Manager – Leadership Development

WHO WE ARE

We’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavor business. It’s been our mission to Serve the World Flavor since we first opened in 1994, and we’re just getting started. 1997 saw the opening of our first brand partner operated Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavor that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry.

Above all else – our success is largely due to our people and our core values, or what we call The Wingstop Way of being entrepreneurial, service-minded, fun, and authentic. We believe having a strong people foundation centered on these collective values creates a crave-worthy culture and talented team, as well as ensures our brand is poised for accelerated growth. We all win together.

WHAT WE’LL NEED

The Manager, Leadership Development builds targeted development experiences that strengthen leadership capability and readiness across Wingstop’s Director-and-above population. This individual contributor leads through subject matter expertise, project ownership, and cross-functional coordination. The role manages the design and delivery of development experiences serving Directors, Senior Directors, and Vice Presidents; facilitates VP and senior-leader learning; and coordinates the operational execution of coaching and assessment engagements. This is a hands-on builder and operator role for someone who works with urgency, exercises sound judgment, and moves work from idea to execution. The Manager translates established leadership priorities and business needs into practical, high-impact experiences that build self-awareness, enterprise leadership, and succession readiness.

What you’ll do

Learning Design and Delivery

• Build, implement, and facilitate leadership development for Directors and above.

• Create differentiated experiences that strengthen enterprise thinking, strategic influence, decision quality, talent leadership, organizational effectiveness, and leadership at scale.

• Develop facilitator guides, participant materials, cases, simulations, assessments, reflection tools, and application resources tailored to senior-leader needs and connected to overall leadership expectations

• Build cohort, peer learning, and experiential development opportunities that connect leadership growth to Wingstop’s strategy and real business priorities.

VP Learning and Facilitation

• Partner across functions with senior leaders and subject matter experts to align session outcomes with broader business objectives

• Use strong judgment and senior-leader presence to manage complex group dynamics, healthy debate, sensitive topics, and changing needs in the room.

• Prepare leaders to serve as faculty, sponsors, mentors, or discussion leaders and provide the structure and support needed for an effective experience.

Coaching and Assessment Engagements

• Manage leadership coaching engagements from intake through closeout, including clarifying goals, selecting and onboarding coaches, aligning expectations, monitoring progress, and evaluating the overall engagement while protecting confidentiality.

• Coordinate leadership assessments and integrate insights into individual and cohort development plans.

• Partner with leaders, HR Business Partners, and Talent Development to connect coaching and assessment investments to identified development priorities and succession needs.

Stakeholder Partnership and Facilitation

• Consult with HR Business Partners and business leaders to understand capability gaps and recommend solutions aligned with team and business needs.

• Facilitate learning using discussion, practice, simulations, reflection, assessments, video, and other methods that encourage participation and application.

• Prepare leaders and subject matter experts to teach, share experiences, and reinforce learning with their teams.

Program Management and Continuous Improvement

• Manage multiple development initiatives simultaneously, personally driving the details while maintaining clear milestones, stakeholder roles, communications, budgets, risks, and decision points.

• Establish clear roles, deadlines, and expectations for program contributors; follow up consistently, address gaps, and keep work moving through completion.

• Move quickly from identified need to usable solution by creating minimum viable content, gathering feedback, and improving it without allowing perfection to slow progress.

• Use program data and insights to improve processes, evaluation methods, and learning outcomes.

• Use AI and learning technology to accelerate content development, personalize resources, synthesize insights, and improve the senior-leader experience while applying appropriate judgment and confidentiality safeguards.

• Stay current on senior leader development, coaching, assessment, succession, and leadership practices and recommend approaches that fit Wingstop’s culture and growth strategy.

• Encourage curiosity and collaborative problem-solving among program partners to improve how learning experiences are built and delivered.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 5–7 years of experience in leadership development, organizational development, or learning & development, with a mix of design, facilitation, and program management.
• Proven ability to design and facilitate learning programs (both in-person and virtual), with curiosity and openness to expand into new methods and technologies.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while learning and adapting along the way.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills, with a growth mindset and willingness to seek feedback.
• Experience partnering with senior leaders and HR Business Partners to align solutions with business needs — or a strong desire and capability to grow into this partnership space.
• Passion for leadership, growth, and Wingstop’s mission to serve the world flavor, with an eagerness to bring fresh ideas and continuously improve.

WHO YOU ARE 

No job is too small. You recognize that the real work happens in the restaurants, and everything we do should support their success. You stay humble, roll up your sleeves, and always look for ways to help. You learn from others and contribute wherever you can.

You care deeply about doing great work and driving results. You’re curious, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to improve. You don’t just point out problems—you bring solutions, ideas, and perspectives that move the team forward.

You take full responsibility for your work and see things through to completion. You aren’t afraid to fail because you know that failure is a part of learning and growth. You take action, move fast, and keep pushing forward.

You lead with empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence. You collaborate effectively, fostering a culture of trust and constructive feedback. You understand the importance of teamwork and ensure that your actions build others up rather than break them down.

You push yourself and others to be better. You embrace healthy conflict, knowing that great ideas and strong teams emerge from honest, constructive conversations. You believe that leaders create leaders and are committed to fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and continuous improvement.

BENEFITS

FLAVOR PERKS:

• Unlimited paid time off for exempt employees

• One paid volunteer day of your choice

• Competitive bonus structure for eligible roles

• Team member stock purchase plan

• Health savings or flexible spending account options

• 401k – (dollar for dollar on the first 3% and then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2% for team member contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation)

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

• Basic life and AD&D insurance provided

• Pet insurance

• Education Assistance

• Wellness reimbursement program

• Paid maternity and paternity leave

FUN IS THE BEST FLAVOR:

• Lunch provided every Tuesday and Thursday in office

• Discount on Wingstop gift cards

• Onsite game room

Wingstop provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.