Global Food Innovation & Process Portfolio Lead

Pizza Hut; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 143,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Pizza Hut in Plano, TX is seeking a Senior Manager – Global Food Excellence, Portfolio and Process to lead cross-functional teams across Innovation, Productivity, and Global Food Excellence.

You will drive programs from concept through launch, develop governance, and provide coaching to the Food Innovation Team, with a focus on strategic planning, metrics, and global market execution.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of progressive R&D portfolio, project management or innovation leadership experience in a global, food-forward, multiunit restaurant/retail brand.
• Proven track record implementing Stage-Gate or similar project governance processes
• PM Certification (PMP) is strongly desired with experience in PM tools (RACI, Microsoft Project, Stage Gate)
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and leadership across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated leadership and stakeholder management skills in cross-functional, matrixed, and multinational environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Global Food Innovation & FSQ project portfolio, ensuring alignment with global business strategy and organizational priorities.
• Drive cross-functional global initiatives from concept through launch, including new product, process, and packaging innovation.
• Develop and manage project scope, timelines, budgets, resource plans, risk mitigation strategies, and success metrics for complex programs.
• Provide leadership to cross-functional teams, ensuring effective execution, stakeholder alignment, and achievement of project objectives.
• Establish, implement, and continuously improve global stage-gate and project management processes, including governance, decision-making frameworks, and collaboration models.
• Coordinate with key functions including Marketing, Supply Chain, Strategic Planning, and Franchise markets to ensure integrated and compliant project execution.
• Develop and maintain project tracking systems, dashboards, KPIs, and reporting tools (e.g., Monday.com) to monitor portfolio performance and project status.
• Ensure consistent use of project management best practices, tools, and documentation, including risk registers, RACI models, communication plans, and project reporting.
• Support global market execution by defining frameworks, guardrails, and compliance processes related to menu, ingredients, and LTO initiatives.
• Maintain a strong understanding of food, process, and packaging technologies and their business implications across global markets.
• Provide coaching and training to enhance project and process management capabilities across the organization.

Skills

R&D portfolio management

Project governance

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & forecasting

Communication & presentation

Global program management

Stage-Gate

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Microsoft Project

Stage Gate

Job description

Pizza Hut in Plano, TX is seeking a Senior Manager – Global Food Excellence, Portfolio and Process to lead cross-functional teams across Innovation, Productivity, and Global Food Excellence.

You will drive programs from concept through launch, develop governance, and provide coaching to the Food Innovation Team, with a focus on strategic planning, metrics, and global market execution.