The Manager - 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.