Director, Distribution & Field Service (214097-886)

Overview of the Position

The Director of Distribution and Field Service is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the strategy, performance, and field execution of a $7B Distribution and Logistics network supporting 17,000+ restaurants across Yum! Brands, including Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell, Habit Burger & Grill, and A&W. This role operates at the intersection of supply chain and field operations, ensuring strategies translate into consistent execution, improved service, and optimized total system cost. As a trusted representative of senior leadership, this individual will engage confidently with franchisees, executives, and external partners, including representing the organization in board meetings and industry forums.

Essential Functions

• Own end-to-end performance of Distribution and Field Service Operations, delivering consistent execution, service excellence, and cost efficiency across all markets, distribution partners, and restaurant operators.
• Act as a strategic business leader, not just a functional expert, translating operational insights into enterprise-level decisions that improve system-wide performance and franchisee outcomes.
• Serve as a trusted representative of senior leadership, with the ability to confidently lead discussions and represent the organization in executive forums, board meetings, franchisee engagements, and industry events.
• Demonstrate strong executive presence and communication skills, delivering clear, concise, and impactful messaging to diverse audiences including franchisees, senior leadership, and external partners.
• Lead and optimize strategic partnerships with distribution providers, holding partners accountable to service, cost, and quality expectations while influencing outcomes without direct authority.
• Serve as the critical link between field operations and supply chain strategy, ensuring real-world operational needs are reflected in decision-making and that strategies translate effectively into execution at the restaurant level.
• Drive field-level execution excellence, proactively identifying, prioritizing, and resolving service, quality, and delivery issues impacting restaurants, with clear ownership of root cause and corrective actions.
• Establish, monitor, and continuously improve KPIs across distribution and field service, using data-driven insights to influence decisions and drive accountability across internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead high-impact communication and change management efforts, including town halls, franchisee meetings, and transition communications, ensuring clarity, alignment, and confidence across the system.
• Oversee complex distribution transitions, network changes, and new market launches, ensuring minimal disruption through disciplined planning, risk mitigation, and cross-functional coordination.
• Partner cross-functionally (Procurement, Finance, IT, Quality, Operations) to solve complex problems, align priorities, and drive initiatives that balance cost, service, and long-term strategic value.
• Own financial performance related to distribution and field service, including budget management, variance analysis, and identification of opportunities to reduce total system cost while improving service levels.
• Influence and support contract strategy and negotiations, ensuring operational realities, service expectations, and field requirements are embedded in all agreements.
• Develop and institutionalize scalable processes, tools, and playbooks to ensure consistent execution, rapid issue resolution, and effective communication across all markets.
• Lead cross-functional teams and complex initiatives, aligning stakeholders, managing risks, and ensuring delivery against key milestones and business objectives.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and accountability, challenging the status quo and identifying opportunities to enhance distribution network performance and field support.
• Coach and develop team members, building a high-performing team capable of operating with autonomy, strong judgment, and a sense of ownership.
• Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives, franchisees, and external partners, often without direct authority.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of evolving business priorities.
• Ability to travel 50-75%, with a strong emphasis on field engagement, distribution center visits, franchisee interaction, and external representation.

Required Competencies and Skills

• Demonstrates executive presence and credibility in high stakes environments.
• Operates as a business leader, not just a functional expert.
• Effectively influences without authority across complex stakeholder groups.
• Communicates with clarity, confidence, and impact at all levels.
• Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and drives outcomes.
• Balances strategic thinking with operational execution.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain, distribution, logistics, or operations, with at least 5-7 years in senior leadership roles driving large-scale, multi-market operations.
• Proven track record of leading complex distribution networks and managing strategic third-party partnerships, with demonstrated success in improving service, cost, and operational performance.
• Experience within the food, restaurant, or related supply chain industries is highly preferred, though not required.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a business leader beyond functional expertise, translating operational insights into strategic decisions that impact enterprise performance.
• Exceptional executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to confidently represent senior leadership in board meetings, executive forums, franchisee engagements, and industry conferences without oversight.
• Proven ability to influence and lead without direct authority, aligning diverse stakeholder groups (internal teams, franchisees, and external partners) to drive results.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience managing budgets, analyzing cost drivers, and identifying opportunities to improve total system economics.
• Experience leading through change and ambiguity, including large-scale transitions, network transformations, or operational turnarounds.
• Demonstrated ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing teams, fostering accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Great Benefits!

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Retirement
• Vacation
• Life Insurance
• and much more.