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Transitions from a "Tactical" leader to an "Operational" or "Strategic" leader
A leader of leaders.Â
Leads a functional area of the restaurant (Drive-thru, Kitchen, Hospitality, Customer Experience, Training, Logistics, etc.)
Full-time, opens and closes.
Lead | Manage | Accountability
Potential for a pay rate change starting at $18.00 and going up from there.
Full-time and assistant manager and manager-level benefits.
Real responsibility for an area of the business.Â
Development as a higher-level leader.
Career and life planning.
Planning
Operational Strategy Execution:
Develop short-term plans and schedules based on Director-level goals.
Coordinate team activities to align with daily, weekly, and monthly operational objectives.
Anticipate operational challenges (e.g., peak periods, labor gaps, inventory needs) and proactively plan solutions.
Team Development Plans:
Create individual growth plans for team members, identifying training opportunities and pathways for advancement.
Partner with other managers to forecast labor needs and ensure appropriate staffing levels.
Organizing
Resource Allocation:
Assign roles and responsibilities to team members to optimize workflow and efficiency.
Ensure equipment, technology, and supplies are ready and available for daily operations.
Coordinate with other managers to balance labor and resources across functional areas.
Process Standardization:
Implement and maintain Chick-fil-A systems and standards to ensure consistency in operations.
Organize cross-training initiatives to enhance team flexibility and reduce operational bottlenecks.
Leading
Team Leadership:
Serve as the primary leader on shifts, providing hands-on guidance to team members.
Lead by example by embodying Chick-fil-A’s mission, values, and standards in all interactions.
Act as a role model for emotional intelligence, demonstrating empathy, self-awareness, and effective communication.
Motivation and Morale:
Foster a positive team environment through recognition, encouragement, and constructive feedback.
Celebrate individual and team successes to maintain high morale and engagement.
Resolve conflicts promptly and effectively to maintain a cohesive team dynamic.
Controlling
Performance Monitoring:
Track team performance through metrics such as speed, accuracy, guest satisfaction, and labor efficiency.
Conduct regular evaluations to ensure team members meet Chick-fil-A standards and expectations.
Quality and Safety Assurance:
Enforce food safety protocols, cleanliness standards, and operational procedures.
Conduct daily and weekly inspections to ensure the restaurant is inspection-ready at all times.
Issue Resolution:
Identify and address operational issues, escalating significant concerns to Directors as necessary.
Provide immediate corrective action for team member performance or process deviations.
Planning
Operational Forecasting:
Learn tools and techniques for labor scheduling, inventory forecasting, and managing peak periods.
Project Management Basics:
Gain skills in prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, and allocating resources efficiently.
Organizing
Workflow Optimization:
Study Chick-fil-A systems and LEAN principles to improve processes and reduce inefficiencies.
Team Coordination:
Learn techniques for managing diverse teams, including conflict resolution and task delegation.
Leading
Leadership Development:
Master situational leadership to adapt management styles based on team member needs.
Enhance interpersonal skills to inspire and influence team members effectively.
Emotional Intelligence:
Build skills in empathy, active listening, and effective communication to maintain team cohesion.
Controlling
Performance Metrics and Data Analysis:
Understand how to use reports and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and improve team performance.
Quality Control:
Gain expertise in food safety standards, labor compliance, and operational audits.
Problem-Solving and Decision-Making:
Learn to analyze challenges, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions quickly.
Complete the below activities and then complete the "Self Investment Activity form" for each item. This will keep track of your development progress and be able to help you apply what you have learned.Â
Your capacity to grow determines your capacity to lead. Complete this self-directed course to learn what it takes to lead self before leading others, teams or organizations. Complete the training course as a group or self-paced.Â
Strategic Planning and Vision Alignment:
Develop and execute long-term strategies that align with the Operator's vision and Chick-fil-A’s mission.
Set departmental goals and ensure alignment with restaurant-wide objectives.
Leadership Development:
Mentor and coach managers to build their leadership capacity.
Create succession plans and identify high-potential team members for future leadership roles.
Cross-Department Collaboration:
Ensure seamless communication and alignment between functional areas (e.g., operations, people, marketing, and catering).
Solve conflicts or inefficiencies arising between departments to foster teamwork and synergy.
Advanced Decision-Making:
Analyze complex operational or strategic challenges and make informed decisions that balance immediate needs with long-term impacts.
Prioritize competing priorities effectively to ensure the restaurant’s overall success.
Cultural Stewardship:
Uphold and promote the core values of Chick-fil-A Forsyth, ensuring they are reflected in all operations and interactions.
Lead initiatives that reinforce a positive and caring workplace culture.
High-Level Guest and Community Engagement:
Represent the restaurant in high-stakes guest relations issues, ensuring concerns are resolved professionally and empathetically.
Build relationships with key community stakeholders and establish the restaurant as a pillar of the local community.
Financial Oversight:
Monitor and interpret financial reports, ensuring departmental performance meets profitability goals.
Approve budgets and track key metrics across departments to maintain fiscal responsibility.
Innovation and Process Improvement:
Identify and implement operational innovations that improve efficiency, guest satisfaction, or employee engagement.
Evaluate and refine processes to eliminate inefficiencies and adapt to changing needs.
Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving:
Develop advanced skills in strategic planning, critical thinking, and decision-making through leadership courses, workshops, or mentorship.
Gain expertise in tools like SWOT analysis, root cause analysis, and long-term goal setting.
Emotional Intelligence and Leadership:
Master emotional intelligence (EQ) skills, including empathy, self-regulation, and effective conflict resolution.
Understand and practice leadership styles (e.g., transformational, servant leadership) to inspire and lead teams effectively.
Advanced Financial Literacy:
Learn to analyze profit-and-loss statements, budgets, and other financial data to evaluate departmental performance.
Understand cost control measures and financial forecasting.
Organizational Behavior and Change Management:
Study team dynamics and organizational behavior to better manage and motivate diverse teams.
Learn techniques for effectively implementing and managing change in a growing organization.
Brand Advocacy and Public Relations:
Gain skills in representing Chick-fil-A’s brand in community engagements, public speaking, and media interactions.
Understand marketing and sales strategies to enhance community impact and drive growth.
Operational Expertise:
Deepen knowledge of Chick-fil-A systems, processes, and performance metrics.
Learn best practices in food safety, labor management, and operational efficiency.
Innovation and Continuous Improvement:
Study LEAN principles, kaizen practices, and other methodologies to drive continuous improvement.
Learn to leverage technology and data analytics to optimize processes and guest experiences.
Guest and Community Relations:
Enhance skills in handling escalated guest concerns with professionalism and empathy.
Build expertise in networking and creating partnerships within the local community.
Directors learn to think holistically, balancing the needs of team members, guests, and the business while making decisions that shape the restaurant’s long-term trajectory. They develop skills in strategic planning, resource allocation, and change management to ensure the organization adapts and thrives in a dynamic environment. Through this process, Directors also refine their ability to inspire and influence others, building a culture of trust, accountability, and excellence across all levels of the organization. Leading an organization teaches Directors to see the big picture, leverage their leadership team effectively, and leave a lasting impact on the community and the Chick-fil-A brand.
Build-Your-Own Ritual Kit
Freedom Compass
Build your Ideal Week
Weekly Preview Worksheet
ServSafe Food Safety Manager
ServSafe Workplace
Understanding Unconscious Bias in Restaurants, Manager
Mineral HR courses - Manager Basic Training Skills Track
A Manager's Core Skills (complete first)
"Effectiveness is something that can be learned—in fact, it MUST be learned."
"Better requires something different."
"You have to choose to be a learner"
"Get back to the high ground"
It is highly recommended that you complete the ColorCode.com Personality Assessment, the free Tony Robbins DiSC assessment and read the Heart of Leadership prior to completing this expression of interest. Please email reports to 03037@chick-fil-a.com to include with this form.