Director, Innovation & Commercialization

Little Caesars Pizza; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fitness center access

Work café

Outdoor patio and social spaces

Multiple meeting spaces

Job summary

Little Caesars is seeking a seasoned leader to head the Automation & Process Innovation team in Detroit. You will define a compelling roadmap, orchestrate pilots, and drive broad scale across restaurant operations.

You will manage complex projects, partner with vendors, and coach a growing team to deliver measurable ROI and operational improvements in a fast-paced QSR environment.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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/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.

Skills

Innovation leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Problem solving

Data visualization

MS Office

PowerPoint

Agile methodology

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Project management software

Data visualization software

Job description

Bigger Better Future

Imagine working for a company that measures its success based off the growth of its colleagues, a company that invests in its future by investing in you. Little Caesars is a company where our colleagues make an impact.

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. _

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Blue Line Distribution is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to that individual's race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Company will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to permit qualified applicants who have a need for an accommodation to participate in the hiring process (e.g., accommodations for a job interview) if so requested. _

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