Job Information
Buffalo Wild Wings Manager - Culinary Product Development & Innovation in Atlanta, Georgia
The Manager - Culinary Product Development & Innovation will lead the research and development for key new and/or existing menu items, products and processes, to support the goals of the brand from a culinary discipline. Primary focus/objective is to support key core brand and/or new product initiatives from a product development perspective to continue to make Buffalo Wild Wings the destination choice for craveable food that delivers o company financial and growth goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Develop strategic new products and carry through process from inception to implementation by working closely with Category Management partners throughout development process.
Function in the capacity of product-based project leader for product development programs from ideation / inception through introduction and full roll-out. Create Gold Standard products, develop execution procedures and/or commercialization of those GS products.
Own ongoing refinement for new and/or improved products; develop processing parameters at processor level, identify and establish quantifiable objective product standards.
Support other team member project owners throughout ideation, development and commercialization steps through teamwork and critical evaluation/feedback.
Responsible for resolution of technical issues that arise during the development of new and/or improved products, be they production, operational, or performance based.
Work closely with Ops. Services group, Q.A., Technical Services, Supply Chain and Brand Marketing in communication of technical information, related to new product test programs.
Initiate financial/profitability impact of new or improved test items as it relates to system profitability. Work closely with suppliers, Supply Chain, and Category Management in establishing profitability.
Engage in leadership presentations/product showings with full confidence and subject-matter expertise.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS
Required Minimum Culinary Degree or 4-year Degree
4-year or Graduate degree in Culinary Arts, Culinology preferred
A minimum of 10 years of lead product development work in the food industry for national chain(s) required
Strong Background in concept, product and gold standard food development for a National Chain preferred
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time for research, meetings and market visits
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS or ABILITIES
Basic computer skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.
Basic knowledge of food production and processing at plant level; thorough knowledge of food safety standards, HAACP, and Serve Safe Certification; basic culinary knowledge related to equipment and technical skills.
Must have thorough knowledge of food products, recipe & procedural writing, costs, and manufacturing, plus an understanding of restaurant equipment and services.
Requires a thorough understanding of management principles, especially of time management, business strategy, and setting priorities.
Must have knowledge of trends, consumer insights, and competitive restaurant/menu strategies.
Requires independent analytical and creative effort regarding proper procedures, planning of work, and follow-up.
Requires adaptability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while addressing aggressive timetables for completion.
Must have excellent communication skills.
Buffalo Wild Wings fuels moments worth sharing – for our guests and for our team members. Yes, it is literally working at a Sports Bar and all the energy that comes with it. We’re a brand on the rise, and we need great people as we write the next chapter of our story. If that’s you, pull up a barstool.
Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.
We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.