Job Description
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
The Innovation Team transforms and continuously improves DomOS store technology, equipment, and processes to enhance the lives of global store Team Members and customer experiences. Everything Innovation works on should positively impact one or more of these items: time to competency, product consistency, speed of service, waste reduction and customer / team member sentiment.
The Operations Innovation Manager will leverage their operations experience, creative thinking, and project management skillset to lead innovation projects and consult on new innovations. In this exciting hands-on roll, you’ll lead cross functional teams, interact with vendors, launch pilots in stores, and deliver innovative solutions to make, bake, and deliver products more efficiently. This role will work with other innovations groups, representing the voice of Operations as a subject matter expert, assuring projects are designed for maximum field adoption and system benefit, while staying true to the Innovation mission.
60% Lead Innovation projects from Ideation to General Availability
• Execute equipment and process store innovation projects using the Stage Gate process. The Stage Gate process includes taking projects from the idea phase, prototyping, in-store testing, all the way to general availability
• Execute the long-term strategies and objectives for DomOS, supporting the company’s vision and purpose
• Work cross-functionally to balance project scope, cost and timelines while upholding the Innovation mission and exhibiting Innovation values
• Facilitate cross-functional work with key counterparts across Procurement, Technology, A&I, Safety & Security, Operations, Marketing, Training and other divisions
• Support the team in the optimization of the stage gate process through a cycle of continuous refinement
• Partner with key business stakeholders to ensure timely completion of all projects and priorities throughout each phase in the Innovation life cycle
• Stay abreast of consumer/operations trends and new technologies
20% Product Management and Lifecycle Leadership
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define product requirements and success metrics
• Translate operational insights into actionable product features and enhancements that improve store performance and customer experience
• Own the product lifecycle for assigned innovations - from concept through pilot, launch, and post-launch optimization
• Prioritize product features and roadmap decisions based on data, feedback, and strategic impact
• Partner with Technology, Data Science, and Marketing to ensure seamless integration of product features into existing platforms and campaigns
• Monitor product performance and adoption metrics, using insights to inform future iterations and enhancements
20% Cross Functional Partnership and Operational Consulting
• Represent the voice of the customer while consulting on projects.
• Contribute to the operational conversation at the brand level, representing the voice of Innovation.
• Identify synergies and look to integrate other innovations projects and products for maximum operator benefit.
• Advocate for our in-store team members, supervisors, and Franchisees to ensure any change will work efficiently for our store operators.
• Coordinate and lead hands-on cross functional tests / demos in the DIG that may require ordering food, setting up the DIG store, running tests / demos, and breaking down the DIG store.
• Develop and manage project plans for items that may support partnership / consulting projects like technology or supply chain enhancements that require operational process changes, or developing smallwares for product innovations.
OVERALL, THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING:
• Build trust and foster collaboration with internal teams, store operators, and Franchisees
• Communicate effectively as a facilitator, storyteller, and active listener who asks insightful questions
• Demonstrate strategic, forward-thinking and entrepreneurial mindset with comfort in ambiguity and future-oriented concepts
• Take initiative with a bias for action and results, adapting flexibly to shifting priorities
• Apply analytical thinking to synthesize complex, unstructured data and drive decisions
• Leverage networks and resources to inform and educate project work efficiently
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, Technology, or other related field.
• 5+ years of professional working experience in a related industry.
• Proven operations knowledge or demonstrated desire to build operations knowledge by spending extended time in stores.
• Strong project management skills with proven experience utilizing tools such as Smartsheet, Monday, and Microsoft Project.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging AI tools, such as Microsoft Co-Pilot, to enhance productivity and accelerate problem-solving.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including presenting and public speaking.
• Strong organizational and task management skills.
• Ability to travel up 20% of the time, including limited extended trips during the piloting phase of projects.
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.