Manager, Product Development

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead product development for new and/or existing menu items
• Manage multiple projects concurrently and prioritize between a variety of business initiatives
• Provide product and operational expertise to development of new menu product innovations and/or existing product renovations
• Ideate, explore and present new concepts, product names, brand positioning, supplier capabilities, food and equipment technology, culinary trends, etc.
• Develop a range of food and packaging prototypes that meet requirements such as food cost, concept/TURF results, operational needs, shelf life, food safety, etc.
• Clearly communicate sample requests & requirements by providing detailed, actionable feedback to suppliers during development
• Make recommendations and collaborate with Decision Science, Marketing, Sensory and external research partners on research strategies
• Lead product making for cross functional evaluations, shelf-life testing, and consumer testing
• Manage key product testing and production timelines to ensure product is ready for consumer testing and launch
• Communicate desired product characteristics to suppliers through written production requests
• Work with QA to document production settings and create future product specifications
• Coordinate with SCC, research facilities, and/or stores to ensure testing resources arrive on time and are in good condition
• Be on-site for consumer testing, make product to standard, and document product performance
• Develop and author product specifications, standards, and operational procedures
• Identify and establish quantifiable, objective product standards and sensory language
• Collect, analyze, and document data for formulation decisions
• Attend initial supplier scale-up production runs to ensure specifications are met
• Coach TMs on critical product requirements for hand-off to Training, QA, etc.
• Support procurement and QA initiatives by providing product expertise
• Make products for executive events, franchise advisory councils, leadership teams, and advertising shoots
• Support/backup test kitchen responsibilities including SCC orders, supply & equipment replenishment, cleaning, scheduling, and equipment testing
• Participate in ideation sessions and trend tours to build the product pipeline
• Support cross-functional teams when projects impact food, procedures, or equipment
• Lead and mentor 1 team member in personal, technical, and organizational development
• Take on additional projects to problem solve, develop processes, and improve organizational efficiency

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field
• Minimum 7 years R&D or related experience, preferably in the QSR or restaurant industry
• Minimum 2 years people management experience
• Understanding of food production standards (GMPs, SPC, USDA/FDA SOIs, U.S. Food Code)
• Knowledge of analytical laboratory standards (GLPs, AOAC/AACC/ASTM) and food safety standards (FSMA, HACCP, GFSI, TCS, Serve Safe)
• Proven ability to lead, collaborate, build consensus and problem solve with cross-functional teams
• Enterprise attitude demonstrating DPZ core values and ownership
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with attention to detail
• Understanding of experimental design, consumer research, and sensory science
• Ability to derive actionable insights from data
• Strong presentation and communication skills, both oral and written
• Basic computer skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
• Travel required up to 75%, including some weekend travel
• Ability to evaluate menu items via taste testing to validate organoleptic attributes
• Ability to work in a fast-paced kitchen environment, lift heavy objects, and stand for 12 hours

Nice to Have

• Experience in the restaurant or QSR industry
• Experience with sensory science and consumer research methodologies
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in product development

Benefits & Perks

• Paid Holidays and Vacation
• Medical, Dental & Vision benefits that start on the first day of employment
• No-cost mental health support for employee and dependents
• Childcare tuition discounts
• No-cost fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs
• Fertility benefits
• Adoption assistance
• 401k matching contributions
• 15% off the purchase price of stock
• Company bonus