Vice President of Franchise Development

Vice President of Franchise Development SM SWITCHBACK LLC Cedar Park, Texas, United States About this position Description: ABOUT SMOKEY MO'S TX BBQ Smokey Mo's TX BBQ is a beloved Central Texas barbecue brand known for slow-smoked meats, made-from-scratch sides, and the kind of genuine Texas hospitality that keeps guests coming back. Founded in Austin and grown across the Lone Star State, Smokey Mo's has built a loyal following through an unwavering commitment to quality, community, and authentic pit-master tradition. As we enter an exciting new phase of strategic growth, we are seeking a seasoned franchise development executive to lead our expansion and bring the Smokey Mo's experience to guests across Texas and beyond. POSITION OVERVIEW The Vice President of Franchise Development is a critical senior leadership role responsible for driving Smokey Mo's franchise growth strategy from end to end — from prospecting and lead generation to franchisee validation, territory development, and onboarding. This leader will build and manage a high-performing development team, cultivate a robust pipeline of qualified franchise candidates, and ensure that every new franchisee is set up for long-term success aligned with our brand standards. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Franchise Growth Strategy Develop and execute a multi-year franchise development plan aligned with Smokey Mo's growth targets Identify target markets and trade areas across Texas and key expansion states Establish annual unit growth goals and report pipeline progress to executive team Conduct competitive and market analyses to inform strategic territory prioritization Lead Generation & Sales Build and manage a qualified franchisee pipeline through broker networks, trade shows, digital campaigns, and referrals Lead all franchise sales activities from initial inquiry through execution of franchise agreements Qualify candidates against defined financial, operational, and cultural criteria Guide prospective franchisees through the full discovery and validation process Franchisee Onboarding & Relations Collaborate with Operations, Training, and Marketing to deliver a best-in-class onboarding experience Serve as the strategic partner to new franchisees during the pre-opening phase Ensure new franchisees are fully equipped to uphold Smokey Mo's brand standards from Day One Franchisee Ongoing Relationship Management Serve as primary point of contact for franchisees. Build strong relationships and provide ongoing support. Monitor performance and provide coaching. Ensure compliance with brand standards. Conduct regular business reviews. Resolve issues and support growth opportunities. Leadership Own and optimize the franchise development process and tools Ensure full compliance with FDD disclosure requirements and federal/state franchise regulations Partner with legal counsel to manage franchise agreements, renewals, and transfers Requirements: QUALIFICATIONS Required 5+ years of franchise development experience, with at least 3 years in a director-level or above capacity Demonstrated track record of closing franchise deals and growing a franchise system Deep knowledge of FDD requirements, franchise law, and compliance best practices Experience in the restaurant, food & beverage, or hospitality franchise sector strongly preferred Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills Proficiency with CRM platforms and franchise development technology stacks Willingness to travel up to 40% for candidate meetings, discovery days, and industry events Preferred Experience with Texas-based or regional restaurant concepts Existing relationships within the FranConnect, FranChoice, or Fransmart broker ecosystems MBA or related advanced degree IFA membership and CFE designation a strong plus WHY SMOKEY MO'S? Established brand with a fiercely loyal Texas customer base and proven unit economics Franchise-friendly culture with a collaborative, people-first leadership team Significant white space opportunity across Texas and adjacent markets Authentic product that practically sells itself — because Texas BBQ is not a trend, it's a way of life Competitive compensation with meaningful upside tied to franchise growth performance Salary Information #J-18808-Ljbffr