Vice President of Franchise Development
Smokey Mo's BBQABOUT SMOKEY MO'S TX BBQ
Smokey Mo's TX BBQ is a beloved Central Texas barbecue brand known for slow-smoked meats, made-from-scratch sides, and the kind of genuine Texas hospitality that keeps guests coming back. Founded in Austin and grown across the Lone Star State, Smokey Mo's has built a loyal following through an unwavering commitment to quality, community, and authentic pit-master tradition.
As we enter an exciting new phase of strategic growth, we are seeking a seasoned franchise development executive to lead our expansion and bring the Smokey Mo's experience to guests across Texas and beyond.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Vice President of Franchise Development is a critical senior leadership role responsible for driving Smokey Mo's franchise growth strategy from end to end — from prospecting and lead generation to franchisee validation, territory development, and onboarding. This leader will build and manage a high-performing development team, cultivate a robust pipeline of qualified franchise candidates, and ensure that every new franchisee is set up for long-term success aligned with our brand standards.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Franchise Growth Strategy
- Develop and execute a multi-year franchise development plan aligned with Smokey Mo's growth targets
- Identify target markets and trade areas across Texas and key expansion states
- Establish annual unit growth goals and report pipeline progress to executive team
- Conduct competitive and market analyses to inform strategic territory prioritization
Lead Generation & Sales
- Build and manage a qualified franchisee pipeline through broker networks, trade shows, digital campaigns, and referrals
- Lead all franchise sales activities from initial inquiry through execution of franchise agreements
- Qualify candidates against defined financial, operational, and cultural criteria
- Guide prospective franchisees through the full discovery and validation process
Franchisee Onboarding & Relations
- Collaborate with Operations, Training, and Marketing to deliver a best-in-class onboarding experience
- Serve as the strategic partner to new franchisees during the pre-opening phase
- Ensure new franchisees are fully equipped to uphold Smokey Mo's brand standards from Day One
Franchisee Ongoing Relationship Management
- Serve as primary point of contact for franchisees.
- Build strong relationships and provide ongoing support.
- Monitor performance and provide coaching.
- Ensure compliance with brand standards.
- Conduct regular business reviews.
- Resolve issues and support growth opportunities.
Leadership
- Own and optimize the franchise development process and tools
- Ensure full compliance with FDD disclosure requirements and federal/state franchise regulations
- Partner with legal counsel to manage franchise agreements, renewals, and transfers
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- 5+ years of franchise development experience, with at least 3 years in a director-level or above capacity
- Demonstrated track record of closing franchise deals and growing a franchise system
- Deep knowledge of FDD requirements, franchise law, and compliance best practices
- Experience in the restaurant, food & beverage, or hospitality franchise sector strongly preferred
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
- Proficiency with CRM platforms and franchise development technology stacks
- Willingness to travel up to 40% for candidate meetings, discovery days, and industry events
Preferred
- Experience with Texas-based or regional restaurant concepts
- Existing relationships within the FranConnect, FranChoice, or Fransmart broker ecosystems
- MBA or related advanced degree
- IFA membership and CFE designation a strong plus
WHY SMOKEY MO'S?
- Established brand with a fiercely loyal Texas customer base and proven unit economics
- Franchise-friendly culture with a collaborative, people-first leadership team
- Significant white space opportunity across Texas and adjacent markets
- Authentic product that practically sells itself — because Texas BBQ is not a trend, it's a way of life
- Competitive compensation with meaningful upside tied to franchise growth performance