Director, Product Marketing

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone's favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,200+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We're not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we're also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands. 

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn't been done before... we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industryboundaries.  

We're a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we're at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Mas.

At Taco Bell, we're Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below. 

About the Job:

Taco Bell is known for being a fast-paced, entrepreneurial organization.  Its renowned marketing team is seeking to hire a creative, dynamic, hands-on Director to lead Menu Strategy, Planning, and Integration.  Fundamental to success in the role will be exceptional leadership skills and proven marketing savvy, together with an unwavering focus on bold, creative problem-solving.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in identifying new opportunities within the marketplace and generating innovative ideas to promote new products that contribute to long-term brand elevation and sales growth. Examples of projects include the testing of different ways to transform consumer behaviors to drive overall business and leverage different levers to transform consumer mindset in the short and long term.

Lastly, this individual must enjoy mixing work with fun! Taco Bell is very proud of its exciting and innovative culture and is seeking individuals who truly enjoy coming to work each day!

The Day-to-Day:

Actively partner with the Marketing Leadership (MLT), cross-functional teams, and franchisees to provide thought leadership to identify new opportunities within the marketplace and generate innovative ideas to promote new products that contribute to long-term brand elevation and sales growth.

Diagnosis & Strategy

• Deliver bold vision to drive brand initiative properly supported by insights and data
• Deliver Annual Growth Plan / Strategic Plan for product initiative that drives the overall Brand goals and objectives
• Business Planning expertise on all meaningful product initiatives
• Develop a data-driven consumer-led strategy in partnership with Consumer Insights and Analytics teams.
• Leverage consumer trends, insights, and diagnosis to define and refine a consistent 3-year plan.
• Inspire and Influence vision to cross-functional leadership and franchise partners

Program Execution

• Apply step-change thinking to the business and deliver disruptive ideas to propel the occasion/initiative forward
• Create retail tactics on how we bring the strategic plans to life across our restaurants
• Construct a program design collaboratively with our cross-functional partners including food innovation, ops, finance, and supply chain
• Identify potential risks in program execution and plan contingencies accordingly
• Design national marketing programs and menu board layouts to deliver incremental sales lift, partnering with LT on franchisee strategy and sell-In narratives to achieve program alignments.

Strategic Counsel

• Input and advice on critical marketing planning activities
• Long and short-term Business Plans & Key Growth Levers
• Paid, Owned, Earned Communications Planning
• Customer Strategy, Marketing Calendar & Campaign Planning
• Objective and KPI setting

Calendar Commercialization

• Deliver National and Test Product calendars in collaboration with brand marketing, Product Marketing, digital marketing & and cross-functional teams (finance, operations, product development, and supply chain)
• Drive commercial planning of annual product calendar and ~10 experiences/campaigns to ensure brand and business goals can be achieved and executed across 7000+, predominately franchise-owned restaurants
• Partner with Franchise Marketing committee to ensure calendar alignment and execution

People & Process Development

• Coach and develop a team of three direct reports and their direct teams
• Lead and inspire a high-performing team, supporting their development and encouraging them to nurture ideas and strategies to fully realized, high-level execution
• Partner closely with Brand Marketing and Marketing Operations in continuous improvement and evolution of marketing process and roles

Is This You?

• BA/BS required; MBA preferred
• 12+ years of relevant work experience
• Forward-leaning, big-picture thinker who can also manage details of various assignments
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect implications of projects across the organization
• Highly credible leader with the ability to influence outcomes on key initiatives - partnering with Executive Team and non-ET organization leaders
• Ability to partner well with other cross-functional partners to align and deliver results both directly and through influence
• Strong management skills with the ability to relate to team members of multiple levels
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication/presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex issues in a simple manner
• Strong team building/managerial experience is preferred
• Demonstrated success influencing diverse customers or stakeholders and leading teams in cross-functional settings
• Based in or relocate to Irvine, CA

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule and year-round flex day Friday
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons 
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building) 
• Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, carwash, 
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions 
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering 
• Tuition reimbursement and education benefits 
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program 
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution fromYum! Brands with immediate vesting 
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and... honestly, too many good benefits to name 

Salary Range: $165,000 - 185,000 annually + bonus eligibility + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

At Taco Bell, we Live Mas and invite you to do the same. Take a seat at our table. Bring your voice. Bring you, just as you are, a Cultural Rebel. We want you to be your best self! 

Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.  

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