Sr. Manager, Restaurant Concept Design and Innovation

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Global Design Leadership to advance next-generation Pizza Hut asset formats, including Fast Casual Delco, Modern Dine In, Express, and emerging hybrid models.
• Contribute to the long-term global asset strategy, balancing brand expression, capital efficiency, and operational performance.
• Own the evolution of flexible, modular design standards that accommodate diverse market needs.
• Drive strategic evolution of footprint optimization, all channel assets, on and off-premise acceleration, and digital-first format opportunities.
• Manage pilots and structured test programs across international markets in partnership with franchisees and regional teams.
• Develop performance measurement frameworks to assess operational impact, guest experience, and ROI.
• Capture learnings and support readiness for global scaling and playbook development.
• Ensure innovation initiatives align with global brand standards while allowing regional flexibility.
• Partner with Global Digital and IT teams to integrate emerging technologies into restaurant environments (e.g., digital ordering, drive-thru enhancements, kitchen display systems, automation opportunities).
• Evaluate infrastructure requirements to future-proof assets for evolving technology platforms.
• Collaborate with Global Operations and regional teams to improve kitchen workflow, speed of service, and labor efficiency.
• Identify cost-to-build and cost-to-operate improvement opportunities across markets.
• Develop business cases and executive-ready materials to support innovation recommendations.
• Manage external vendors, consultants, and prototype partners as needed.
• Foster alignment across a highly matrixed, global organization.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in restaurant innovation, asset development, operations, design strategy, or related field.
• Experience supporting multi-unit or international format development initiatives.
• Familiarity with franchise business models and global brand systems preferred.
• Exposure to digital and technology-enabled solutions within retail or restaurant environments.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Design, Architecture, Operations, or related discipline.
• MBA or advanced degree is a plus.