Sr. Manager, Culinary Innovation - Arby's

Deliver industry-leading product innovation that drives traffic, revenue, and guest satisfaction. Lead multiple innovation workstreams while providing coaching, direction, and technical leadership to Culinary Innovation team members. Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to translate business objectives into commercially successful menu innovation and support the development of culinary capabilities across the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

Innovation & Product Development

• Lead larger and more complex core menu, LTO, and product improvement initiatives from concept through commercialization.

• Translate culinary briefs, consumer insights, and business objectives into differentiated products that drive guest satisfaction and traffic.

• Remain hands-on in the kitchen, providing culinary direction through prototyping, optimization, product testing, and validation.

• Guide vendor partners from concept to commercially viable samples and through the commercialization process.

• Identify relevant culinary, consumer, and competitive trends and apply them to current and future development work.

• Champion first-in-class, best-in-class, and differentiated products that strengthen Arby’s position in QSR.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Commercialization

• Champion food quality across all assigned projects and categories, proactively identifying risks, ensuring cross-functional partners take timely corrective action, and driving preventative measures that protect guest satisfaction and brand equity.

• Coordinate multiple workstreams, clarify priorities, manage timelines, and proactively escalate risks or resource needs.

• Guide commercialization readiness, including specifications, yields, supplier readiness, procedures, training, packaging, and equipment needs.

• Build alignment among partners and drive disciplined follow-through from development through launch.

People Development & Team Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and development for assigned Culinary Innovation team members.

• Support workload prioritization and resource planning across multiple projects in partnership with the Director.

• Serve as a culinary and technical resource, helping team members solve development and commercialization challenges.

• Foster a team culture of creativity, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Strategic Planning & Organizational Support

• Support the Director in developing innovation priorities, category strategies, and short- and long-term pipeline recommendations.

• Participate in annual planning, innovation showcases, executive tastings, supplier sessions, and culinary trend exploration.

• Identify opportunities to improve team processes, tools, capabilities, and ways of working.

Requirements:

• Minimum 2 Year Degree with a concentration in Culinary Arts or Food Science / Food Technology / closely related scientific discipline

• Preferred 4 Year Degree with a concentration in Culinary Arts or Food Science / Food Technology / closely related scientific discipline

• 8+ years of progressive experience in culinary innovation, food science, product development, menu strategy, or a related discipline.

• Experience leading complex innovation programs from concept through commercialization.

• Multi-unit restaurant, foodservice, or consumer packaged goods experience strongly preferred.

• Experience coaching team members and leading cross-functional initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to work with senior leaders and deliver business results.

• Passion for Food & Culinary mastery – creative menu development, food products, cost, manufacturing, restaurant operations and equipment

• Collaboration – demonstrated ability to work with other functions and external vendors to build trust & deliver results  

• Strategy & program development – ability to take idea to execution, managing multiple priorities and functional engagement

• Strong organization and presentation skills – balance multiple priorities, keep timelines & records, clearly written & verbal communication

• Thrives in ambiguity – ability to multi-task with minimal direct supervision. Move quickly on tight timelines while maintaining strong work product & quality standards

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Decision-Making Authority

Responsible for product development and project execution decisions within approved briefs and business priorities, including culinary direction, product optimization,