Learning and Development Training Manager in Houston, Texas at JFE Franchising Inc

Who are we:

Wonderfield Houston are part of the Wonderfield Group which includes the YO! Taiko, Bento, AFC Sushi, and SNOWFOX/SNOWFRUIT brands – we operate more than 1500 kiosks, and 60 restaurants, our grab-and-go sushi is available in over 3,700 locations and we have 50 major retail partners. Our key markets are the USA, Canada, and the UK with additional geographic presence in Europe and Australia. Our JFE Franchising, Inc. brands are: SNOWFOX - the franchisor of over 1,000 full-service sushi kiosks in 25 states throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Alaska. SNOWFRUIT – the franchisor of over 1,000 fresh cut fruit and vegetables throughout the U.S. – Refreshingly, Crips and Flavorful! 

Our Purpose:   

We Believe in Better Food for Everyone, The Japanese Way… We continue to capitalize on consumer trends, spearheading category growth by bringing our proposition to more people around the world across more channels, in more locations, on more occasions, and in more innovative ways. We are committed to purposeful progress and profit for the benefit of our people, our communities, and our planet and we have a clear ESG strategy that delivers progress against nine UN sustainability development goals.   

Our Values: 

Own it 

We are accountable and make no excuses - We always look to improve. We take the initiative and are courageous and confident. 

Care about it 

We do the right thing, avoiding unnecessary shortcuts- We act with integrity and respect our communities, people, and our planet. 

Make it Exceptional 

We build relationships and make people smile- We say thank you - We’re positive and kind 

Win Together 

We’re open-minded and inclusive. We communicate clearly. We take time to look out for others and celebrate the good stuff. 

Overview of the role: 

The Learning & Development (L&D) Training Manager is responsible for designing, delivering, and evaluating training programs that drive employee and franchisee performance, operational excellence, food quality, and business growth across SNOWFRUIT and SNOWFOX operations. 

This role is ideal for a training professional with hands-on franchise operations and cutting experience, who can effectively train employees both in the classroom and in operational environments. 

The L&D Training Manager will lead instructor-led classroom training, hands-on cutting demonstrations, operational skills development, onboarding programs, and training initiatives. 

Working closely with Human Resources, Operations, Quality Assurance, and Training teams, this position ensures employees and franchisees are equipped with the knowledge, technical skills, and confidence needed to succeed. 

The successful candidate will foster a culture of continuous learning while ensuring consistency in cutting techniques, food safety practices, quality standards, customer service, and operational execution. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design, develop, and implement engaging training programs that support business objectives and operational standards. 

• Assess organizational, operational, and training needs through collaboration with business leaders and stakeholders. 

• Review and enhance existing training programs to improve learner engagement, knowledge retention, and overall effectiveness. 

• Develop individual and group training materials, instructor guides, SOPs, job aids, and learning resources to support consistent training delivery. 

• Ensure all training content remains current, accurate, and aligned with organizational goals 

• Conduct effective induction and orientation sessions. 

• Effectively communicate with team members, trainers, and management. 

• Provide opportunities for ongoing development. 

• Resolve any specific problems and tailor training programs as necessary. 

• Monitor and evaluate the training program’s effectiveness, success, and ROI periodically and report on them. 

• Effectively manage training budget. Maintain a keen understanding of training trends, developments and best practices. 

 • Build and maintain relationships. 

 • Administer and proctor food safety, operational compliance, and certification examinations to employees. 

• Ensure testing procedures are conducted consistently, accurately, and in accordance with company standards and regulatory requirements. 

• Coordinate and arrange travel accommodations for new hires attending training programs, including flights, hotels, transportation, and training schedules. 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for training-related travel logistics and onboarding support. 

• Ensure all travel arrangements are completed accurately, cost-effectively, and in accordance with company policies. 

• Communicate training itineraries, schedules, and logistics to participants and stakeholders. 

What you’ll need:

• Proven experience designing, facilitating, and managing effective training programs in a restaurant, retail, franchising, or food production environment. 

• Strong hands-on operational experience, including food preparation, fresh-cut fruit, vegetable, and sushi products, knife skills, and food safety practices. 

• Ability to engage and motivate learners through classroom instruction, hands-on training, coaching, and on-the-job learning. 

• Experience conducting onboarding, orientation, certification, and compliance training programs. 

• Experience administering Learning Management Systems (LMS), assigning training curricula, monitoring compliance, and generating training reports. Ability to proctor certification and safety examinations. 

• Ability to track the performance of training programs, write reports, and recommend strategies for improvement. 

• Ability to plan, multitask, and manage time effectively. 

• Strong writing and record-keeping ability for reports and training manuals. 

Strategic and creative mindset. 

• Critical thinker with innovative problem-solving skills. 

• Highly computer literate with proficiency in MS Office and related business and communication tools. 

• You are able to bring an element of excitement to the role, and pass this on to the teams engaged. 

What’s in it for you? 

• We’re committed to building inclusive Teams and giving our people the opportunity to grow their careers alongside us 

• Employer Paid Health Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance 

• 401 (K) Profit Sharing Plan 

• Hybrid work environment 

• Paid Time Off (PTO) & 13 Paid Holidays 

• Fitness stipend Book allowance 

• Tuition reimbursement and professional development

Wonderfield Houston is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to ensuring that our technology is made available and accessible to everyone. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.