International Business Development Director

Role Overview
- The position works directly with the CEO and Founder to translate SOKO’s vision into a global growth strategy, with a strong focus on long- term brand value, operational excellence, and financial sustainability.
- This role goes beyond traditional business development. It is responsible for shaping how SOKO enters new markets, selecting the right partners, structuring high- value deals, and ensuring that every new location reflects the brand’s standards in both experience and performance.
- The International Business Development Director will lead the global expansion of SOKO Cake Bake Brunch, focusing on building a scalable, high- quality international footprint through strategic partnerships, master franchise agreements, and selective joint ventures.
Global Expansion Strategy and Market Selection
- Define and execute SOKO’s international expansion roadmap (priority markets: Australia, Middle East, Asia, North America)
- Build 3–5 year expansion pipeline with clear rollout targets and milestones
- Conduct deep market analysis: consumer behavior, competitive landscape, cost structure, and regulatory environment
- Identify optimal entry strategies per market (master franchise, JV, or direct investment)
Franchise and Joint Venture Structuring
- Lead sourcing, evaluation, and selection of master franchise partners and strategic investors
- Structure commercial terms:
Master franchise fee
Development commitments (multi- store rollout)
Equity participation where applicable
Lead negotiations end- to- end, ensuring strong alignment with SOKO’s long- term positioning
Royalty structure
Protect SOKO’s upside while maintaining partner motivation and scalability
Deal Execution and Market Entry
- Oversee full lifecycle of market entry:
Coordinate with internal teams (operations, kitchen, design, marketing, supply chain) to localize and execute the concept
Ensure first store in each market is delivered at flagship quality (design, workflow, customer experience)
Personally oversee key openings for new markets
Pre- deal- > Due diligence- > Contract- > Launch
Financial Strategy and Investment Planning
- Build and validate financial models for each market:
Work with CEO on investment strategy (including SOKO co- investment where relevant)
Ensure deals meet minimum return thresholds and strategic value
Evaluate partner financial capacity and operational readiness
Revenue projections (daily, monthly, annual)
CAPEX requirements
Profit margins and payback period
Brand Control and Global Consistency
- Maintain strict control over:
Key ingredients and supply chain
Store design and layout
Menu core structure
Location approval
Ensure every SOKO location globally delivers a consistent, premium experience
Balance localization with brand integrity
Brand identity and marketing direction
Supply Chain and Operational Alignment
- Work with internal teams to expand SOKO’s supply chain internationally
- Ensure core ingredients, pastry systems, and packaging are standardized across markets
- Optimize cost structures while maintaining product quality
- Support partners in sourcing and operational setup to meet SOKO standards
Partner Management and Performance
- Build long- term relationships with franchise partners and investors
- Monitor performance across markets:
Intervene and restructure when performance is below expectations
Revenue per store
Profitability
Operational standards
Drive continuous improvement and expansion within each territory
Internal Leadership and Cross- functional Alignment
- Work closely with:
Align all departments to support international rollout
Finance and Supply Chain
CEO and Founder
Operations Director
Build scalable internal processes for multi- market expansion
Marketing and Brand Team

- Proven experience in scaling brands across multiple cities or countries
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills (high- value deal structuring)
- 8–12+ years in international business development, franchise, or expansion (F&B / hospitality preferred)
- Deep understanding of:
Experience working with founders / entrepreneurial environments is highly preferred
Franchise models
Market entry strategies
Key KPIs
Ability to operate both strategically and hands- on
Fluent in English (additional languages such as Chinese or Arabic is a plus)
Strong financial acumen (P&L, ROI, CAPEX planning)
Restaurant operations
- Speed and success of new store openings
- Average store performance (revenue + profitability)
- Compliance with SOKO brand and operational standards
- Number and quality of signed master franchise / JV deals
- Number of new markets entered per year
- Revenue contribution from international markets
Success Profile
This role is for someone who:
- Understands both brand and numbers
- Can negotiate aggressively while building long- term partnerships
- Is driven to scale a premium hospitality brand globally
- Is comfortable working in ambiguity and building structure from scratch
- Thinks like an investor, not just an operator

 Working schedule: Monday to Friday at the office, Saturday working remotely (WFH)
 Enjoy a comfortable working environment with afternoon tea, pastries, and milk provided
 Public holidays in accordance with Vietnamese Labor Law
 Competitive salary (negotiable based on experience and capability)
 12 days of annual leave per year
 Working hours: 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM, with lunch break from 12:00 PM – 01:00 PM

Cập nhật gần nhất lúc: 2026-04-16 14:10:03