Hybrid Corporate Director of Training (On-Site) chez Terry Black's Barbecue

Position Summary:

We seek an innovative, hands-on, and systems-minded Corporate Director of Training (CDT) to architect and lead a scalable, high-impact training strategy for our growing multi-unit operations, starting with the rapid expansion of Terry Black’s Barbecue.

If you’ve grown your training career in high-performance, fast-growth organizations like Chipotle, Cava, Shake Shack, or Sweetgreen, and you’re ready to own the buildout of a training infrastructure that supports multiple annual openings, this is your moment.

You will design, implement, and oversee a training platform that drives consistency, operational excellence, and people development at scale. This includes building a network of field trainers, managing the digital learning ecosystem, and integrating brand culture into every layer of the training experience.

The CDT will be a consistent presence in our existing Operating Units, working to develop subject matter expert trainers and review training processes.  Additionally, they will travel to new markets for extended periods during New Restaurant Openings (NRO’s)

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and execute a multi-unit training strategy that supports our expansion roadmap, ensuring readiness for multiple new store openings annually across diverse markets.
• Build, lead, and mentor a scalable field training team to support pre-opening and ongoing training across all brands, starting with Terry Black’s Barbecue.
•  Develop training deployment plans for new restaurant openings (NROs), including pre-opening bootcamps, on-site field training, and post-opening support protocols. 
• Partner with Operations, HR, and Creative teams to align training with evolving SOPs, company values, and guest experience expectations. 
  
• Oversee the development of standardized, brand-aligned content, including digital modules, video training, printed guides, and on-the-job coaching tools. 
  
• Implement and manage Wisetail and other learning management systems (LMS) to support scalable, trackable training programs across the organization. 
  
• Establish training KPIs and reporting frameworks to evaluate program effectiveness, identify opportunities, and continuously improve content and delivery. 
  
• Create and maintain a centralized training knowledge base that includes updated SOPs, role-specific tracks, and leadership development tools. 
  
• Foster a company-wide culture of learning, development, and operational excellence from hourly team members to senior managers. 
  

Core Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Training Coordination
  1. Coordinate comprehensive training plans and annual training calendar to include eLearning, new product rollouts, management bootcamps, and onboarding cohorts.
  2. Create, implement, and lead the process to certify training restaurants in each area. 
• Training Execution
  1. Lead training bootcamps covering Operations, HR, P&L Management, Local Marketing, etc. for each brand/location.
  2. Partner with the corporate Operations team and Field Trainers/Coaches on all new product and process rollouts.
  3. Support the onboarding process and systems to ensure an efficient and thorough new hire orientation process for all team members, including the MIT program. 
• Training Management
  1. Ensure and validate that training is being completed adequately across all levels of restaurant teams (Field Trainers/Coaches, Managers, Team Members, etc.).
  2. Analyze training reports and train Field Trainers/Coaches and GMs on how to best utilize the available tools. 

What Our Ideal Candidate Looks Like:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in training and development, including at least 3 years in a multi-unit or multi-brand environment.
• Experience supporting rapid growth or new unit development, ideally within the restaurant or hospitality sector.
• Strong track record in building and managing field-based training teams.
• Proven ability to design training systems that scale across geographies and cultures.
• Exceptional communication skills and comfort working cross-functionally across Operations, HR, and Creative/Marketing teams.
• Proficiency in Wisetail and other LMS platforms, e-learning tools, and digital content development.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with evolving needs.
• A genuine passion for hospitality, people development, and driving high-performance cultures.
• Restaurant, food & beverage, or hospitality background preferred; experience with brands known for operational rigor and training discipline (e.g., Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen) is a strong plus.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels.