Director, Learning & Development

About the Role

The Director of Learning and Development is responsible for developing, driving, and continuously improving enterprise-wide learning and development strategies that focus on all facets of learning and capability development to enable a high-performance culture. This role owns the development and scaling of training solutions that support franchisees, trainers, managers, and in-center teams, with a strong focus on execution, consistency, and business impact.

This leader operates as a critical thought partner to the VP of Operational Excellence and cross-functional leadership, translating business priorities and operational insights into scalable, high-impact learning strategies.

Who We Are

European Wax Center, Inc. is the largest and fastest-growing franchisor and operator of out-of-home body waxing services in the United States, with over 1,000 locations nationwide. Our vision is to become an iconic brand that delivers profitable growth while staying true to our authentic culture.

Our corporate team, supports key areas of the business - including marketing, technology, accounting, finance, and operations - all focused on empowering our franchisees and strengthening the brand.

What You'll Do

• Learning and Development

• Define and own the enterprise Learning & Development strategy, aligning capability-building initiatives to business priorities, operational performance, and long-term growth objectives

• Translate operational insights into targeted, practical learning solutions that drive measurable improvements

• Serve as a strategic advisor to Operations Excellence and senior leadership, diagnosing performance gaps and defining enterprise learning priorities that drive measurable business outcomes

• Support key operational initiatives by ensuring training is aligned, timely, and reinforces desired behaviors and standards

• Partner closely with Field Operations, Franchise teams, and Operational Excellence to ensure training supports real-world execution

• Ensure training programs are practical, easy to implement, and directly tied to performance outcomes and operational standards

• Lead the instructional design function, ensuring high-quality, engaging, and user-friendly learning experiences

• Leverage blended learning approaches (in-person, virtual, digital) to maximize impact

• Maintain and evolve training content, tools, and resources to meet changing business needs

• Own and optimize the learning ecosystem, including LMS strategy, tools, and technologies to enhance accessibility, scalability, and user experience

• Improve accessibility, usability, and efficiency of learning tools and resources

• Manage vendor relationships, budgets, and external training partners as needed

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners (Operations, Marketing, Guest Experience, HR, etc.) to align on priorities and solutions

• Act as a consultative partner to identify root causes of performance gaps and recommend appropriate solutions

• Set clear priorities, manage workload, and ensure high-quality, timely delivery of initiatives

• Produce regular reports and insights on talent strategy progress

• Develop quarterly and yearly goals and metrics for each initiative that supports the overall strategy

• Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Build and lead a high-performing L&D team, setting vision, priorities, and clear performance expectations

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

• Communicate clearly and effectively with stakeholders at all levels, providing regular updates, insights, and recommendations

• Drive engagement across teams and stakeholders by creating learning experiences and communication strategies that build alignment, participation, and sustained adoption of key initiatives

What Sets You Apart

• Strategic mindset with the ability to connect learning initiatives to business performance and enterprise outcomes
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and partner effectively with senior leaders and franchise stakeholders
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong project management and prioritization skills
• Strong operational acumen with an understanding of multi-unit or franchise environments
• Practical, solutions-oriented growth mindset with a focus on execution and impact
• Demonstrated success translating learning strategies and training initiatives into measurable performance outcomes and business impact
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams through coaching, accountability, and talent development
• Ability to travel 15% of time

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Instructional Design, Organizational Development, Education, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 10+ years of progressive experience in Learning & Development, including ownership of enterprise or network-wide learning strategy in a multi-unit, franchise, retail, or service-based environment
• Proven track record of translating business strategy and operational priorities into scalable learning solutions that drive measurable performance outcomes (e.g., revenue growth, retention, service quality, operational consistency)
• 5+ years of leadership experience, including building, scaling, and developing high-performing teams and/or functions
• Experience operating at a strategic level with senior leadership, influencing decisions, setting priorities, and driving cross-functional alignment
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution, with accountability for outcomes, not just delivery
• Experience establishing learning measurement frameworks and using data to assess effectiveness, inform decisions, and continuously improve programs
• Experience building and leveraging external partnerships (e.g., schools, industry associations, vendors) to strengthen talent pipelines and brand presence
• Experience in franchise, retail, or multi-unit operations strongly preferred
• This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship*

European Wax Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of EWC and operating subsidiaries are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory/management personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.