Director of Product Development and Commercialization

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Steak n Shake’s Director of Product Development & Commercialization understands the company vision and mission and within that framework plays a critical role in leading cross-functional project teams to drive projects forward in a collaborative environment. The Director of Product Development & Commercialization will be based out of our Indianapolis Corporate Headquarters and reports to our Vice President of Field Integration.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead the product development & commercialization function for Steak n Shake implementing project management best practices, tools and reporting across the company, playing a critical role in achieving our strategic growth.

Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to solve for company initiatives related to ongoing product creation, innovation, and enhancement.

Communicate project status to stakeholders and team members regularly, highlighting risks and ensuring mitigation plans and solutions are implemented.

Ensure 100% accuracy to ambition by meeting Steak n Shake’s specifications and product requirements.

Promote seamless project execution and handoffs by partnering with Vendors, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing and third- party partners to ensure goals are achieved.

Facilitate communication between Steak n Shake stakeholders and external supplier partners as needed for project execution.

Lead testing process as well as scale up of products from prototype to full production.

Understand costs, pricing dynamics, and role of products in the Steak N Shake restaurant ecosystem.

Collaborate with stakeholders and external suppliers to solve challenges, overcome barriers, responsibly use resources, and contribute to Steak n Shake’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Ensure Steak n Shake’s product, process, and cost goals are met.

Demonstrate strong working knowledge of industry, products, packaging, production lines and the processes necessary to commercialize products across Steak n Shake’s network.

Manage and support product approval process.

Partner with Finance and Operations to identify and execute product and process standardization opportunities including SKU rationalization.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience in Restaurant Project Management/New Product Development

Proven track record in project management encompassing multiple functions

Expertise in stage gate, new product development and commercialization processes, preferable in the restaurant industry

Understand the importance of intellectual property (IP), design and prototyping

Excellent communication skills

Proficient with Microsoft applications and ERP and Project Management systems

Ability to work independently in a fast- paced environment and prioritize projects

Adaptability and flexibility as priorities change and responsibilities broaden with increased knowledge and experience

Collaborative leadership style with the ability to lead, influence and motivate cross functional project teams

Identify and solve problems/address issues effectively and efficiently

Strong analytical skills