Manager, Culinary Innovation - Beverage - Sonic

Lead and manage product development of new beverages and execution of strategic initiatives across all segments and dayparts, from concept approval to product launch. Oversee the physical development of new products, product builds, and product improvement initiatives, bringing concepts to life through consumer and in-store testing.

Responsibilities

• Support the Product Innovation team in delivering against organizational and personal goals, objectives, and strategies.
• Work independently on beverage development projects with guidance from supervisor as needed.
• Participate in creating new product development objectives while collaborating with cross-functional teams, including New Product Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Commercialization, Quality Assurance, and Brand Marketing.
• Independently work with vendor partners to develop new beverages and frozen products from gold-standard product to initial benchtop samples and through the commercialization process.
• Own product development and make recommendations for improvements to current prototypes.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and create product specifications on commercialized products with vendor partners, Commercialization, Quality Assurance, and other teams as necessary.
• Lead product taste tests and new product showings. Present product improvement/change recommendations based on taste test results and feedback to Culinary Innovation leadership.
• Partner with the Procurement Team to develop accurate food and paper formulas. Provide raw material/formula specifications to Agile Lead.
• Identify enhancements to new product development and product improvement initiatives. Make recommendations to Culinary Innovation leadership for the best course of action.
• Manage the Product Innovation segment of the Product Lifecycle Management system.
• Plan and execute Product Showcase events for SONIC Senior Management, All Management Retreat, Board of Directors, Franchise Community, Marketing Leadership, Shareholders, and SONIC National Convention.
• Provide guidance and support to other product developers. Oversee the planning and communication of Culinary Support Team events/activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 2-year Associate's Degree in a culinary or food-related field.
• 4-year Bachelor's Degree in Culinary, Culinary Science, or Food Science preferred.
• 3-5 years’ experience in a culinary or product development role; QSR culinary development experience highly preferred.
• Passion for food and beverages.
• Team player with a collegial approach and ability to support teams.
• ‘Best first’ mentality to accelerate the innovation process.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation capabilities.
• Ability to set goals, determine priorities, plan, organize, and follow through on assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to make recommendations and decisions in a timely manner.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly creative with flexibility and openness to new ideas.
• Proven ability to multi-task with minimal direct supervision.
• Effective time and project management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and understanding of company culture to drive success.
• Excellent communication skills across multiple mediums and audiences, including public speaking and written communication.
• Flexibility to work in an open-concept office environment within established guidelines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other relevant software programs.