Director, Technical Training & Operations

Who We Are

Nando’s Peri-Peri USA is a growing restaurant group currently seeking to add a full-time Head of Commercial to our Restaurant Support family. Known best for our marinated and flame grilled chicken basted to your liking with our famous PERi-PERi sauce, our casual and culturally diverse company has deep roots as a global brand originating in South Africa. 

Nando’S Vision

At Nando’s, we want to be the most loved restaurant brand in North America, sharing the spirit of Nando’s PERi- PERi with everyone who chooses to access it. We will redesign and build a business that thrives as it answers fully it is consumers’ needs -and endures over time through genuinely putting people at the heart of what we do. We will lead with our values and act with care, compassion, and kindness. By doing this, we will Change Lives Together, every day and everywhere. 

Director Technical Training & Operations

The Director, Technical Training & Operations is responsible for designing, deploying, and sustaining all restaurant-based learning programs that drive operational excellence across Nando’s USA. This leader ensures every Nandoca—from hourly team members to area directors—has the knowledge, confidence, and capability to deliver exceptional customer service.  

This role partners closely with Operations, Culinary, and Brand teams to support new restaurant openings, Limited Time Offers (LTOs), new hire onboarding, and continuous skills development for restaurant managers and leaders. As with all members of the Nando’s family, the Director, Technical Training & Operations will be expected to wear multiple hats, seek out opportunities to make Nando’s and themselves better every day, and in general, be a good team player!  

Key Responsibilities

Field Operations Support

• Serve as a central point of contact for Area Directors, supporting escalations, resource needs, and communication between field and Restaurant Support. 
• Ensure all field-facing initiatives are operationally ready—validated, communicated, and supported. 
• Aligns with People Team, collaborates with functional areas to align on execution readiness for new initiatives. 

Restaurant & Operations Training 

• Design and oversee all restaurant-based technical training programs including: 
• Hourly Nandoca training (Front & Back of House) 
• Managing Partner and Director in Training programs 
• Cross-functional skill certifications (Culinary, Service, Leadership)
• Partner with Operations and Culinary to ensure all materials are brand-aligned, operationally practical, and results-driven. 
• Continuously evaluate training effectiveness through guest satisfaction, operational KPIs, and performance feedback loops. 
• Hourly Nandoca training (Front & Back of House) 
• Managing Partner and Director in Training programs 
• Cross-functional skill certifications (Culinary, Service, Leadership)

New Restaurant Openings (NROs) 

• Lead the training strategy and execution for all new restaurant openings across United States
• Build and deploy an NRO playbook that includes staffing, certification, and readiness scorecards. 
• Train and mobilize certified NRO trainers and field support teams to ensure consistent brand delivery from day one. 

Limited Time Offers (LTOs) & Menu Innovation 

• Translate culinary and marketing innovation into clear, executable training content. 
• Manage rapid deployment of training for new products, processes, and equipment. 
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to validate readiness and measure adoption. 

Learning Design & Onboarding 

• Oversee the creation and continuous improvement of new hire onboarding for hourly, management, and support-center roles. 
• Collaborate with the HR team to integrate Nando’s culture, values, and performance expectations into every stage of the learning journey. 
• Implement digital learning platforms, job aids, and performance support tools that drive adoption and ease of access. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Lead and develop a team of training managers, field trainers, and instructional designers. 
• Foster a culture of learning that embodies the Spirit of Nando’s—Pride, Passion, Courage, Integrity, and Family. 
• Build field capability by developing certified trainers, assessors, and learning ambassadors in every region. 

Measurement & Continuous Improvement 

• Create KPIs and dashboards to measure learning impact (e.g., speed-to-proficiency, retention, guest experience scores, and operational metrics). 
• Use data insights to refine training strategies and align with business goals. 
• Benchmark Nando’s training excellence against leading brands in the fast-casual and hospitality industries. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Assist with projects and team efforts as needed.

Work Arrangement

This is an executive role based in Washington, D.C.  The role requires a strong in-person presence to lead cross-functional collaboration, mentor teams, and engage directly with key stakeholders, while offering flexibility to support strategic planning and external engagements.

 Pay Range & Benefits

• $145,000-$165,000
• Incentive Plans
• 401k and matching*
• Comprehensive Health Care Plan Options
• Wellness Reimbursement
• Technology Reimbursement

*When Applicable

This range is based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budget, the qualifications necessary for the position, education, experience, training, and other considerations permitted by law. Factors that may be used when making an offer may include a candidate’s skills, experience, and geographic location, the expected quality and quantity of work, and internal pay alignment, as needed. The upper end of the range will generally be reserved for candidates with extensive experience. An employee’s pay history will not be a contributing factor where prohibited by law. In addition to monetary compensation, we offer benefits, including Medical/Dental/Vision insurance and Company-matching 401(k) in addition to other programs and perks. The above hiring range represents Nando's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Candidates should be prepared for an interview exercise that demonstrates skills and abilities required for the position as a part of the in-person interview process.

Nando’s Restaurant Group is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• 8-10+ years of experience in Learning & Development or Operations Training within hospitality, QSR, or retail multi-unit environments. 
• HR generalist support a plus 
• Proven success leading restaurant opening training programs and system-wide rollout initiatives. 
• Experience developing frontline and management-level curriculum using both in-person and digital platforms. 
• Strong partnership skills with cross-functional teams (Operations, Culinary, Marketing, HR, Finance). 
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and project management skills. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Organizational Development, or related field (Master’s preferred).