Chipotle (CMG) is out with a new campaign to hire 15,000 full-time and part-time employees ahead of its busiest time of the year, the months of March to May, or what it calls "burrito season."

These hires will be kept on for "ongoing employement" beyond the busy season, a Chipotle spokesperson confirmed.

The hiring campaign, dubbed "pull back the foil" features six employees across the U.S. that rose in the ranks that company from a crew member to managerial roles.

In the release, Chief Restaurant Officer Scott Boatwright said, "We are targeting employees today to serve as our leaders of tomorrow … We will continue bringing in new crew to support Chipotle's aggressive growth plans, while simultaneously promoting and upskilling those currently in role."

In 2022, 90% of the company's managerial roles were internal promotions, while 22,000 employees were promoted.

A Chipotle spokesperson told Yahoo Finance the chain's current average U.S. hourly wage is now above $16. Back in 2021, the California-based burrito chain increased its average hourly wage to $15, resulting in the potential earnings for a General Manager position to reach an average compensation of $100,000 "in as little as three and a half years."

Chipotle does indeed have big growth plans in mind. Boatwright added that the company has "a goal of more than doubling our footprint to 7,000 locations in North America."

Per Q3 results, management plans to open 255 to 285 new restaurants this year. Last quarter, Chipotle opened 43 new restaurants with 38 locations including a drive-thru, which the company calls Chipotlanes.

To help in the hiring process, Chipotle is rolling out AI technology to support the hiring process later on this year.

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Brooke DiPalma is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at [email protected].

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