Academy Head

Executive recruitment company Monroe Consulting Group Philippines is hiring on behalf of a restaurant group. Our client is seeking an Academy Head that will establish and lead the organization's academy as the company's center of excellence for training, certification, and talent development. This role ensures that all employees across BOH, FOH, and RMS functions are systematically trained, certified, and prepared for career progression. The ultimate objective is to create a sustainable leadership pipeline and succession plan that fuels organization's rapid growth and supports its mission to set the standard in Japanese casual dining.

Key responsibilities:

Training Schedule & Delivery

• Develop an Annual Training Calendar aligned with brand priorities, new store openings, and identified capability gaps.

• Design and deliver functional training modules:

• BOH – cooking standards, HACCP/food safety, menu innovation.

• FOH – service excellence, FOH 1.5, guest recovery, upselling.

• RMS/Support – finance basics, leadership, data systems, HR compliance.

• Establish cadence:

• Core skills

• Leadership programs
• Onboarding
• Refresher/Re-certification

Certification

• Implement a tiered certification framework: Bronze (entry), Silver (intermediate), Gold (advanced).
• Oversee both written and practical assessments with structured panel reviews (AM, HRBP, Academy).
• Manage certification validity and recertification processes.

Training Records

• Maintain a digital 201 file for every employee.
• Track training completion, certification level, performance ratings, and career path intentions.
• Integrate records with HRIS and dashboards for real-time visibility.

Curriculum Development

• Build a core curriculum covering guest obsession, consistency, leadership mindset, and SHG values.
• Develop role-specific curricula for FOH, BOH, and RMS/Manager roles.

• Introduce a dedicated Leadership & Management Training module to strengthen SHG's leadership pipeline:

• Supervisory skills for first-line leaders.

• People management fundamentals (coaching, feedback, conflict resolution).
• Strategic leadership for mid- to senior-level managers.

• Change management, decision-making, and business acumen.

• Continuously refresh content to stay aligned with brand innovations and evolving operational standards.

Succession Planning

• Establish clear talent pools (Shift Leaders → RGMs; RGMs → Area Managers; Chefs → Executive Chefs).
• Lead quarterly talent reviews, linking training completion to promotion readiness.
• Provide employees with transparent career maps to inspire retention and long-term growth.

Instructor Development

• Define and enforce instructor standards (Gold-level certification + Train-the-Trainer).
• Monitor training quality through participant evaluations, mystery audits, and KPI tracking.
• Build, coach, and sustain a strong internal trainer pool across SHG brands.

Key requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, HR, OD, or related field. Preferably with master's in education, HR/OD, or Business Administration.
• Professional certifications (ASTD, CIPD, SHRM, ServSafe, HACCP) are advantageous.
• 10+ years in training & development, ideally within hospitality, F&B, or retail.
• Proficient in HRIS and digital KPI dashboards.
• Proven experience developing and managing Learning Management Systems (LMS).
• Skilled influencer across Operations, HR, and Executive Committees.
• Excellent communication skills; English & Filipino required, Japanese familiarity a plus.
• Strong operational background in hospitality (FOH/BOH or multi-unit leadership).