Kitchen Innovation Operations Lead

KFC Corporation

Irvine (CA)

Hybrid

USD 100,000 - 150,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Taco Bell in Irvine, CA is seeking an Associate Operations Manager for Kitchen Innovation to drive next‑generation kitchen solutions. You will partner with Architecture & Design, Engineering, and Yum!

Red Labs to translate Kitchen 2030 into practical, scalable pilots and field-ready deployments. The role demands 6+ years in QSR operations, a Bachelor's degree, and a proven ability to develop business cases linking operations to P&L impact.

Qualifications

6+ years of experience in QSR or multi-unit restaurant operations.
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred or equivalent practical experience.
Demonstrated ability to develop and communicate compelling business cases that connect operational solutions to P&L impact.
Exercise strong judgment balancing speed, quality, consistency, cost to deliver scalable restaurant solutions.
Proven track record of leading pilots and tests in real restaurant environments.

Responsibilities

Supports the development of the business, operational, and economic case for next-generation kitchen solutions, partnering with cross-functional teams to bring concepts from pilot to scale.
Translate Kitchen 2030 strategy into clear problem statements, success metrics, and test plans; protect accuracy, speed, quality, and consistency.
Coordinate real-world testing and validation of kitchen equipment, technologies, layouts, and processes.
Analyze pilot results and quantify impact across labor, throughput, order accuracy, and unit economics for scalability.