Manager of Store Openings & Brand Partnerships at MISSION YOGURT INC – Westminster, Colorado
About This Position
Mission Yogurt, Inc. is a boutique concessionaire company that operates restaurants primarily in high-traffic airports, including Denver International and San Diego International Airport. Mission operates a wide range of concepts, including fast food, fast-casual, full-service restaurants, and retail stores.
As Mission continues to grow, we are looking to add a Manager of Store Openings and Brand Partnerships to our team.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Manager of Store Openings and Brand Partnerships plays a dual operational and strategic role, overseeing the full lifecycle of new restaurant openings (NROs) while also cultivating and managing key external brand partnerships. This position is responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of new restaurant openings while building and managing strategic brand partnerships that support company growth. This role ensures each new location is planned, coordinated, and executed on time and to brand standards, while also developing collaborations that enhance visibility and expand market reach. Working closely with senior leadership and the Director of Business Development, this position aligns timelines, resources, and partnership opportunities to drive successful launches and long-term strategic expansion.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
New Restaurant Opening Management and Operations
Manage the full NRO critical path by coordinating internal teams and external vendors, overseeing store layout design and revisions, and ensuring the timely ordering, purchasing, and setup of all fixtures, equipment, and operational elements.
Lead the setup of the location, ensuring all merchandise is unpacked and displayed according to brand standards.
Act as the primary point of contact and communication between the construction team, support teams and the new locations management team to keep projects on track.
Work closely with HR, Recruiting, and Management to drive interviewing, onboarding, and training efforts, promoting a positive and high-performing team culture.
Complete all required documentation for timekeeping and project plans, ensuring detailed recaps after the NRO.
Work with IT and Operations to ensure all store systems are set up and functioning correctly.
Manage daily tasks and projects within the established budget—including labor costs—while ensuring all financial goals for the project are met.
Brand Partner Strategy and Relationship Management
Develop and implement a comprehensive brand partnership strategy that aligns with the company’s overall business objectives.
Identify, research, and recruit potential strategic partners, organizations, or influencers to create high-impact, mutually beneficial collaborations.
Initiate, build, and maintain strong long-term relationships with new and existing partners, serving as the primary point of contact to coordinate communication, manage expectations, and ensure ongoing engagement and collaboration.
Negotiate the terms, structure, and scope of partnership agreements to secure mutually beneficial contracts that support the company’s long-term strategic goals.
Oversee and orchestrate the execution of partnership campaigns and go-to-market strategies, ensuring they align with brand messaging and marketing goals.
Track, analyze, and report on the performance of partnership initiatives, using data to monitor effectiveness, drive partner-driven revenue, and optimize future collaborations.
Collaborate closely with internal departments—including marketing, purchasing, and customer service—to integrate partnerships into broader company strategies and efficiently resolve any client or operational issues.
Develop and provide partners with necessary resources, training materials, sales enablement tools, and co-branded marketing assets to ensure their success within the program.
Upholds ideals, values, and practices that are the foundation of Mission Yogurt: Loyalty, Innovation, Service, Communication, and Flexibility.
KEY SKILLS:
Expert negotiation skills with the ability to structure complex deals and secure high-value agreements.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively.
Contributes to a positive work environment through enthusiasm, dedication, and responsiveness.
Strong analytical abilities and a strategic mindset to anticipate industry trends and position the organization ahead of the market.
Ability to perform in a multi-tasking environment and work creatively with limited resources.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Availability and willingness to work days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
A Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Business and relevant experience in partner management, sales, or business development are required.
Strong understanding of consumer trends, brand positioning, digital marketing strategies, and an increasing mastery of technology integrations between partner platforms.
Experience working in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
Experience in restaurant, hospitality, or multi-unit operations is required.
5–7 years of experience in multi-unit operations, project management, business development, or brand partnership roles.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY:
Two years of the appropriate type and level of experience will serve as an equivalency to one year of education.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to alternate between sitting and standing for up to 10 hours. Position requires prolonged sitting, bending, stooping, twisting, reaching overhead, and lifting products and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds, with occasional lifting and/or moving of items up to 50 pounds, as well as repetitive hand and wrist motion.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with this job. This is an exempt-level position. Scheduled hours vary by training and recruitment needs, including necessary adjustments made during high and low seasonal changes. Weekly, candidates should expect to work up to and sometimes over 50 hours a week, potentially including late nights, weekends and holidays. The schedule will vary weekly based on current company initiatives. On-call required. We are a 24/7, 365 operation. The successful candidate must be able to pass a background check with our company, with the TSA, a drug screen, and be insurable with a valid driver’s license.
The role requires extensive travel (up to 50%) as the company explores markets and venues as outside of Denver as defined and set forth in Mission’s Strategic Growth Plan.
Mission Yogurt, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal treatment of all employees without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability or other basis protected by law. While Mission is committed to following this principle in every facet of employment, all employees share in the responsibility to promote and foster a favorable work environment.