Director, Category Management

The Director, Category Management is responsible for leading and directing the brand's category management function, including establishing culinary strategic priorities, including product and menu design. This role involves strategic planning, supplier management, cost control, menu optimization, and collaboration with various teams to enhance the overall guest experience. The Director, Category Management plays a key role in pricing strategies, promotions, and marketing initiatives to drive sales and enhance guest satisfaction. This position requires a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making to achieve business objectives in the dynamic and competitive restaurant industry. In partnership with internal teams the Director - Category Management will commercialize new menu items and products, both core and LTO.

This role will sit in our Atlanta Support Center, with an expectation to be onsite 80% of the time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Collaborates with VP, Brand Experience, and CMO to develop annual marketing plans.
• Lead the strategic development and implementation of category management strategies that align with brand objectives and customer needs.
• Collaborate with the culinary development team to refine concepts and develop products for test/launch, introduce new items, improve existing recipes, and ensure menu innovation.
• Plan and execute promotions and marketing initiatives for specific food and beverage categories to drive sales and enhance customer engagement.
• Develop and implement pricing strategies for menu items, considering factors such as ingredient costs, market trends, and perceived value.
• Collaborate with data analytics to assess category performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and report on key metrics to senior management.
• Build business cases for innovation and collaborate with CI to test product concepts. Collaborate with the culinary team on category/consumer/business inputs to develop concepts.
• Optimize product portfolio, including pricing, margins, and limiting cannibalization (in collaboration with Revenue Management).
• Manage performance & growth of team.
• Manage cross-functional stage-gate teams & processes.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• 4-year degree in Marketing or a related field required.
• 10+ years of experience in Category Management, Marketing, or related field.
• 5+ years in a Marketing, Supply Chain, or related field leadership role, managing people and processes.​

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, or ABILITIES

• Deep understanding of the QSR industry and familiarity with market trends, consumer behavior, and competitive landscape.
• Strong financial understanding, including budget management, cost analysis, and pricing strategies to maximize profitability.
• In-depth knowledge of the products within assigned categories, including market demands
• Proficiency in data analysis tools and techniques to interpret category performance metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Understanding of supply chain processes, inventory management, and logistics to ensure efficient and effective category operations.
• Ability to develop and implement strategic plans for category management in alignment with overall business goals.
• Excellent communication skills to convey category strategies, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and build relationships with internal and external partners.
• Leadership skills to guide and inspire a category management team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
• Ability to identify challenges and develop effective solutions to address issues within product categories.
• Efficient project management skills to oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously and ensure timely and successful execution.
• Capacity to bring creative and innovative ideas to category development, including new product introductions and promotional strategies.
• Ability to adapt to changing market conditions, consumer preferences, and industry trends to keep category strategies relevant.
• Strong ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, operations, and supply chain, to achieve common objectives.
• Results-driven mindset with a focus on achieving key performance indicators and business objectives.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive consensus on category strategies and initiatives.
• Commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs through effective category management strategies.

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.