Your Mission:

In this role, you will help define the future for Little Caesars and drive impact across the business through innovation. You will lead the Automation & Process Innovation team, orchestrate detailed plans, drive initiatives and foster collaboration. Bring your interest and experience in innovation & commercialization along with an understanding of automation, process innovation, technology, new product development, service innovation and the integration into the QSR industry.

How You’ll Make an Impact:

• Lead the Automation & Process Innovation team to operationalize new and evolved core products.  
• Develop a deep understanding of operational challenges faced by colleagues and Franchisees, as well as unmet consumer needs in the marketplace. 
• Identify key initiatives and projects aimed at resolving critical pain points, and propose strategic solutions through a "buy, build, or partner" approach. 
• Build and manage a long-term innovation roadmap prioritizing projects based on ROI. 
• Identify emerging technologies and evaluate their potential impact on restaurant operations. 
• Analyze the vendor and competitive landscape with a focus on innovation. 
• Define and oversee the execution of pilot programs for new initiatives, automation, or process innovation in collaboration with vendors and cross-functional teams, both in lab and live restaurant settings. 
• Work with internal teams to ideate and develop solutions not currently available in the market. 
• Assess the effectiveness of current and potential technologies in operations and provide recommendations for implementation. 
• Create and execute strategies for scaling successful pilots across the organization. 
• Track performance of implemented solutions and report on business outcomes. 
• Apply an agile, test-and-learn approach, working effectively with cross-functional teams. 
• Perform full project management duties, including tracking costs, schedules, risks, deliverables, and resource allocation across multiple concurrent projects. 
• Establish clear timelines, communicate project status to stakeholders, provide data-driven recommendations, lead status meetings, and maintain engagement across teams. 
• Lead people development, performance management and coaching for the team.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field.
• Ten (10) + years of innovation and project management experience with demonstrated increasing responsibility, QSR industry experience preferred.  
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing a team of professionals, including hiring, setting goals, performance and coaching. 
• Excellent communicator (written and verbal). 
• Strong problem-solving and group facilitation skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to create innovative solutions. 
• Excellent interpersonal and persuasion skills. 
• Strong presentation skills within large and small group settings. 
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, and Power Point.
• Experience with project management software and data visualization software.
• Hands on experience launching new initiatives and piloting new processes, products, applications or technologies in large scale roll-outs.

Working Conditions:

• A state-of-the-art building with a modern-day, open environment in the heart of The District Detroit. 
• A colleague fitness center, work café and an outdoor patio with grills. 
• Over 60 different meeting spaces to help promote a collaborative environment. 
• Occasional travel (~25% of time)  

All items listed above are illustrative and not comprehensive.  They are not contractual in nature and are subject to change at the discretion of Blue Line Distribution.