Job Details

Job Type

Full-time

Description

This position is open to candidates located in North Carolina and South Carolina only.

The Franchisee Recruiter / Franchise Development Manager at Hissho Sushi is responsible for identifying, evaluating, and onboarding high-quality franchise partners who can successfully operate sushi bars in grocery stores, universities, hospitals, corporate dining, and other non-traditional venues.

This role is critical to protecting Hissho's brand, food safety standards, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate understands that franchise recruitment is not sales-driven-it is fit-driven, ensuring long-term franchisee success, compliance, and sustainable same-store sales growth.

Franchisee Recruitment & Qualification

• Identify and screen potential franchise partners through referrals, internal leads, and targeted outreach.
• Conduct structured interviews to assess operational discipline, food safety mindset, financial readiness, and cultural alignment.
• Maintain a high-quality recruitment pipeline focused on long-term operators, not short-term owners.
• Educate candidates on Hissho's operating model, including:

- Grocery-based sushi operations

- Data-driven production

- Retailer compliance and food safety expectations

- Labor management and chef training requirements

Competitive Intelligence & Market Positioning

• Monitor the competitive landscape across key sushi franchisors and grab-and-go sushi providers operating in similar retail channels.
• Analyze competitor franchise models, fee structures, support offerings, and growth strategies to position Hissho as the premium franchise opportunity.
• Develop compelling differentiators and value propositions that highlight Hissho's superior training, brand standards, and retailer relationships.
• Provide regular market intelligence reports to leadership on competitive threats and opportunities.

Due Diligence & Compliance

• Coordinate background checks, financial verification, and reference checks for all franchise candidates.
• Ensure all recruitment activities comply with FTC Franchise Rule and applicable state franchise disclosure laws.
• Manage Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) delivery timelines and required waiting periods.
• Work with legal counsel to ensure franchise agreements reflect current regulatory requirements.

Onboarding & Transition

• Facilitate a structured onboarding process that prepares new franchisees for operational success from day one.
• Coordinate with Operations, Training, and Supply Chain teams to ensure seamless handoff from recruitment to launch.
• Oversee initial training completion, Transfer or opening schedule.
• Track 90-day post-launch performance metrics to validate franchisee readiness and identify early intervention needs.

Relationship Management & Pipeline Reporting

• Build and maintain strong relationships with prospective, active, and former franchise candidates.
• Maintain accurate records of all prospective interactions, pipeline stages, and conversion metrics.
• Provide weekly pipeline reports and quarterly franchise development forecasts to senior leadership.
• Develop and execute digital recruiting strategies leveraging social media, paid advertising, and other online channels; collaborate with Marketing to create franchisee recruitment materials, webinars, and discovery day events.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in franchise development, franchise recruitment, or multi-unit business development.
• Deep understanding of the franchise sales process, FDD requirements, and franchise regulatory compliance.
• Experience in food service, QSR, or food manufacturing franchise systems strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to evaluate franchise candidates beyond financial metrics-assessing operational capability, cultural fit, and long-term commitment.
• Strong knowledge of grocery retail environments, non-traditional food service venues, or commissary-based food operations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to build, update, and deliver professional presentations, reports, and franchise development materials to internal and external stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel 25-30% domestically for discovery days, site visits, trade shows, and franchisee meetings.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Hospitality, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Preferred

• Prior experience with sushi, Japanese cuisine, or Asian food concepts.
• Familiarity with food service management technology platforms.
• Experience recruiting or managing franchise partners in grocery, c-store, or institutional food service channels.
• Bilingual capabilities (English/Burmese) a plus.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIS)

• Number of qualified franchise candidates in pipeline per quarter.
• Franchisee close rate (qualified lead to signed agreement).
• New franchisee 90-day operational readiness score.
• Same-store sales performance of recruited franchisees (Year 1).
• Franchisee retention rate at 12 and 24 months.
• Time-to-launch from signed agreement to first day of operation.
• Compliance score on FDD and regulatory requirements (100% target).

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience
• Performance-based bonus tied to franchise development targets
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Travel expense reimbursement and company-provided technology
• Professional development support

WHY HISSHO SUSHI?

Hissho Sushi is the leading provider of freshly made sushi to grocery retailers, universities, and institutions nationwide. We operate a unique franchise model that places skilled sushi chefs inside high-traffic retail environments, delivering restaurant-quality sushi at grocery convenience.

Hissho differentiates through rigorous food safety standards, advanced production technology, comprehensive chef training programs, and deep retailer partnerships built on trust and consistent execution.

Joining Hissho means becoming part of a mission-driven company that values operational excellence, franchisee success, and the belief that great sushi should be accessible to everyone.