Business Development Manager - Franchise Partnerships

UniFi is seeking a highly driven Business Development Manager to lead the acquisition of new franchisor partnerships and expand its portfolio of franchise brands. This role involves identifying and closing franchisor relationships while executing outbound sales, relationship building, and marketing strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, target, and engage franchise brands that align with our ideal partner profile
• Execute outbound prospecting via email, LinkedIn, phone, and industry events
• Own the full sales cycle—from initial outreach through partnership close and onboarding
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of franchisor opportunities
• Own and manage CRM records and activities
• Build and execute targeted email campaigns for franchisor outreach
• Develop lead generation workflows, sequences, and automation
• Track, analyze, and optimize campaign and pipeline performance
• Maintain clean, accurate data and reporting within CRM
• Develop and manage relationships with consultants, brokers, and industry partners
• Create consistent inbound opportunities through referral channels
• Nurture and expand partner relationships into long-term growth drivers
• Represent the company at industry conferences and franchise events
• Actively network, generate leads, and schedule meetings with franchisor prospects
• Travel regularly to attend events, build relationships, and close deals in person
• Own pre- and post-event outreach strategies to maximize ROI
• Build trust with franchisor executives and leadership teams
• Clearly communicate our value and how we support franchisee success
• Partner with internal teams to ensure smooth onboarding and long-term success

Requirements:

• 4–7+ years in business development, partnerships, or B2B sales in the franchise industry
• Experience in franchising, multi-location businesses, or SaaS
• Strong experience using HubSpot (or similar CRM) for outreach, campaigns, and pipeline management
• Proven ability to prospect, generate leads, and close deals independently
• Experience running email campaigns and outbound sequences
• Comfortable attending and working conferences/events as a core part of the role
• Excellent communication skills, especially with senior stakeholders
• Highly self-motivated, organized, and execution-focused
• Existing network within the franchise ecosystem
• Experience managing referral or channel partnerships