Sr. Associate Manager, Brand Marketing Merch

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 8,500 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 industry boundaries.

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 Más.

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 seeking a highly motivated and culturally savvy Senior Associate Manager, Brand Marketing – Merchandising to drive the development and execution of innovative merchandise strategies that amplify our brand, connect with fans, and create incremental revenue streams. This role sits at the intersection of marketing, product development, and culture—bringing Taco Bell’s bold personality to life through apparel, collectibles, collaborations, and retail experiences. Lead the planning and execution of Taco Bell’s print channel restaurant experience by partnering with cross functional and agency teams, leveraging customer journey insights, shaping brief inputs, and ensuring all executions align with the national brand plan across in restaurant touchpoints.

You will be required to attend the Irvine, CA office three days per week (Tuesday - Thursday)

Day-to-Day:

• Lead the end‑to‑end print merchandising process—from field needs to national execution—to maintain a consistent, cohesive brand voice across all touchpoints.
• Print Subject Matter expert for business delivery on sales targets year over year.
• Oversee go‑to‑market planning for each marketing initiative, ensuring on‑time and seamless rollout.
• Respond quickly to market shifts, adapting plans and solutions at the restaurant level as needed.
• Facilitate field creative reviews in partnership with external agencies and franchisees to ensure quality and alignment.
• Leverage diverse research methods and tools—including internal partners, competitive/vendor research, customer surveys, focus groups, interviews, and analytics—to gather and analyze insights on customer behavior and needs across all in-store print programs.
• Own restaurant customer journey to optimize the guest experience at every stage.
• Push for greatness by developing and testing new POP tactics.
• Lead POP tests to determine effectiveness of new tactics, validating support for programs.
• Working with external partners to develop, distribute, and maintain the national print channel, restaurant experience schematics to support consistent touchpoints and flawless execution.
• Partner with cross functional teams and vendors on ad hoc restaurant experience projects and support needs (e.g., Hiring, Operations, Technology, Beverages).
• Collaborate with cross functional partners to ensure the restaurant experience calendar aligns with both marketing and nonmarketing initiatives and upholds brand standards.
• Partner with Digital Menuboard teams identifying consistency on all menu channels.
• Manage national and regional production, fulfillment, and shipping vendors to support flawless delivery of print materials.
• Oversee strategic planning and execution for in-store POP from schematics to roadmaps.
• Liaison for internal partners and vendors for restaurant POP support and execution.
• Manage and deliver the annual print merchandising budget, including creative development, production, and shipping costs.
• Partner with Finance to track and evaluate monthly vendor spending and merchandise budget.
• Manage the Local Store Marketing website and identify opportunities to enhance, streamline, and automate support for field teams.

Is This You?

• Bachelor's Degree required
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in marketing or comms
• An attention to detail and a strong process driver that strives in a fast-moving environment
• Experience in multi-channel retail industry and / or franchised business a plus
• Strong strategic ability to visualize the overarching brand strategy into image to drive food crave and elevate the brand
• Experience working with cross functional teams and agency partners to create multi-channel merchandise
• Demonstrated leadership, project management, and planning skills
• Self-motivated with a strong drive for results

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Year-round half-day Fridays
• Free snacks, drinks and bagel & donut Fridays
• 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, salon services
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions
• 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Opportunities to support the Taco Bell Foundation’s educational initiatives and programs.
• Recognition based culture and unique, fun events year-round (recess at work, Halloween Spooktacular, employee art show benefiting Taco Bell Foundation, etc.)

Salary Range:

$121,000- $135,000 bonus eligibility. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.

At Taco Bell, we Live Más 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.

US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the "Know Your Rights" poster, click here. You may also access Taco Bell’s Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Employees here.