Franchisee Onboarding Consultant

The Goddard School • Full-time • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States • 2h ago

Join the Goddard Systems, LLC (GSL) corporate team and help shape a nationally recognized leader in early childhood education!

GSL supports approximately 675+ Goddard School locations across the U.S., helping franchisees deliver high-quality, play-based learning to more than 100,000 children and families. Our corporate team drives the strategy, systems, and support that enable schools across the network to thrive.

Position Overview

The Franchisee Onboarding Consultant serves as the primary operational coach and consultant for franchisees entering The Goddard School system—through new franchise awards, new school development, or transfers of ownership. This role ensures smooth, compliant, and successful onboarding and transition experience while driving early enrollment growth and operational readiness.

From Building Permit or Letter of Intent (LOI) approval through 90 days post‑opening or post‑transfer, the Consultant partners closely with franchisees to guide school readiness milestones, surface and escalate risks, and build the capabilities required to operate a high‑performing, premium early childhood education school.

Key Responsibilities

Franchisee Onboarding & Readiness

Lead a structured onboarding roadmap, ensuring timelines, milestones, and deliverables are executed as planned.
Guide franchisees through operational and programming readiness standards, ensuring alignment with brand, licensing, and health and safety expectations (in collaboration with the health and safety team).
Serve as the franchisee’s primary point of contact, proactively identifying and escalating risks to the Director, New Franchisee Training Program and internal partners.

Licensing & Compliance Readiness

Monitor licensing progress and escalate risk when requirements, timelines, or approvals are at risk.
Guide franchisees through licensing readiness milestones, including preparation for state licensing visits, health and safety inspections led by GSL, and required documentation.
Provide ongoing guidance on childcare licensing requirements, background checks, ratio rules, health and safety standards, and state‑specific mandates.
Maintain accurate documentation of compliance milestones for new schools and ownership transitions that occur via School Transfers.

Enrollment Growth & Market Activation Help franchisees develop and activate local marketing, community engagement, and enrollment plans aligned to opening and enrollment targets.

Coach franchisees on lead generation, local marketing tactics, community partnerships, and high‑conversion tour experiences.
Orient franchisees to FMS, Wonder of Learning including The Goddard Family Hub and outlining parent communication expectations.
Monitor enrollment progress against targets, surfacing and escalating risk relative to opening dates and upcoming enrollment periods.
Analyze enrollment and marketing data to identify gaps, adjust tactics, and implement corrective action plans when needed.
Introduce tools that the franchise consultant will utilize such as the Annual Business Review, System Standards Review and Wonder of Learning Review (TBD)
Ensure classrooms are tour ready, supporting the Wonder of Learning program, shelves contain learning materials and the school and classrooms are inviting.

Staffing & Operational Capacity Planning

Provide guidance on staffing models to include recruitment marketing and hiring timelines to support enrollment growth and operational readiness. Franchisee conducts all hiring activities.
Assess staffing plans in relation to licensing, ratios, enrollment pacing, and financial sustainability.
Coach franchisees on leadership readiness, staff onboarding, and early operational routines.

Transfer of Ownership & Changeover Support

Assess operational health and safety, licensing status, staffing stability, and enrollment continuity of the outgoing operation.
Coach incoming franchisees through a structured transition plan, including coaching, training, GSL systems access, and licensing notifications.
Provide time‑bound post‑changeover stabilization guidance focused on early indicators of enrollment continuity, leadership alignment, and operational stability.
Ensure continuity of child, family, and staff experience throughout the ownership transition.

Risk Management & Escalation

Surface readiness, enrollment, licensing, changeover, and stabilization risks early and clearly.
Escalate risks promptly when expectations are not being met, partnering with cross‑functional teams to resolve issues.
Monitor early warning indicators and intervene with targeted support to prevent downstream disruption.

Coaching, Communication & Collaboration

Coach franchisees on curriculum implementation, school readiness, staff onboarding, and brand standards.
Support franchisees through opening week and/or transfer week, and early operations to reinforce best practices and goal setting
Provide bi-weekly progress updates to franchisees and internal stakeholders.
Track milestones, risks, and performance metrics in internal systems.
Build strong, professional relationships with franchisees and cross‑functional partners.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, Business, Project Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
3+ years of experience in early childhood operations, franchise operations, school leadership, or multi‑unit field support.
Strong knowledge of childcare licensing standards and regulatory compliance.
Experience with onboarding, project management, or school launches.
Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship‑building skills.
Ability to travel up to 85% for site visits and transitional support.

Preferred