SUMMARY
The� Director,� Food� Category� Management� will� report to the� Sr� Director, Category� Management� and will be instrumental in� shaping� Buffalo Wild Wings'� menu strategy &� innovation roadmap� while working in a dynamic, demanding environment with a team that values bold thinking, collaboration, and results driven execution.� This� individual� will help guide where and how Buffalo Wild Wings� looks for� and executes� menu� opportunities to� drive sustainable, profitable� sales growth� and will work cross-functionally to understand trends, category growth, and business needs, as well as working with teams to develop strategies and key initiatives to address identified opportunities.�
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The role� will require an individual to� identify, develop, and test� food� innovation within� existing core &� white space categories,� while� managing the day-to-day processes for the� Food Category Management team� to� ensure� proper execution of� activation windows within the brand calendar. This person will also� be responsible for� managing the team's research budget and generating insights� on� how existing categories are performing from a sales/profit standpoint� and how� Buffalo Wild Wings� can� optimize� those categories as an organization.�
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This role demands an individual who is skilled at partnering with� internal and external� cross-functional groups to work together to find solutions for complex projects. This role� has high� visibility� and this individual� will interact regularly with senior management to provide recommendations and guidance that supports Buffalo Wild Wing's� overall business� objectives.�
RESPONSIBILITIES
Project oversight -� ensure successful� execution of� key calendar� initiatives� including� timely� completion of stage gate decks, intake forms, & activation window playbooks.�
Partner with� Sr. Director to define� short and long-term� food� menu� strategies� in order to� meet brand and business� objectives� and drive sustainable� long term� growth.�
Define� the� roadmap for� core &� white space innovation while leading the workstream to develop and test� new items� in innovation stores.�
Monitor item and category performance� to deliver actionable insights� for categories to maximize sales and profit growth.� �
Serve as� a� people leader� within the organization,� leading team meetings, providing guidance & feedback in 1:1s, and� reviewing team member career goals and interests on an ongoing basis.�
Serve as a leader in change management, continually seeking methods to improve ways of working and� improve� team� efficiencies.�
Manage� research budget and ensure the team is maximizing learnings� and insights to inform decisions.�
EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
Required minimum: bachelor's degree
EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATION
4+� years' experience in� brand strategy� or� � category� management�
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS or ABILITIES
Exceptional interpersonal skills� and� demonstrated� ability in working with key executives and stakeholders to solve and� drive� to� business outcomes.�
Strong analytical and quantitative skills; comfortable with P&L workings.�
Ability to� lead a team as� a� people-manager� in a fast-paced environment.�
Understands� how to take products or programs through a commercialization process.�
Data-driven thinking with the ability to effectively diagnose a problem or assess a situation to drive to a smart business solution.�
Self-starter� with a bias for action, who� takes ownership of� projects� and drives them forward without constant supervision.�
Has� a passion for the restaurant industry,� particularly for food,� &� enjoys� seeing the impact of� their� work in the organization.�
Is� willing� to train in stores and� connect with operators on an ongoing basis to evaluate opportunities for menu� innovation, renovation, & operation.�
Carries� a positive attitude every day� and� is someone who� desires� to grow in the role and� within� the marketing organization.�
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