Franchise Business Consultant

Come join our Goddard Systems, LLC (GSL) corporate team! We are a great place to work and offer many employee-friendly perks and benefits. GSL is the manager of the Goddard School franchise system that supports over 650 schools which delivers a high-quality, play-based learning program to families all over the United States. Our successful franchise business model supports franchisees through partnerships with teams of seasoned professionals who draw over 30 years of business, marketing, IT, franchise, finance, and education experience. Because of this, The Goddard School has grown into an institution that parents and families trust, reaching more than 90,000 students in 38 states - and growing.

This role will oversee Goddard School locations throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada.


Responsibilities

Financial & Operational Consulting

• Conduct financial and educational analysis to assess portfolio opportunities, determine critical priorities by school, and provide coaching, guidance, and leadership to franchisees.
• Provide constructive feedback to Franchise Owners in executing and improving upon their business plan by proactively analyzing financial reports, operational results, and trends, and strategizing methods to achieve specific operational goals.
• Review and interpret profit and loss statements, enrollment revenue, and labor cost data with franchisees to identify opportunities for margin improvement and financial sustainability.
• Share trends with the field leadership team to inform cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.

Brand Standards & Compliance

• Monitor franchisee adherence to Goddard brand standards across operations, educational programming, and family experience, and document findings with clear follow-up plans.
• Conduct structured operational assessments and audits to evaluate school performance against system standards; develop corrective action plans for locations not meeting expectations.
• Ensure franchisees remain current on policy updates, system-wide initiatives, and regulatory requirements, communicating changes clearly and supporting implementation.
• Escalate compliance risks and unresolved performance concerns promptly to regional and cross-functional leadership, partnering to resolve issues.

Franchisee Relationship & Coaching

• Cultivate strong working relationships with franchisees built on trust and direct communication. Share observations, coach for commitments, and provide structured follow-up guidance.
• Execute intentional site consults to build capabilities of the onsite owner and school leadership, ensuring visit cadence and content align with school needs and GSL planning periods.
• Coach franchisees on leadership development, staff onboarding, retention strategies, and building a positive school culture that attracts and retains high-quality staff.
• Serve as the primary liaison between franchisees and GSL corporate teams, facilitating access to cross-functional resources including marketing, HR, finance, and technology.

Educational Program & Family Experience

• Advise on execution of a premier educational program by maintaining knowledge of national accreditations, state Quality Rating and Improvement systems, approved vendors, curriculum, assessment tools, and individual school status and progress.
• Guide franchisees in maintaining environments that reflect Wonder of Learning standards, including classroom readiness, learning materials, and family-facing spaces.
• Coach franchisees on delivering high-conversion family tour experiences and building parent communication practices that reinforce the Goddard brand promise.

Enrollment Growth & Marketing

• Partner with franchisees to analyze enrollment trends, identify gaps, and develop strategies to grow and sustain enrollment in alignment with market potential.
• Coach franchisees on local marketing tactics, community engagement, lead generation, and enrollment conversion practices.
• Monitor enrollment performance against targets and provide actionable recommendations or corrective guidance when schools are trending below plan.

Planning, Reporting & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Proactively plan and organize school consultations, annual business reviews and market meetings to ensure cadence and content are aligned with the school's enrollment cycles, reflecting both brand-wide initiatives and school-level needs.
• Provide regular progress updates to franchisees and internal stakeholders; track milestones, risk indicators, and performance metrics in internal systems.
• Collaborate with field leadership and cross-functional partners to share portfolio trends and contribute to system-wide improvement efforts.

Experience and Competencies

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years of franchise consulting, multi-unit operations leadership, business consulting or early childhood education leadership experience.
• 3+ years of experience managing a portfolio of clients and/or sites and projects.
• 3+ years of experience delivering presentations and/or training.
• Experience coaching business owners, operators, school leaders, or multi-site leadership teams.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial statements, operational data, and enrollment metrics to drive performance.
• Strong knowledge of brand standards management, compliance monitoring, and corrective action planning.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Ability to travel up to 70%, depending on geography and number of school, which could include both local and overnight travel by car and air.

Highly Desired

• Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Business Management, or a related field.
• Consultative skills including the ability to lead with inquiry, influence without authority, and drive results through relationships; ability to contract on commitments and create accountability through follow-up.
• Experience in early childhood education, retail, restaurant, hospitality, or other multi-unit service-based environments.
• Experience with local marketing strategies, enrollment growth tactics, or tour conversion practices.
• Familiarity with CRM tools, franchise management systems, or performance dashboards.
• Takes initiative to deliver outstanding leadership, especially in challenging situations; excellent solutioning skills.
• Above-average analytical skills and comfort with online systems.
• High level of professional and interpersonal skills to build trusting relationships and handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage a high-volume portfolio.
• Self-motivated, resourceful achiever who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Key Competencies

• Financial Analysis & Business Acumen
• Brand Standards & Compliance Oversight
• Operational & Educational Program Expertise
• Consultative Coaching & Influence
• Enrollment Growth & Marketing Guidance
• Risk Identification & Escalation
• Relationship Building & Trust
• Communication & Presentation
• Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Planning & Prioritization

There will be periodic requirements to travel for in-person events, at the discretion of your manager or the requirement of the company.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.