Brand Expansion Lead - Franchise

BRAND EXPANSION LEAD
QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS - FRANCHISE
💷£60k + Bonus + Share Options
🚆HYBRID - London Based (Victoria Station) & Remote up to 2 days per week.

WHO ARE WE?
We're Sessions, and we're on a mission to bring non-stop originality to every kitchen.

Founded in 2020, Sessions has launched and scaled 10 unique food brands, partnered with over 300 licensee kitchens, and delivered more than 3 million orders. We're now expanding rapidly into franchising, using our own technology to grow our portfolio across high streets throughout the UK.

Our line-up includes cult favourites like SoBe Burger and Little Bao Boy, alongside collaborations with globally recognised names—such as Netflix-associated experiences like the Squid Game Korean Chicken menu —and internationally acclaimed concepts like Ivan Ramen (featured on Chef’s Table ).

Led by former executives from Deliveroo, BrewDog and Soho House, Sessions is backed by industry-leading investors Imbiba and Guinness Ventures.

Who's Hungry?

🏃‍♀️ We are Agile - We are customer-obsessed and adapt as needed to meet their needs
🌍 We are Ambitious - We aim to not only discover but create on-trend brands and are excited by the work required to become a tastemaker brand
🤪 We are Fun - We keep playfulness at the centre of our culture so that we can deliver on the very serious business of keeping food fun
🤖We are data-driven - We don't make assumptions based on what has always been done and instead focus on what the data tells us should be done

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As the Brand Expansion Lead , you will be the driving force behind the successful expansion of our lead brands, including SoBe Burger and Ivan Ramen.
You will oversee the end-to-end programme and project management of launching new franchise sites. This critical role requires outstanding cross-functional leadership, driving results across contractors, local authorities, internal teams, our brand portfolio, and our franchisees.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

Strategic Imperatives & Mission

Accelerate Hyper-Growth: Drive the rapid expansion of our brands by successfully delivering 15+ site launches per month once the department is fully optimised.
Pivot to Scalable Execution: Transition the expansion function from high-touch, site-by-site management to a low-touch, high-volume operational model to support ambitious national roll-out targets.
Transformative Leadership: Introduce a fundamentally different set of skills and competencies to the team, centered on efficiency, scalability, and strategic vendor management.

Operational Innovation & Cost Optimisation

Establish a High-Performance Vendor Ecosystem: Create and manage a robust network of external contractors through complex contract negotiations, the implementation of rigorous performance targets, and establishing mass compliance and quality assurance audits.
Drive Cost Innovation: Innovate constantly to achieve aggressive cost reduction targets. This includes optimising the supply chain for efficiency and creating new models for equipment leasing and procurement.
Data-Driven Site Design: Develop new processes to synthesize marketing and operations insights regarding site design impact on customer experience and partner operations, using this data to continuously refine and improve future site launches.

Project Management & Stakeholder Leadership

End-to-End Project Ownership: Develop and manage comprehensive project plans that clearly define timelines, budgets, resource allocation, and critical milestones across all development cycles.
Centralised Tracking & Governance: Implement and utilise tools (e.g., Monday.com) to ensure central tracking, transparent reporting, and rigorous governance of the Project Process and its stage-gate requirements.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Coordinate and lead alignment with all internal departments—including Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Procurement—to guarantee smooth execution and shared goals.
Risk Mitigation & Reporting: Proactively monitor project progress, anticipate and identify potential risks or obstacles, and implement swift, effective mitigation strategies. Conduct regular status meetings and provide transparent, timely updates to all stakeholders.
Compliance & Standards: Oversee site selection, lease negotiation, design, and construction, ensuring strict compliance with franchise agreements, brand standards, and all regulatory requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Partnership

Operational Excellence: Identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, streamline existing processes, and optimise resource utilisation within the development team and across existing franchise locations.
KPI Management: Define and monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics to track the success of operational and efficiency initiatives, driving a culture of continuous improvement.
Integrated Franchise Strategy: Work closely with the entire Franchise department—including the Franchise Director, Operations Manager, and Franchise Trainer—to ensure projects are fully aligned with the broader franchise success strategy.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree from a top university
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project management, preferably within the food service, hospitality or franchising industry or alternatively 2-3 years of strategy/operations consulting experience.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects from initiation to completion, meeting deadlines and budgetary constraints.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of franchising regulations, real estate, construction, and operational best practices preferred
• Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food
• Expert level of English language
• Right to work in the UK

BENEFITS - What Sessions can offer you

Financial Wellbeing:

💰 Bonus Scheme - Paid Biannually, up to 20% of salary
📃  Share Options - Receive an amount of share options for Sessions
💸 Pay day on demand - Choose a payday that suits you best, with the ability to transfer salary for days already worked whenever you like.
💳 Expense card - Don't find yourself short whilst waiting for expenses to be paid, the majority of our headquarters staff will be given their own Soldo company card.
🏠 Finance Platform  - Access to 'Mintago', Financial Wellbeing Platform giving access to free financial advice, pension hunter, discounts portal and a range of salary sacrifice schemes

Social, Mental & Physical Wellbeing:

🏘 Hybrid Working - We offer the option for work from home days for most head office roles.
🏖 Holidays - We offer 25 days holiday + bank holidays, celebrate different bank holidays? fine by us! Let us know and we'll distribute them as suits you best
👨‍⚕️  Healthcare - Sessions operate a Healthcare Cash Plan scheme that covers medical, optical and dental expenses
😇 Volunteering Day - Take a day at full pay to support one of our partner charities
🚨 Employee Assistance Programme - Support for mental health and legal services for you and your direct family.
🥳 Socials - Sessions run optional monthly social activities, everything from drinks on us, theatre trips, karaoke, art classes, team lunches and even events such as Halloween movie nights!
🐶 Dog Friendly - We love our fluffy pals, they're welcome in the office!
👘 Wear what you like - No suits and ties please, that's so 18th century....

Technology Perks:

💻 Laptop - Apple Mac or Windows Laptop? Your choice! and most of us don't judge...
📱 Phone - Apple iPhone and company sim provided where necessary for the role
📺 Additional - Need another screen? Keyboard? Footstool? Our office manager can provide you with an ergonomics assessment to prevent workplace injuries.

Progression & Development:

📈 High Growth Start Up - This is a great chance to be part of a growing company with plenty of progression opportunities and examples of where our people have progressed as fast as we have
🚀 Management & Leadership Programme - Sessions runs a Management & Leadership Programme covering a range of topics and classes
🪄 Be Inspired - Work with industry legends such as the Ex MD of Deliveroo, ex CFO Soho House and ex Global Growth Director of Brewdog.
✏️ Membership & Qualifications - Sessions have helped support a number of our employees by providing funds for work-based qualifications and memberships to relevant associations such as AAT and CIPD.

Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer.

We are a living wage and equal opportunity employer - all applicants are reviewed 'anonymously' where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view - all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.

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