Associate Manager, Food Innovation & Commercialization

Who is Taco Bell? 
 
Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone’s favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,500+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We’re not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we’re also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands.

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn’t been done before… we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries.  

We’re a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we’re at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más.

At Taco Bell, we’re Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below.
 

About the Job: 
   
The Associate Manager, International Food Innovation & Commercialization, supports the development and execution of innovative food products and ingredient strategies for international markets, reporting to the International Food Innovation & Commercialization Manager. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams, including QA, Food Safety, PD, and Commercialization, to ensure quality and food safety standards are met throughout the product lifecycle. Additionally, the Associate Manager works closely with regional Business Units to assist with new market entries, market resets, and ingredient commercialization. The ideal candidate brings creativity, organizational skills, and technical expertise to help deliver impactful business results, including meeting brand food standards, increased sales, cost efficiencies, and market growth.
 

The Day-to-Day: 

·    Assist in the development and commercialization of innovative food products and ingredients for international markets, ensuring alignment with brand, consumer, operational, and financial goals.
·    Collaborate with regional Business Units (LAC, EU, APAC) and cross-functional teams (Operations, Brand Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance) to support the execution of global food innovation strategies.
·    Contribute to the management of new market entries, market resets, and ingredient commercialization, ensuring projects meet quality standards and regulatory requirements.
·    Partner with supplier networks, chefs, and external vendors to support the development and refinement of product concepts through actionable feedback.
·    Monitor project timelines, track deliverables, and escalate potential challenges to ensure successful on-time delivery of initiatives.
·    Coordinate and assist in focus groups, development sessions, product evaluations, competitive analysis, and regional innovation workshops to gather insights and refine ideas.
·    Prepare and deliver updates, project summaries, and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
·    Research and monitor global and regional food trends to inspire and inform product development efforts.

Is this you? 

·    Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, nutrition, culinary, or related field
·    5+ years of experience in quick service restaurants, consumer packaged goods, and/or food manufacturing
·    Experience leading product innovation from concept through commercialization, including cross-functional coordination (operations, supply chain, marketing)
·    Experience with food ingredient manufacturing (e.g., meats, grains, sauces/seasonings, dairy, produce)
·    Experience working in a test kitchen, pilot plant, and/or manufacturing environment
·    Familiarity with packaging, back-of-house equipment, nutrition, or sustainability considerations is a plus
·    Experience managing supplier or external partner relationships
·    Ability to analyze data and identify trends to inform business decisions
·    Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects
·    Willingness to travel internationally (~20%)
·    Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Work-Hard, Play-Hard: 

•    Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday
•    Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons 
•    Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building) 
•    Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, and carwash
•    Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions 
•    U