Academy Program Manager

Our Client is a fast-growing casual steakhouse brand focused on delivering exceptional dining experiences across the globe. This position reports directly to the P&C Manager.

Summary of Position

The Academy Program Manager is responsible for designing, launching, and governing all SB Academy programs across the company ensuring training translates into measurable performance and readiness outcomes.

Beyond training quality and consistency, this role is explicitly accountable for accelerating time to role competence, reducing repeat operational errors, and improving promotion readiness across markets. The role creates training content and standards, delivers new programs for the first time, trains and approves trainers, and ensures training drives real-world performance once handed over for regular delivery.

The role is accountable for training quality, consistency, and performance impact across all markets.

In line with the company Academy Charter, this role acts as the single owner of training standards, certification, and performance readiness, with authority to intervene when standards, readiness, or performance outcomes are at risk.

Duties & Responsibilities

Training Program Design

• Design and structure all SB Academy training programs.
• Define learning objectives, content, assessments, and certification standards.
• Ensure training reflects how Swiss Butter actually operates.

Program Launch & Initial Delivery

• Deliver new training programs the first time they are rolled out.
• Pilot and test programs before wider delivery.
• Refine content based on early feedback and results.

Train-the-Trainer

• Train and certify those who will deliver training regularly (Specialists and ops-based trainers).
• Clearly define who is allowed to train each program and under what conditions.
• Set re-certification and quality requirements for trainers.

Training Governance & Standards

• Own and protect training standards across all locations.
• Ensure all training delivered locally follows approved content and structure.
• Step in when training quality drops or standards are not applied.
• Exercise authority to pause, correct, or redesign training delivery where standards, certification integrity, or performance readiness are compromised.

Performance Tracking & Improvement

• Review training results and performance outcomes.
• Identify gaps between training and real-world performance.
• Update and improve programs when needed.

Alignment & Accountability

• Align closely with Operations leadership on training priorities.
• Act as the single point of accountability for training quality globally.
• Ensure training supports readiness, progression, and long-term scale.

Undertake any other responsibility assigned by your direct Manager.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Time to role readiness for new joiners and promoted employees
• Reduction in repeat training required for the same operational or performance gaps
• Certification compliance linked to promotion eligibility and store openings
• Consistency of training delivery across markets
• Performance improvement indicators linked to completed training programs
• Trainer certification, re-certification, and compliance rates

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business, HR, Education, or related field
• Masters degree is an advantage
• 8-12+ years of experience in training, learning, or capability development
• Proven experience designing and launching training programs
• Strong exposure to operational environments

Core Competencies

• Strong instructional design capability
• High standards and attention to quality
• Ability to translate operations into training
• Influence without direct authority
• Data-driven and outcome-focused

Technical Skills

• Training design and assessment frameworks
• Learning management systems
• Advanced facilitation and presentation skills
• Data analysis and reporting