Restaurant Experience Manager - Buffalo Wild Wings

The Restaurant Experience, Manager is responsible for leading, managing and supporting critical innovation projects that address business challenges by ideating, developing, testing and implementing solutions for the brand. This role oversees the testing of food & beverage, value programs, process & technology initiatives as well as process improvement projects. The role collaborates with stakeholders across all departments at Inspire Brands and Buffalo Wild Wings to ensure end-to-end project execution, delivering projects on time, within scope, and in alignment with strategic objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and support critical innovation projects to address business challenges and drive brand growth.
• Oversee the testing of food & beverage, value programs, process enhancements and technology initiatives.
• Lead and manage process improvement initiatives, assessing the effectiveness of current solutions and making necessary adjustments for optimal results.
• Develop and implement operational procedures for new and existing products and programs
• Partner cross-functionally to support product and program development, ensuring compliance with food safety and regulatory standards within the Buffalo Wild Wings system.
• Develop and memorialize operational procedures for new and improved products, programs and other operational processes and systems.
• Execute virtual and in-market training sessions for tests and process improvement projects.
• Conduct field visits to assess the effectiveness of procedures and in-market execution levels.
• Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines and deliverables.
• Prepare detailed field visit and end-of-test recaps to inform and influence brand leadership business decisions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams contributing an operator’s perspective to improve the success of initiatives.
• Communicate new or updated operational procedures through email, presentations and videos to Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, innovation, and knowledge-sharing to drive project success across departments.
• Maintain professional and courteous communication with team members, cross-functional partners, franchisees, and operators, demonstrating strong decision-making and negotiation skills.
• Ensure adherence to food safety and regulatory requirements in foodservice execution and operations.
• Evaluate current processes, identify inefficiencies, and propose innovative solutions to improve operational performance.
• Provide regular updates and reports to leadership on project progress and outcomes

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Hospitality, Project Management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in restaurant operations highly preferred
• Proven experience in project management or innovation roles within the foodservice or hospitality industry.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and regulatory requirements is a plus.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage complex projects and coordinate resources across multiple teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to create clear, actionable project documentation and present to various stakeholders.
• Ability to think strategically and translate business needs into actionable plans.
• Strong leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills to navigate challenges during projects.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and achieving project objectives.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and generate insights that inform project decisions.
• Ability to manage project timelines, risks and issues to ensure successful project delivery.

Approximately 20% Travel

 

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.