Director - Category Management - Arby's

The   Director , Category   Management   will lead Arby’s   menu strategy &   innovation roadmap   while working in a dynamic, demanding environment with a team that values bold thinking, collaboration, and results driven execution .   This   individual   will   lead the recommendation on how we drive the business through our beverage and food categories, sub-categories, and products. Inclusive of core menu and limited time offerings.

The role   will require an individual to   identify , develop, and test   food   innovation within   existing core &   white space categories ,   while   managing the day-to-day processes for the   F ood Category Management team   to   ensur e   proper execution of   category and product promotional   windows . This person will also   be responsible for   managing the team’s research budget and generating insights on how existing categories are performing from a sales/profit standpoint   and how   Arby’s   can   optimize   those categories . The role will closely partner with the culinary team, who   is responsible for   developing products against category management briefs and the gold standard of team member and consumer experience.

This role demands an individual who is skilled at partnering with   internal and external   cross-functional groups , including franchisee   stakeholders   to work together to find solutions for complex projects. This role   has high   visibility   and this individual   will interact regularly with senior management to provide recommendations and guidance that supports   Arby’s   overall business   objectives .

Responsibitilies:

1 .  Lead team   recommendation   of   short and long-term food menu   strategy   and tactics   in order to   meet brand and business   objectives   and drive sustainable   long term   growth.

2 .  Define the roadmap for core & white space innovation while leading the workstream to develop and test   new items   in innovation stores.

3 .  Monitor item and category performance   to deliver actionable insights   for categories to maximize sales and profit growth.

4 .   People   with in the organization   with 5 direct reports ,   leading team   prioriites , providing guidance & feedback in 1:1s, and   reviewing team member career goals on an ongoing basis.

6.   Serve as a leader in change management, continually seeking methods to improve ways of working and   improve   team   efficiencies .

7 . Manage   resear ch budget and ensure the team is maximizing learnings   and insights to inform decisions.

Requirements:

- 4 Year Degree in Business Related Field
- 10+ Years in Category Management - Restaurant Experience is mandatory

- Exceptional interpersonal skills   and   demonstrated   ability in working with key executives and stakeholders to solve and   drive   to   business outcomes.

- Strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfortable with P&L workings.

- Ability to   lead a team as   a   people-manager   in a fast-paced environment .

- Understand s   how to take products or programs through a commercialization process.

- Data-driven thinking with the ability to effectively diagnose a problem or assess a situation to drive to a smart business solution.

- S elf-starter   with a bias for action, who   takes ownership of   projects   and drives them forward without constant supervision.

- Has a p assion for the restaurant industry ,   particularly for food, &   a desire to lead first, best, only

- Wil   train in stores and   connect with operators on an ongoing basis to evaluate opportunities for menu   innovation, renovation, & operation.

- Carries   a positive attitude every day and   is someone who   desires   to grow in the role and   within   the marketing organization .
- Travel Required - 10% - Supplier visits,   market visits ,   1 -2 conferences per year.
- 5 Direct Reports

Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.