Director, Product Development

Domino's•Ann Arbor, MI

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Product Development leads Domino's innovation agenda from consumer insight through commercialization. This role oversees Product Marketing and Research & Development to build a robust pipeline of menu innovation, product optimization, and strategic growth platforms that drive sales, profitability, and brand differentiation. The position combines consumer-centric marketing and culinary innovation, using research, data, and cross-functional collaboration to identify opportunities, develop business cases, and launch products that are consumer-relevant, operationally executable, and financially sound. The role also leads the Domino's Global Product Innovation Council to connect international innovation efforts, accelerate learning, and identify scalable opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, Product Development, or related field.
12+ years of progressive experience in Product Marketing, Innovation, R&D, Brand Management, Product Development, or related disciplines.
Minimum 7 years of leadership experience managing high-performing teams.
Experience leading cross-functional innovation programs from concept through commercialization.
Strong analytical capability with demonstrated use of consumer research and business analytics.
Proven ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.
Excellent communication, storytelling, and executive presentation skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related field.
QSR, restaurant, foodservice, or consumer packaged goods experience.
Experience scaling innovation across franchise or multi-unit operating systems.
Deep understanding of consumer behavior, menu economics, portfolio strategy, and product commercialization.
Experience working with stage-gate innovation and product development processes.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the innovation roadmap; maintain a multi-year pipeline aligned with enterprise growth objectives that delivers at least three product innovations and at least one renovation each year; identify consumer, food, technology, and cultural trends; set priorities and resource allocation; shape menu strategy, portfolio architecture, and product lifecycle management with executive leadership; maintain supplier relationships; and optimize innovation processes from consumer-driven ideas through commercialization.
Lead Product Marketing strategy for innovation, renovation, and optimization; develop customer value propositions for products, platforms, and promotions; align initiatives with brand, sales, and marketing objectives; oversee business cases, forecasting assumptions, launch recommendations, and post-launch evaluations with Decision Science; lead portfolio and menu management, including additions, renovations, simplification, and SKU optimization; and partner with Operations and the OpAC franchisee council to build system buy-in and support system launches.
Lead the R&D function in designing, developing, testing, and commercializing products and menu platforms; ensure innovation meets standards for quality, profitability, scalability, and operational simplicity; improve core menu items through renovation and optimization; partner with Quality Assurance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement; champion a disciplined stage-gate process; and oversee product testing, operational readiness, and national launch execution.
Establish strategic priorities and governance for product innovation across international markets; chair council meetings; connect global marketing, culinary, operations, and innovation leaders; evaluate global concepts for scalability and commercialization; formalize sharing of best practices, consumer learnings, and product performance; build a globally informed pipeline; assess standardization, regional adaptation, and local innovation opportunities; establish scorecards and reporting; and serve as the liaison between U.S. innovation teams and international markets.
Partner with Analytics & Insights on research agendas and consumer learning plans; use quantitative and qualitative research, sales data, behavioral trends, and market intelligence to guide innovation and portfolio strategy; translate consumer, category, and competitive insights into product opportunities; document successes and failures to strengthen organizational learning; and manage internal sensory capabilities for development and consumer qualification.
Serve as executive sponsor for major innovation programs and national launches; lead cross-functional teams through concept development, testing, readiness, and commercialization; align Marketing, Operations, Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, Franchisees, Decision Science, and International teams; balance consumer appeal, operational feasibility, and franchisee economics; and drive execution and business outcomes.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Product Marketing and R&D team, including Senior Managers; foster innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement; create development and succession plans; build capabilities in consumer-led innovation, commercialization, product strategy, and portfolio management; and promote cross-functional learning and knowledge sharing.