Leadership Development Program
The Leadership Development Program’s (LDP) vision is to be the premier global leadership development experience. Its purpose is to accelerate growth in high impact leaders through dynamic business opportunities. Participants grow both personally and professionally as they confront and solve real-world leadership challenges.
The next generation of business leaders
Sharpen your skills with Chick-fil-A® leaders. Program participants will have opportunities to continuously develop their leadership skills, both personally and within the restaurant business.
A life-changing opportunity
Find out firsthand what it takes to lead the operations of a quick-service restaurant. Grow your business acumen and restaurant leadership skills while being deployed to Chick-fil-A restaurants across the United States & Canada.
Real work
Gain high touch exposure to everyday business operations while leading large teams and ensuring a smooth restaurant transition to the incoming business owner.
Real life
Learn what it takes to manage priorities while interacting with diverse people and cultures as you travel across the United States & Canada.
Real growth
Come face-to-face with complex business challenges at each assignment and gain the skills deemed necessary by our program experts to generate business profitability, select top talent in our restaurants, and deliver consistent food safety and food quality while ensuring quick service.
Learn to lead by doing
Often seen as a business and leadership accelerator, the Leadership Development Program aims to develop future business leaders through real work, real life, and real growth experiences.
Hands-on experience
The journey begins with an immersive operational bootcamp followed by a series of assignments in which you’ll serve two key business roles: Interim Manager and Grand Opening Supervisor.
Bootcamp
Learn all aspects of a Chick-fil-A restaurant through an immersive, in-restaurant operational bootcamp. You’ll learn basic restaurant operations, like making the Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, then move on to more complex business strategy and problem-solving, like finance, staffing and customer relations.
Interim Manager
Apply your bootcamp learning while supporting the management of Chick-fil-A, Inc.-Operated Restaurants to prepare for a successful and smooth transition to a newly selected Restaurant Owner.
Grand Opening Supervisor
Build on your Interim Manager experience to help consult with independent franchised Chick-fil-A Operators during the Grand Opening of new Chick-fil-A restaurants in the United States & Canada.
Professional development
Every leader is unique, and the Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program seeks to create individualized learning experiences to equip you for complex business challenges and to realize leadership potential.
You will create a holistic development plan to steward your growth during the program and partner with an LDP Program Lead who serves as a consistent coach throughout the journey. You will also receive access to other consultants, professionals, and executive coaches during your LDP journey. Beyond individual development plans, you will have the opportunity to learn and grow from your peers and other business owners at each assignment.
Hear from past participants
The Chick-fil-A Leadership Development Program means business. But don’t take our word for it. Learn more from people who lived life in the program.
“Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program is about more than just developing as a business professional. It’s about the people and the unexpected opportunities to care for, grow alongside of, and develop along the way.”
Lincoln Nikkel
Leadership Development Program Participant
“To say the Leadership Development Program has refined my leadership skills would be an understatement. The program has stretched me personally and professionally and has helped reveal a level of grit and tenacity I never knew I possessed. It has taught me to be intentional and to never get complacent as an individual and a leader.”
Mufuti Sanusi
Leadership Development Program Participant
Program at a glance
Qualifications
You should have a bachelor’s degree OR be able to demonstrate five years of leadership experience.
Application
After submitting your application, expect a series of interviews over the course of 90-150 days before a selection decision is made.
Requirements
You must be willing to travel 100 percent of the time with availability to work on weekends and be able to work in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
Benefits
You receive attractive compensation and other benefits to accommodate life on the road for 30-to-36 months.
Info session
Attend an info session before applying
Ready to apply?
Let’s assess your readiness for the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to succeed in the Leadership Development Program.
- Ability to work independently with minimal oversight
- Keen business judgment and sound decision-making skills
- Experience working with and leading teams
- Problem solving and analytical skills
- Ability to provide clear and consistent feedback
- Ability to manage conflict in a respectful and timely manner
- Promptly takes responsibility and action as needed
- Listens effectively; seeks to understand
- Curious about the needs of those around them
- Quickly establishes rapport and inspires others
- Communicates clearly and concisely