Franchisee Communications Specialist in Houston, Texas at JFE Franchising Inc

Who We Are:

We are part of the Wonderfield Group which includes the YO!, Taiko, Bento, Zenshi Sushi, and SNOWFOX/SNOWFRUIT brands – we operate more than 1500 kiosks, 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 Vegetable throughout the U.S. – Refreshingly, Crisp and Flavorful!

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 an inclusive
• We communicate with clarity
• We take time to look out for others and to celebrate the good stuff

Overview of the role:

The Franchisee Communication Specialist serves as a key communication link between franchisees and internal departments. This role is responsible for managing daily franchisee communications, addressing concerns, coordinating with Operations and cross-functional teams, supporting Franchise Advisory Council (FAC) activities, conducting franchisee exit interviews, and assisting with ownership changes and support manager processes.

Your Responsibilities:

• Franchisee Communication & Support
  • Monitor and manage daily franchisee emails, calls, and communication requests.
  • Respond to franchisee concerns in a timely, professional, and solution-oriented manner.
  • Coordinate with Operations, Contracts, Accounting, Training, Food Safety, HR, and other departments to assist with issue resolution.
  • Maintain communication logs, follow-up records, and franchisee communication tracking systems.
  • Support franchisee relationship-building, engagement, and retention initiatives.
  • Assist franchisees with operational questions, onboarding support, and communication needs.
  • Support recruiting, retention, ownership changes, support manager coordination, and franchisee operation-related tasks when needed.
  • Assist with special projects and company initiatives across multiple departments.
  • Provide flexible operational and communication support based on business needs.

• Franchise Advisory Council (FAC) Coordination

  • Coordinate FAC nomination, voting, and communication processes.
  • Communicate and collaborate with franchisees and Operations teams regarding FAC activities and updates.
  • Organize and schedule FAC meetings, both virtual and in-person.
  • Coordinate and support at least two FAC meetings annually.
  • Prepare meeting agendas, meeting summaries, and follow-up action items.
  • Maintain FAC tracking lists, communication records, and voting documentation.

• Franchisee Insights & Reporting

  • Conduct self-termination franchisee exit interviews.
  • Conduct ownership change exit interviews with franchisees.
  • Identify trends, recurring concerns, operational challenges, and franchisee feedback.
  • Prepare reports and provide operational insights to leadership and Operations teams as needed.
  • Support continuous improvement initiatives through franchisee feedback analysis and reporting.
  • Assist with franchisee surveys, communication reporting, and data collection initiatives.

• Newsletter & Franchisee Engagement

  • Prepare and distribute monthly franchisee newsletters and communication updates.
  • Coordinate communication related to operations, promotions, training, company initiatives, and franchisee programs.
  • Support franchisee appreciation, engagement, and communication initiatives.
  • Assist with special communication projects and cross-functional initiatives as needed.
• Work Schedule & Expectations
  • Flexible working hours required and not limited to a standard 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM schedule.
  • Must be available after business hours when needed to support franchisee and operational needs.
  • Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities and business demands is required.
  • Occasional travel and attendance at meetings, recruiting events, training sessions, and franchisee-related events may be required.

Please note a minimum of 40 hours per week is required. Due to the 7-day nature of our operation, some weekend and evening work may be required as determined by your direct manager and business needs.

Qualifications:

• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, and follow-up abilities.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and reporting skills.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information professionally.
• Experience working with franchisees, operations, customer service, or multi-department coordination preferred.
• Franchisee experience and familiarity with fruit cut and sushi business operations strongly preferred.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including Outlook, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills are a strong plus.

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
• Pet Insurance
• 401 (K) Matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Days
• Fitness stipend
• Book allowance
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development assistance
• Training/Advancement Opportunities

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.