Manager, Restaurant Evolution

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 7,500+ 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: 

The Kitchen Innovation Manager is responsible for designing and developing new and improved products, technologies, and processes that ensure smooth operations which provide agility and flexibility to our business. This role drives impact across the Taco Bell business by creating innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency, safety, functionality, and overall experience of our kitchens. With this role, the opportunities are endless: Be a part of the team designing the next-generation kitchen model for Taco Bell! The Kitchen Innovation Engineer will report to the Director of Throughput and Kitchen Innovation.

The Day-to-Day: 

• As a key thought leader and action driver, partner with the Food Innovation team and Yum! Red Labs to plan and build the next-generation kitchen model for Taco Bell, one that enables a more efficient and productive team member experience, while delivering craveable food at quality and accuracy levels that meet or exceed what our customers have come to know and love.
• Create new testing infrastructure for kitchen innovations and enhancements.
• Enable further rapid testing of kitchen equipment, technologies, and processes across our system to identify opportunities for breakthrough productivity, transactional throughput, and/or profit.
• Determine which kitchen innovations have the highest measurable ROI and sell them into our system of over 7,500 restaurants.
• Establish mechanisms to identify and share innovative best practices and kitchen enhancements across the system.
• Communicate strategy, roadmap, and specific tests directly with cross-functional executives and senior franchisee leaders.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders (including Food Innovation, Engineering, Technology, Ops colleagues) towards a shared vision and delivering tangible results 

Is this you? 

Bachelor's degree; Master's degree preferred or equivalent years of experience.

• 10+ years of experience with restaurants or food service environments preferred.
• Expertise in project management (including planning, budgeting, and coordinating) with a proven ability to drive change and tangible innovation within established brand and operating models.
• The ability to keep up with the latest restaurant techniques to stay relevant and create cutting-edge solutions.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to work independently, multi-task, and adapt to change in a complex, fast-paced, and deadline-driven environment.
• The ability to prioritize and proactively manage multiple tasks with the desire to have a large impact on our organization.

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 $118,500 to $161,280 annually + bonus eligibility + equity (if applicable) + 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.