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.**

**Work Authorization Notice: Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship.**

At Taco Bell, we Live Más and invite you to do the same. Take a seat at our table. Bring your voice. Bring you, just as you are, a Cultural Rebel. We want you to be your best self!

**Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.**

**Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.**

US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the "Know Your Rights" poster, click here. You may also access Taco Bell’s Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Employees here.