Manager, Calendar Innovation and Menu

Church’s Texas Chicken

Employee Job Description

Job Title: Manager, Calendar, Innovation and Menu  

Reports To: Sr. Director, Calendar, Innovation and Menu
Department: Marketing

Revised: May 2026

Job Summary:

The Manager, Calendar, Innovation and Menu lead Calendar, Innovation, and Menu strategy and execution in conjunction with Senior Director.  Is responsible for ownership of Stage Gate process (charter, brief, ideation, development, and in-restaurant testing) of product innovation and promotion, both LTO and on-menu.  Acting as lead partner to brand, culinary, supply chain, and operation teams, leveraging consumer insights, market trends, and analyses to drive flawless innovation development and execution.  Strategic partner with Senior Director in development of Marketing Calendar.  Execution partner with Go-To-To Market Manager to insure strategic development and flawless execution of all in-mart tests and calendar plan.   

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Work closely with cross-functional teams and external agencies, the ideal candidate will leverage trends, data-driven insights and continuous testing to optimize performance and align innovation efforts with broader business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Innovation & Menu:
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation, menu and LTO strategy, including long-term vision and short-term tactical plans. 
  • Full Stage Gate Testing ownership from charter to post in-restaurant test analysis and recommendation. 
  • Full ownership of all in-restaurant tests: test strategy, market selection, sell-in, product forecasting, execution, post test analysis, and leadership recommendation. 
  • Lead the ideation, development, and testing of new menu items and promotional Limited Time Offerings (LTOs). 
  • Continuously analyze menu item performance, identify areas for improvement, and develop forecasts for new items. 
  • Stay informed about industry trends, consumer preferences, and competitive activities to inform menu decisions. 
• Calendar
  • Assist in the development and execution of National Marketing Calendar.
  • Responsible for owning and updating National Calendar document.
  • Develop Calendar related documents and power point presentations
  • Stay informed about industry calendars and competitive activities to inform calendar decisions. 

• Data Analysis & Insights:
  • Conduct in-depth analysis of performance, using data to identify opportunities and optimize the menu, innovation and calendar.
  • Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to menu performance, innovation, and calendar.
  • Own consumer insights and leverage data and insights into menu decisions. 
  • Partner with BI Analytics and leverage data and into menu decisions.

• Project Management & Collaboration:
  • Manage the entire menu innovation pipeline, from concept development to launch, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. 
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including culinary, marketing, operations, supply chain, and quality assurance, to execute plans. 
  • Communicate effectively with stakeholders, providing regular updates on progress and results. 
  • Own monthly cross-functional Innovation meeting
• Financial Management:
  • Develop and manage budgets for menu innovation projects. 
  • Analyze the financial impact of menu changes, including revenue, cost, and profitability. 
  • Food cost development and ownership.
  • Identify opportunities to optimize the menu for profitability. 

Key Skills:

• Strategic Thinking:
  • Ability to help develop and implement strategy that aligns with the brand's overall goals
• Analytical Skills:
  • Strong data analysis skills to identify trends, opportunities, areas for improvement and ad hoc analysis.

• Project Management
  • Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and budgets. 
• Communication Skills:
  • Excellent written, verbal and presentation communication skills to effectively communicate ideas and findings to stakeholders. 

• Collaboration:
  • Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals. 
• Creativity & Innovation:
  • An ability to think outside the box and develop innovative menu items and concepts. 

• Food Industry Knowledge:
  • Understanding of food trends, consumer preferences, and culinary techniques. 
• Business Acumen:
  • Understanding of the restaurant industry and the factors that drive profitability. 

Position Qualifications/Experience:

• 5-7 years’ experience in innovation and calendar management - preferably with QSR or fast casual in a franchised business model.
• Strong expertise and proven track record in stage gate development process from charter to final calendar recommendation.
• Experience with Calendar development and execution.
• Must be able to work in fast paced and highly cross functional work environment, especially the ability to influence and manage without authority
• Strong working knowledge and experience with consumer insight management and execution - screeners, maxdiffs and CLTs, and possess the ability to translate consumer insights and analytical data into recommendations.
• Manage several project workstreams at the same time.
• Strong comfort level with conducting ad hoc “marketing” analytical analysis.
• Strong presentation skills with experience communicating results to key stakeholders.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Core Competencies:

• People Leadership – Provides guidance and direction to team members and sets expectations, accountability for standards of performance.  Serves as a role model to staff and other team members for creating a respectful, productive work environment.  Serves as one of the main drivers of the company’s mission, values and culture, as well as being an advocate for the employees and business alike.
• Critical Thinking – Defines and resolves a situation or problem by analyzing issues involved, weighing options, and evaluating alternatives; maintains objective attitude; approaches situations and problems systematically; uses observation, experience, reflection, and/or reasoning to drive business forward.
• Influencing Others – Convinces and persuades others in either positive or negative circumstances to accomplish goals and objectives; responds to objections successfully; uses tact when expressing ideas or opinions.
• Initiative – Acts proactively; addresses issues or opportunities without supervision; focuses on desired results and accomplishments; demonstrates clear purpose, enthusiasm, and a “can-do” attitude.
• Innovative and Creative – Looks for ways to improve oneself, the job, the project, the system, and the organization; challenges conventional practices, generates new ideas to create novel solutions to problems.
• Managing Execution – Manages multiple projects and effectively prioritizes tasks and goals; uses goals to guide actions and create detailed action plans; organizes and schedules people and tasks; utilizes resources effectively to meet goals.
• Negotiating – Presents issues or ideas in a clear and influential manner; maintains an open-minded and non-judgmental attitude; listens to others’ views and empathizes.
• Relationship Building Skills – Initiates and develops strong relationships with others; demonstrates credibility; confronts conflict quickly and professionally; inspires confidence in others and a strong likeability factor.

1. If you’re hungry for a career that’s fun, fast-paced and loaded with opportunity, then you’ve come to the right place. At Church's®, we’re not your typical quick service restaurant. We make real comfort food that makes a difference in peoples’ lives. And for over 60 years, our restaurant has been a place where hard-working people can get ahead and go on to do amazing things by serving others.

2. Church’s Chicken is an equal employment opportunity employer and makes hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.