Vice President of Development

Vice President of Development

Location: Dallas, TX

Reports to: President, la Madeleine

About la Madeleine:

la Madeleine is a legacy French-inspired café brand entering its most exciting chapter yet. With decades of heart, hospitality, and handcrafted food at our core, we’re now writing the future of the brand—elevated, modernized, and built for expansion.

Backed by the global strength of our parent company, Groupe Le Duff—one of the world’s premier restaurant organizations—la Madeleine is charting a bold growth course across the U.S., with sights set on international expansion as well. While Groupe Le Duff provides scale and support, this is a dedicated la Madeleine leadership role with the opportunity to shape the next generation of a beloved American brand.

We’re not just opening cafés—we’re building something bigger. Energized by innovation, pride in our heritage and brand purpose, and freshly committed to creating moments of warmth and joy for our guests, we’re poised for next-level growth—in traditional trade areas and non-traditional venues like airports, universities, and hospitals.

The Opportunity:

We’re looking for a Vice President of Development to drive the physical and strategic expansion of la Madeleine. This is a senior leadership role overseeing franchise partner growth, real estate strategy, site selection, architectural design, and construction execution—across both traditional and non-traditional formats.This is a Dallas based position.

You’ll report directly to the President of la Madeleine and play a central role on our leadership team as we scale our presence, elevate our brand, and bring our joyful guest experience to new audiences across the country and soon-to-be internationally.

What You’ll Lead:

• Franchise Growth & Partner Success

o Lead and execute our franchise development strategy—identifying the right markets, attracting the right operators, and fueling nationwide expansion.

o Work closely with our tremendous franchisees to support their growth, success, and alignment with our evolving brand vision.

• Real Estate & Market Development

o Own end-to-end market planning, site selection, and real estate strategy—guided by data, performance insight, and brand relevance.

o Spearhead expansion in both traditional markets and non-traditional venues such as airports, universities, and hospitals.

• Design & Construction

o Lead all aspects of design and construction—ensuring that each café opens on time, on budget, and with the right brand impact.

o Help design the next-generation café look and feel—spaces that reflect our French-inspired charm, signature warmth, and joyful spirit.

• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

o Build and lead a high-performing team across development disciplines, from real estate to construction and design.

o Collaborate closely with leaders across Operations, Marketing, Culinary, and Finance to ensure aligned and successful new unit openings with our Franchise Partners.

Who You Are:

• A seasoned development executive with 10+ years of experience in restaurant, hospitality, or retail expansion
• Deep experience in traditional franchise growth strategy and non-traditional venue development—airports, universities, hospitals/medical centers.
• Well-versed in real estate, construction management, and scalable design systems and process management.
• A team-first, solutions-oriented leader who can think big, move fast, and build smart
• Excited by the chance to scale a legacy brand into a bold future—and help deliver joyful, meaningful experiences along the way

Why This Role Matters:

• You’ll help lead la Madeleine’s next-level growth—with the backing of Groupe Le Duff and the energy of a brand in transformation
• You’ll shape the physical footprint and guest experience of a brand built on warmth, hospitality, and soul
• You’ll work with a passionate leadership team committed to culture, clarity, and brand reinvention
• You’ll help us bring la Madeleine to more people, more places—and in doing so, create moments that truly spark joy

la Madeleine is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Company Introduction

GET TO KNOW LA MADELEINE
Over three decades since our founding, we continue to celebrate the integrity of French cuisine, using fresh ingredients and recipes that have been passed from one generation to the next.
Our History
1976
Louis le Duff opens Brioche Dorée his first bakery concept in Brest, a city in Brittany in northwestern France.
1983
The first la Madeleine location opens in the heart of Dallas, TX on Mockingbird lane across from Southern Methodist University.
Today
There are now over 80 la Madeleine locations, each with their own individual charm. With every generation, we pass on our tradition of recipes and the authentic French experience.
THE CASUAL FRENCH EXPÉRIENCE
Find Your France
In the middle of a busy life, la Madeleine is a little piece of France you can call your own. Guests are encouraged to choose the la Madeleine experience that suits them. Sit and sip quietly by the fireplace or choose the patio and take place in what we consider one of the highest forms of French culture: the art of conversation.