Sr. Associate Manager, Menu Experience & Merchandising

Yum!•Irvine, CA

13h•$121,600 - $135,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr. Associate Manager, Menu Strategy & Experience (All Channels) supports the Menu Experience Team and cross-functional partners – Ops, Digital, Product, Brand, among others – by leading the strategy and execution of Taco Bell’s in-restaurant merchandising and menu. This role owns end-to-end development of in-restaurant communication to the consumer, serving as the subject matter expert for menu and restaurant experience, ensuring a consistent, customer-focused experience that aligns with the national brand plan and drives sales. Expanded, this role impacts and owns menu strategy, design, and execution, menu experience integration, and merchandising budget management and visibility.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree required
Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in Marketing , Advertising or Communications
Strong strategic ability to translate overarching brand strategies visually to create ease for the consumer, drive food crave, and elevate the Brand
Experience working with cross functional teams and agency partners to create omnichannel merchandise within retail industry and / or franchised business a plus
Demonstrated leadership, project management, and planning skills
Strong organizational skills , process driver, and high level of attention to detail
Self-motivated with a strong drive for results

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross-functional partners through integration of the broader menu strategy into in-restaurant merchandising and communication
Translate Menu Strategy and team initiatives across all channels into clear, consistent plans that deliver on accuracy and flawless execution
Serve as the Menu Subject Matter Expert, driving merchandising strategies that support sales performance and align to the national Brand Plan
Own the end-to-end go-to-market in-restaurant print merchandising process – planning to execution - translating national Brand ensuring accuracy, speed, and consistency
Partner with agencies, franchisees, and internal cross-functional teams to develop, review, and refine creative to meet Brand and Operational standards
Oversee the management of production, fulfillment, and distribution vendors to ensure flawless execution of merchandising materials
Continuously optimize the Restaurant Experience by adapting merchandising based on performance, feedback, and business needs
Own the in-restaurant customer journey, identifying opportunities to improve the customer experience at every stage
Leverage research, analytics, and field insights to inform menu channels and in-restaurant merchandising
Develop and test new merchandising approaches and tactics, for various channels measuring effectiveness and scaling successful approaches
Own and manage the overall merchandising budget, ensuring accurate execution of Menu and merchandising updates across restaurants
Collaborate on transition and ongoing management of budget responsibilities as part of the Menu team
Partner on Menu budget tracking and visibility to align decisions with Brand and operational priorities
Manage Local Store Marketing and identify opportunities to enhance, streamline, and automate support for field teams.
Facilitate field creative reviews in partnership with external agencies and franchisees to ensure quality and alignment.
Partner with cross-functional teams to support and successfully execute restaurant experience initiatives
Align the restaurant experience calendar with both marketing and non-marketing initiatives
Collaborate with Digital Menu Board teams to ensure consistency across all menu channels

Benefits

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
Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting
Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
Discounts, free food, swag