Brand Technology Partner

Job Summary

GoTo Foods ($6B, 6,600 units, www.gotofoods.com) is looking for a talented and seasoned Brand Technology Partner, to own the end-to-end process of ensuring each brand has everything needed from GTF Technology teams to drive successful brand launches. GoTo Foods is an Atlanta-based leading franchise developer of global multi-channel foodservice brands with $6B enterprise revenue, 6,600 units, and 3,000 employees. Brands include Auntie Anne's®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe's Southwest Grill®, McAlister's Deli®, Schlotzsky's®, and Seattle's Best Coffee®. The role will be based in Atlanta.

As the Brand Technology Partner (BTP), you will own the management and alignment of multiple GTF brand technology initiatives. This role is key to the success of both in-store on online menu change initiatives. You will work closely with brand leadership, store technology, digital technology, and strategic operations among other GTF teams . Your empathetic working style, commitment to taking care of the brands you manage, and dedication to building a positive, high-performing culture amongst your stakeholders will be crucial in driving IT’s ability to support our brands and franchisees at a high level.

The ideal candidate will have a wealth of experience in leading significant technology initiatives, with a proven track record in restaurant or retail technology operations. They should have demonstrated success in managing large, diverse cross functional teams, with a focus on empathetic collaboration. Experience with POS systems, menu development, and back-office technology is essential, along with a deep understanding of how to optimize technology to help restaurant brands achieve their desired business outcomes. The ideal candidate must have a consultative approach, having worked closely with restaurant brands or similar businesses to implement tailored, scalable technology solutions. A strong commitment to building a positive culture, supporting franchisee needs, and leading with empathy will set them apart as the ideal fit for this role.

The Brand Technology Partner is the primary liaison between their assigned GTF brand(s) and the Store Technology and Commercial Technology teams. The BTP is fully accountable for ensuring end-to-end success for all items that go through the Intake process, including a variety of processes, initiatives, and menu product launches designed to drive EBITDA growth.

Essential Functions

• Partner directly with Marketing and Operations executives to gather and document high level brand requirements for sales, marketing, and operational initiatives that require IT support and configuration.
• The BTP will translate Brand requirements into technical requirements for the Store Technology and Digital teams, and capture these in a DRR ticket
• Serve as the primary liaison between assigned Brands and technical teams, ensuring requirements are clarified and aligned with business objectives
• Communicate upcoming initiative schedules with the Digital Product Management team and Store Technology Systems Manager, providing guidance on sequencing to meet business priorities
• Incorporate feedback from Store Technology and Digital teams on DRR ticket quality to improve requirement documentation and overall process effectiveness
• Collaborate with the BTP team and Sr. Director of Store Technology to refine the intake process framework and enhance the quality of outputs
• Coordinate with other BTPs and the Store Technology Systems Manager to organize and prioritize work across brands for efficient execution
• Working with the Digital Product Management team and the Store Technology Systems Manager to communicate the schedule of the upcoming Initiatives. This includes, but is not limited to, providing insight and guidance on the sequencing of requirements to meet business needs. The effectiveness of the BTP in communicating the scheduling of upcoming requirements will be graded by the Digital PM and the Store Technology Systems Manager
• Collaborating with the BTP Team and the Sr. Director of Store technology to drive for continual process improvement and refinement of the requirements gathering and Intake Process Framework. Additionally, the BTP and BTP Team will work to improve the quality of the output of the intake process
• Working with the other BTP's and the Store Technology Systems Manager to organize and sequence the work that needs to be done across brands
• Partner annually with assigned brands to assess and forecast demand for the upcoming year
• Collaborate with the Sr. Director of Store Technology and VP of Retail IT to plan staffing levels and operating capacity that align with business needs
• Coordinate with the Digital BAU team to share upcoming work and ensure alignment on capacity and support
• Collaborate with Solutions Architects to gain a solid understanding of current features and functionality across Store Technology verticals (e.g., POS, BOS, OLO). Maintain working knowledge of the Next Gen Digital Platform, including product detail pages and menu display/setup
• Leverage knowledge of Brand business needs and current technology capabilities to work with Product Management in identifying gaps between existing functionality and business requirements. Support the RFP process by assisting Product Management in gathering and validating detailed business requirements
• Drive Prioritization & Conflict Resolution: Mediate and align competing priorities across business units, fostering transparency and consensus among stakeholders
• JIRA & Confluence Administration: Design, administer, and optimize JIRA project boards, workflows, dashboards, and reports to track progress. Document processes, standards, and best practices in Confluence
• Reporting & Continuous Improvement: Track and report on intake metrics and process health. Identify and implement improvements to increase efficiency, predictability, and consistent delivery
• Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the connective tissue between Product, Retail IT, Operations, Digital, and Vendor teams to ensure seamless intake and execution of menu initiatives
  
  

Education

• Bachelor's Degree, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related discipline, Required
• MBA, Preferred
  
  

Work Experience

• 6-10 years, IT Project management, Business analysis, Product management
• 6-10 years, Experience supporting corporate environments, preferably within an IT Department managing internal and external stakeholders
• Proven track record of success managing complex stakeholder relationships, resolving conflicts, and driving alignment
• Background in Restaurant, QSR, Retail, or Digital Ordering technology environments strongly preferred
  
  

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of translating technical concepts for business audiences
• Technical fluency in systems thinking, with the ability to understand both front-end and back-end impacts across digital and POS environments
• Working knowledge of operating systems, POS systems, applications, peripherals, backup software, cloud-based storage tools, help desk software, network, firewalls, and access points
• Working knowledge of the interdependencies between/across businesses to proactively identify risks/issues that could have an impact on business results
• Ability to manipulate and analyze raw data and condense data findings into concise, easy-to-understand charts and/or presentations
• Ability to develop and maintain positive business relationships and foster an environment of mutual respect, understanding, trust, and support
• Ability to adapt and adjust planned work through analyzing work demands, competing priorities, and tight deadlines; and to understand the most effective and efficient means to accomplish tasks within the parameters of the organizational structure, processes, systems, and policies
• Ability to analyze and organize information and to create effective and accurate documentation and reports
• Ability to anticipate and respond to the needs of stakeholders (e.g, internal and external customers, etc.) in a timely manner
• Conflict resolution and negotiation
• Cross-functional communication and relationship building
• Change management and adaptability
• Strategic problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Influence without authority
• Clear, structured, and persuasive verbal and written communication
  
  

CertificationsTravel Requirement