Franchise Development Specialist - New Center Operations

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development
• 401(k)
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts

WHAT IS KIDSTRONG?
At KidStrong, we help parents build stronger, smarter, more athletic kids. KidStrong is a milestone-accelerator for kids walking through 11 years old. We help parents discover their child’s superpowers and build future-ready kids who are confident making friends, run the playground, and raise their hand high in the classroom. In other words… kids who will win at life!

KidStrong is rapidly growing and we're looking for talented, enthusiastic professionals who are passionate, energetic, and excited to engage with parents and kids and make an impact on their lives. 

OPEN POSITION:
The Development Specialist for KidStrong New Center Openings is a highly effective, hyper-organized, passionate, and driven professional. In this role, you will work in a fast-paced environment supporting pre-sale and operational functions, creating new processes, and coaching in-center teams and area developers on how to launch and scale an effective KidStrong center.

Project Management & Timeline Ownership

• Support a portfolio of 15–20 centers, owning each center’s development timeline by tracking dates, key milestones, resources, and project information in project management software (e.g., ClickUp, Lighthouse).
• Own each center’s scorecard: track status against goals and provide action-oriented, data-driven recommendations to achieve opening goals.
• Identify potential project slippage early and escalate project risks with mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate new project requests and maintain a comprehensive database of upcoming projects.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner daily with franchisees, internal Pre-Development and Construction teams, and external partners to develop new KidStrong centers.
• Work across departments, including executive leadership, marketing, accounting, and training, to expedite the development process and drive franchisee success.

Communication & Reporting

• Schedule and facilitate weekly recurring project calls with franchisees, general contractors, pre-development managers, and construction managers.
• Report operational updates, successes, and areas of improvement to HQ leadership.

Documentation & Data Management

• Set up, organize, and maintain accurate project files throughout the entire development lifecycle.
• Process key documentation and complete follow-ups (e.g., Landlord/Seller approvals, consultant proposals, franchisee approvals).
• Request, track, and distribute drawings, surveys, and geotechnical reports.
• Audit CRM client data entries to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Vendor & Consultant Relations

• Build strong working relationships with outside consultants, including architects, civil engineers, city government officials, expeditors, vendors, and general contractors.
• Coordinate vendor delivery schedules and maintain proactive communication with vendor partners to avoid delays.

Area Developer Coaching, Accountability & Brand Standards 

• Participate in initial virtual kickoff meetings to guide franchisees through the pre-sale and operational setup processes.
• Coach ADs to stay on track and meet brand standards and requirements, escalating when needed.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 2+ years of project management or coordination experience. Background in construction, franchise operations or real estate development, including the technical vocabulary, is preferred.
• Associate or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects at once in a fast-paced environment, with strong attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of project management methods, including critical path scheduling, milestone tracking and KPIs.
• Proficient in Google Workspace, Zoom, Teams and project management tools such as ClickUp, Asana or Smartsheet.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work professionally with internal teams and external partners.
• Self-starter with strong problem-solving skills and a customer service mindset

Supervisory Responsibilities & Team Dynamics
This position does not directly manage team members, but strong leadership, mentoring, communication, and interpersonal skills are critical to success.

Sphere of Interaction
Works closely on a daily basis with Area Developers, Operations, Marketing, Pre-Development & Construction, and HQ team members.

KidStrong is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.