About the Company:
Pressed Cafe is a dynamic and rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant group known for its vibrant atmosphere, scratch-made food, and commitment to exceptional guest experiences. With deep roots in New England and ambitious growth on the horizon, we are focused on scaling our brand while preserving the high standards and culture that define our success.
About the Role:
We are a fast-growing restaurant company, and we know that scaling with excellence starts with how we train and develop our people. We’re looking for a forward-thinking, hands-on Director of Training & Development to lead the charge in building a best-in-class learning culture across our restaurants and support teams.
This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for designing and executing a company-wide learning strategy that fuels operational consistency, leadership growth, and team engagement. You’ll be the architect of our first Learning Management System (LMS), crafting immersive, tech-enabled training experiences that empower our teams to thrive in a fast-paced, guest-first environment.
Learning Strategy & Execution
- Build and implement a scalable learning and development strategy aligned with our business goals and growth trajectory.
- Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure training supports performance, consistency, and culture across all locations.
Training for Growth
- Lead all training efforts for new restaurant openings, ensuring teams are fully equipped from day one.
- Design and deliver engaging, high-retention training programs in multiple formats self-paced, instructor-led, blended, and social learning.
AI-Driven Learning Innovation
- Champion the use of AI and gamification to create dynamic, personalized learning experiences.
- Evaluate and implement a modern LMS that supports our evolving training needs and enhances employee experience.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Identify skill gaps and build programs that support leadership readiness, succession planning, and career growth.
- Integrate learning into key talent processes like onboarding, performance reviews, and development planning.
Culture & Change Enablement
- Be a culture carrier, embed learning into the DNA of our organization and help shift mindsets toward curiosity, growth, and innovation.
- Act as a change leader, helping teams adapt to new tools, systems, and ways of working.
Measurement & Impact
- Develop metrics to track training effectiveness, adoption, and business impact.
- Use data to continuously improve programs and demonstrate ROI to senior leadership.
What You Bring
- 7+ years of experience in Learning & Development, Talent Management, or Operations, ideally in a fast-paced, multi-unit restaurant or hospitality environment.
- Proven success designing and scaling training programs that drive business results.
- Strong understanding of adult learning principles, change management, and learning technologies.
- Experience with AI-enabled learning tools, digital platforms, and analytics.
- Strategic mindset with the ability to execute and influence across all levels of the organization.
- Excellent facilitation, storytelling, and communication skills.
- Passion for building people, systems, and culture from the ground up.
- Education: Bachelor's (Preferred)
- Ability to Commute
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Pressed Cafe is committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
