The Senior Manager, Product Innovation is a member of the marketing team supporting product innovation and menu strategy at Freddy’s from concept to restaurant. This position will be focused on utilization of guest insights, culinary trends and menu performance data to drive the development of new products to market.

This position will work on-site in our new Wichita Support and Innovation Center.

Specific Responsibilities

• Act as the project manager for the cross-functional product development team including management of internal project management software.
• Set clear project timelines, allocate resources, and track progress.
• Communicate effectively with team members and testing partners to ensure timelines are met.
• Lead product research within our restaurant locations to gather valuable insight from our guests. Includes research design, conduct, interpret and communicate results.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external menu research partner and leads external research process.
• Administer surveys, tabulate the data, and draw conclusions.
• Provide actionable recommendations based on the data to enhance our guest experience.
• Work with our external research partners to effectively gain insights to guide our culinary strategy.
• Refine KPIs to measure effectiveness of tests and LTO products.
• Utilize data to make informed recommendations for promotional product calendar.
• Manage category dashboards for menu items and deliver insights for the system and executive team on monthly performance.
• Parter with external vendors and suppliers to bring co-branded menu items to market. Includes product design, approvals, visual and marketing signage approvals, etc.
• Own all guest-facing packaging items from a visual and branding standpoint.
• Partner with Supply Chain and creative agencies as needed for updates and new items that require graphic design.
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Skills & Proficiencies

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, or related field.
• 5-7 years minimum related experience in marketing.
• Proven experience in project management and research.
• Keen understanding of the product development process.
• Passion for guest insights and bringing new products to market
• Data driven, analytical
• Excellent attention to detail and time management skills - ability to work within tight deadlines, as
• needed.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-starter.
• Ability to manage and advance multiple projects at the same time while meeting all deadlines.
• Problem-solving and results oriented, responsive.
• Energetic, positive attitude.
• Strong computer skills a must, including Outlook; Excel; MS Word; MS PowerPoint as well as Project Management software such as Jira

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Talk and hear in person and over the phone.
• Read and disseminate information from printed sources and computer screens.
• Stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, bend, stoop, and lift up to 40 pounds.
• Travel by airline and/or automobile as needed; and
• Be available a variety of hours that may include
• evenings, nights and/or weekends based on projects.