Description :
Discover Applebee's:
--Competitive salary commensurate with experience
--15% of base salary annual bonus opportunity
--Medical, Dental, Vision coverage the minute you start your new career with us!
--401(k) Retirement Plan: Immediately upon hire, you are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan. The Company currently pays a match of $1.00 for each $1.00 you contribute up to 3% of your pay and .50? for each dollar you contribute on the next 2% of pay
--$75 in Applebee's gift cards per month to use in any way you want!
--Flexible Dependent and Health Spending Accounts
--Life Insurance at one and a half times your annual salary
--Supplemental Life Insurance for you and your dependents
--Domestic Partner Benefits
--Pay for Performance culture where you will be rewarded for your performance based on agreed upon performance objectives and target performance ratings
--2 weeks vacation per year
--5 sick/personal days per year
--Business casual dress
--Free soda at our Support Center Headquarters building!
--A work environment that takes you on a BIG FUN TRIP, where:
B = Balance
I = Innovation
G = Guest Driven
FUN = FUN!!
T = Teamwork
R = Results
I = Integrity
P = Passion for Service
Equal Employment Opportunity:
Applebee's is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Key Accountabilities:
1. LEAD MENU ITEM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (40%)
Translate menu strategy into actionable product development plan
Lead product development process from concept to implementation
--Develop consumer, financial and operational benchmarks for menu sections and item slots
--Create pipeline of guest validated menu items in all menu categories
--Create and activate rolling 24 month menu development and implementation plan
--Partner with Sr. Manager Testing/Marketing Operations, to ensure that menu plan meets stage gate deliverables
--Monitor existing menu items for improvement opportunities
--Translate segment, (Family, Social),and program, (Pick `N Pair, Weight Watchers, Carside), into menu item plans
--Work closely with Creative team to ensure menu creative effectively delivers on Menu Strategy
2. LEAD MENU ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL MARKETING PLAN (20%)
In concert with Executive Director, National Marketing Plan, launch new products and identify role of those products within the National Marketing plan.
--Leverage existing products, (on menu or in pipeline), or lead development of new products that support marketing plan.
--Ensure that products selected deliver profitable traffic and positive guest metrics
3. LEAD NUTRITIONAL STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION (20%)
As part of DineEquity's corporate team, develop and activate nutritional strategy.
--Translate guest insights and brand tenets into tactical plan that addresses needs of both nutritional legislation and APPB guests
--Lead cross-functional team to address menu requirements for nutritional disclosure
--Integrate healthy menu items and menu communication into master menu plan
--Monitor legislation and popular/trade communications to ensure proactive action against emerging nutritional trends
4. CREATE AND MANAGE MENU/TRENDS DATABASE (10%)
Monitor and communicate key menu and flavor trends
--Monitor key national and regional competitor menus and food promotions
--Develop and activate process for tracking cutting edge independent and small chains
--In partnership with Executive Director Menu Development and Innovation, lead one Trends Summit annually for MDI chefs and agency partners
--Leverage third party insights, (vendor partners, Technomics, Crest, trade publications), to create food trends database. Share key insights and trends with Marketing and MDI leadership on regular basis.
5. COMMUNICATION/TEAMWORK (10%)
Develop and present product recommendations and rationale to key decisions makers and franchise partners
Serve as food/menu thought leader and partner to Senior and Marketing Leadership
Ideal candidate will have:
EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION
Required:
--Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or Food Science
Desired:
--Master's Degree in Marketing, Market Research or Product Development
EXPERIENCE IN SIMILAR ROLE OR FUNCTION
Required:
--Synthesize strategy, consumer insights and business targets into actionable product development plan and profitable recommendations
--Understanding of product development principles
--Ability to activate team of indirect reports
--Demonstrated initiative, tenacity and both idea and team leadership in previous positions
--Comfortable dealing with broad ranging functional experts (from creative to finance and all in between)
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
Required:
--7-10 years of Marketing and Product Development experience
Desired:
--Food or Menu Product Development experience
--Retail and/or Franchise experience