Specialist, Franchise Licensing and Compliance

Specialist, Franchise Licensing and Compliance

Under the supervision of a Lead Manager, manage all administrative tasks related to the lifecycle of franchise license agreements within an assigned territory. Responsibilities include reviewing and processing applications, preparing and executing agreements, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and maintaining accurate records. Serve as the primary contact for franchise applicants and existing franchisees, coordinating with internal teams throughout the process. Issue and execute license agreements and related legal documents, issue compliance documents, and track franchise data to ensure complete and accurate documentation. Maintain and update information in the company's global database (GOLS). Represent the company in licensing matters such as negotiating comfort letters, collecting contract data, and managing fees. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with strong organizational and communication skills who wants to contribute to the growth of IHG's franchise system.

Your day to day

• Act as liaison with the Development team to issue new development, conversion, change of ownership, and relicensing license agreements to applicants.
• Conduct all aspects of the franchise license workflow, including collecting license agreements and franchise application fees.
• Receive and review all documents relating to entities with equity interest in the license; verify licensing data (dates, signatures, forms) and send documents for internal approvals (Credit, Risk Management, Development, Openings, AD&C/PIP, Franchise Approval Committee, Legal). Follow up to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Enter and maintain franchise license data in GOLS (company database), updating status changes and retention records throughout the license term.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies; collaborate with Legal to meet local, state, and federal requirements.
• Conduct background checks and due diligence on potential franchisees.
• Review franchise entity documents to determine binding authority for licensing agreements; work with Development to resolve incomplete data or authority issues.
• Draft and execute addenda, extensions, and special agreements (e.g., Comfort Letters, Master Technology Agreements, Key Money Documents, deceased letters) and collect related fees.
• Serve as primary contact for franchisees regarding license execution, revisions, and compliance questions; foster positive relationships with franchisees and external stakeholders.
• Monitor deadlines and issue notifications for defaults, extensions, terminations, and non-renewals; update database with accurate dates and compliance status.
• Gather data from external sources (e.g., Secretary of State registration) and review organizational documents for equity ownership.
• Support hotels through the opening process, ensuring compliance prior to opening; prepare Openings Advisory Memo and open hotels in GOLS.
• Collect fees and submit Property Improvement Requests for renewals or hotel sales.
• Provide applications and Franchise Disclosure Documents for renewals or ownership changes.
• Process accurate Principal Correspondent records and update as needed.

Under General Supervision of Lead Manager

• Review organizational and legal documents to execute license agreements or addenda and evaluate equity ownership.
• Decide if equity changes constitute a change of ownership under the current license agreement.
• Make decisions on resolutions for hotels in default, track compliance, and issue notifications.
• Interpret legally binding terms and conditions of license agreements to mitigate risk.
• Perform all duties related to franchise licensing and compliance administration, including issuing official documents and assisting with procedure development.

What we need from you

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Business Administration, Legal Studies or a related field of work, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience; and/or
• 1 to 2 years work-related experience in franchise licensing, compliance, banking administration, contract administration, or similar, with demonstrated technical proficiency related to the position.
• Demonstrated knowledge of PC-based software programs.
• Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills for the purpose of conveying information to internal and external customers or providing information via written reports or correspondence.
• Demonstrated strong writing and reading comprehension skills for purposes of drafting, compiling, or interpreting legally binding license agreements and financial letters
• Demonstrated understanding of contractual agreements and demonstrated ability to administer ongoing contracts or similar detail-oriented projects.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, time management skills, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to interpret state regulations for contract compliance and to read and interpret supporting documents (i.e. leases, provisions, license restrictions, credit approvals, guaranty, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize workload in a fast-paced environment
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.

Location Atlanta, GA; Our hybrid work structure is an expectation of three (3) days a week in office. This expectation may be adjusted to evolve with the changing needs of the business.

At IHG Hotels & Resorts, we work together to deliver True Hospitality for Good on a global scale. With corporate offices and over 6,000 hotel destinations worldwide, a career at IHG is the perfect way to broaden your horizons. You'll experience our unique culture and brilliant colleagues who will support and inspire you. With a host of corporate opportunities to choose from, wherever you are on your career journey, and whatever you want to achieve there's Room for You at IHG. Over recent years, we've transformed our company. We have bold ambitions to drive performance and maintain our relentless focus on growth in order to be the hotel company of choice that guests & owners love. We are a hospitality business at our core and value connections and being together helps us foster a unique sense of belonging that also supports productivity. That's why here at IHG, we give our colleagues flexibility and balance working in a hybrid way, blending office and remote working collectively. We recognise that every role is different, that's why leaders work with teams to determine how and when they collaborate. We provide a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life. These include impressive room discounts across our many properties, recharge days and volunteering days throughout the year. Through our myWellbeing framework, we are committed to supporting wellbeing in your health, lifestyle, and workplace. We offer a unique and inclusive culture, where there is always Room for You to belong, grow and make a difference. Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate difference and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable laws. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Don't quite meet every single requirement, but still believe you'd be a great fit for the job? We'll never know unless you hit the 'Apply' button. Start your journey with us today.

Important information:

• The salary range listed is the lowest to highest pay scale we, in good faith, believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the pay range will be based on several factors, including relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, and business or organizational needs.
• No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until it is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or other form of compensation allocable to a particular employee remain in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.
• EEO Is The Law - click here for more information about Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.
• If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process, please click here.
• IHG does not accept applications, inquiries, or unsolicited CVs/resumes from staffing or recruiting agencies. Please click here for our agency policy.
• If you are a resident of or applying to a job opening in the State of Washington, please click here to read about applicable benefits.