Leadership Development Program

Job Description

Leadership Development Program | Chick-fil-A Charlotte

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Chick-fil-A Charlotte, located in Charlotte, NC. Chick-fil-A Charlotte’s Leadership Development Program is designed for individuals eager to develop into impactful leaders, offering more than just a job. The program builds future leaders by providing structured, hands-on experience across three high-performing Chick-fil-A locations, immersing participants in operational leadership, team development, and business management. This role matters as it fosters growth through mentorship and a philosophy of shared investment, empowering individuals to take ownership of their development. Graduates emerge fully equipped to pursue significant leadership roles within Chick-fil-A, other business environments, or diverse professional paths where they can drive meaningful change.

The TL;DR
• Role: Early Career
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Charlotte, NC

• Team: Under the mentorship of Operator Rob Rogers and local leadership teams.
• Mission: To develop participants into capable leaders equipped for roles within Chick-fil-A or broader professional environments by immersing them in operational, team, and business management.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Operations: Support daily restaurant operations, including front-of-house hospitality and back-of-house food production.
• Leadership: Lead and coach team members during shifts while ensuring overall service quality.
• Business Management: Manage labor and food costs and support scheduling and inventory processes.
• Development: Learn and apply Chick-fil-A operational systems, assisting with training, onboarding, and talent development initiatives.
• Performance Analysis: Analyze key performance metrics, contribute to problem-solving, and collaborate to improve guest experience, team engagement, and business performance.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Early-Career. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent, with a preference for some college or a degree in business, management, or a related field. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to personal growth, integrity, and consistently delivering positive experiences for both guests and team members.
• Experience: Proven leadership potential is essential, evidenced by involvement in team-oriented roles such as student organizations, community service, athletics, or prior work experience.
• Skills: Strong communication skills, including the ability to collaborate with diverse team members, provide clear direction, and build positive relationships with both guests and teams. Analytical skills are necessary to interpret business metrics, identify operational trends, and support data-informed decisions for improving guest experience. A customer-service orientation is also key to supporting hospitality, upselling initiatives, and fostering guest loyalty.
• Bonus: Interest in or exposure to programming or software development for leveraging digital tools and systems.