Head of Business Development, Americas

Position: Americas Head of Business Development (Sr. Director Level)

Location: Los Angeles, California

Our Blend

Since opening our first store in 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has grown into a global specialty coffee and tea brand with more than 1,000 cafés worldwide, supported by our Global Headquarters in Singapore.

Our purpose is to help people Find Their Flavor through uplifting experiences that make their day better. Guided by our vision to deliver "Simply the Best" coffee and tea experience in every community we serve, we're committed to creating meaningful experiences for our customers, partners, and one another.

As part of our Global Brew Crew, you’ll find an environment where you can be your best, belong and grow.

This is where you Find Your Flavor.

Brew Crew Opportunity

Our Global Brew Crew is seeking a Head of Business Development to spearhead our growth journey across the Americas. Reporting directly to the Head of Americas, you will be a key member of the regional leadership team and an entrepreneurial leader at the core of our expansion strategy, responsible for building and nurturing new franchise relationships to drive sustainable unit growth.

Based in Los Angeles, you will own franchise development across the region, leading expansion in our founding California market and into new markets nationally and internationally. You will shape and execute the growth agenda, develop short- and long-term franchising strategies, and build a pipeline of qualified prospects to meet the Company's long-term growth targets.

You will drive development across both traditional and non-traditional channels such as airports, hospitals, and universities. Working closely with Operations leaders, you will ensure development plans align with brand strategy, maximize sales, and maintain consistency across all domestic and international franchise operations.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will

• Unlock franchise growth: Lead expansion into new and existing markets, ensuring robust franchisee recruiting, onboarding, and execution.
• Create a company and franchise real estate development pipeline that achieves our growth objectives and internal capital return expectations
• Optimize asset strategy: Implement and adapt café design guidelines based on global standards for local needs in all new Cafes.
• Develop and execute a capital reinvestment strategy that keeps our company and franchised locations at current image standards (remodels and refreshes)
• Develop a comprehensive strategic plan which prioritizes California and other U.S. markets for multi-unit and non-traditional development, determines the best model by market, and includes market-specific growth strategies.
• Execute critical mass growth strategy that outlines clear prioritized road map on how to enter and grow new markets, keeping in mind strategic locations and asset types
• Drive development and operational excellence: Adopt and standardize SOPs for site and design approvals.
• Formulate and recommend business development strategies, policies, budgets, objectives, and plans to achieve café unit growth, revenue, and profit targets.
• Synthesize market data to prioritize major markets and assess new traditional and non-traditional development opportunities.
• Build and leverage a network of professional contacts to attract and retain strong business relationships and strengthen negotiations.
• Implement recruitment strategies, processes, and tools to develop relationships with financially and operationally qualified candidates.
• Initiate and coordinate asset verification and due diligence for franchise applicants.
• Manage candidates through the selection process, ensuring they are well informed and motivated through presentation of the market development plan, ADA negotiations, and related steps.
• Develop and recommend refranchising policy, including selection criteria and sourcing and negotiating with potential corporate franchisees.
• Monitor franchisee market performance and provide ongoing advice and support.
• Coordinate with the International Franchising Operations team on applicant onboarding and initial training prior to market opening.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure development plans are consistent with brand strategy and designed to maximize sales.

Your Ingredients

• 15+ years of global F&B franchise development experience, with a proven track record of extensive unit expansion.
• 10+ years' experience in F&B real estate, facilities, and construction.
• Proven dealmaking and negotiation skills, with the ability to have difficult conversations and influence decision-makers.
• Ability to engage in complex financial discussions, analyze store-level P&L and business plans, and deliver results.
• Strong knowledge of franchising and licensing as a business model, including franchise law, FTC, and registration regulations.
• Experience partnering with global teams to drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills (written and oral).
• English proficiency required.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally, up to 50%.

Performance & Rewards

At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, we embrace a high-performance culture that rewards and encourages our values of teamwork, ownership, and respect for one another.

Perks

• Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pet, Accident, Life, Long-Term & Short-Term Disability, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, EAP programs including Legal, ID Theft, and more
• Discounts on our Coffee and Tea
• Gym Discounts
• Mobile phone plan benefits
• $170,000-$230,000 annual salary with eligibility for 25% bonus
• Observed Holidays
• Vacation Pay
• Sick Pay

This is a hybrid position expected to work from our Downtown Los Angeles office Monday-Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are remote workdays.

Our ‘FROTH’ VALUES

We believe in the fundamental truths that guide us through our daily lives:

• FRIENDLINESS - We go above and beyond in everything we do. Friendliness and customer-centricity is embedded in our culture.
• RESPECT - We are inclusive and honour each other’s values, opinions and diversity.
• OWNERSHIP - We take ownership and accountability for our individual, team and business results, every day.
• TEAMWORK - As a team, we collaborate, innovate, and leverage our diverse strengths to grow the business.
• HONESTY - We live up to the highest levels of integrity by being truthful and transparent with each other, the business and ourselves.

At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, we are a global company committed to representing the neighborhoods we serve. We welcome all to apply to our Brew Crew and we value the impact of diversity on our culture and in our work.

International Coffee & Tea, LLC dba The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their race, sex, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status, genetics, or any other status protected by state or federal law.

The Coffee Bean &Tea Leaf® expressly prohibits any form of employee harassment or discrimination on the basis of any such protected status.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy was intended to comply, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® so complies, with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfers, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.