Our Opportunity:

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is looking for an experienced engineering professional to lead our Kitchen Design and Equipment teams, and join our Popeyes North America Operations Team based in Miami, FL. The Director of Kitchen Design & Equipment leads all restaurant equipment projects across the U.S. and Canada, including the back of house organization for optimal equipment utilization, workforce efficiency, and Guest experience. Key additional partnerships include Franchisee Advisory Council, Field Operations, Design, Development Execution, Non-Traditional, Digital, Tech, and Supply Chain. Additionally, this role leads relationships with existing and new vendors in supplying and sourcing foodservice equipment as well as relationships with franchisees through different councils and association meetings. Finally, this role is key in supporting and monitoring existing equipment repairs and warranties in the Popeyes system and taking action when necessary, on behalf of Franchisee and Company-owned restaurants.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Serve as the brand expert on restaurant equipment and kitchen design
• Creates & leads procurement strategy for restaurant equipment including sourcing and contingencies
• Leverage relationship with various business leaders to develop an in-depth understanding of Popeyes’s current and future business needs
• Use simulation program(s) to document existing restaurant systems and proposed changes
• Identify and exploit emerging technologies and trends

• Relentlessly pursue cost optimization/value engineering on behalf of Franchisees

• Project plan cross-functionally and cross-regionally to ensure plans are robust enough to be properly completed
• Work closely with brand marketing teams to complete brand level priorities
• Engage with Operations Standards and Training teams to ensure new processes are encoded into official documentation and ensure that new processes will abide by brand standards
• Review training materials developed on new and existing processes
• Manage franchisee relationship through council and association meetings as well as develop and deliver presentations both internally and externally to executive level leadership
• Travel throughout North America (10-30%) to meet with franchisees and vendors

Your qualifications & skills:

• At least a Bachelor's degree, ideally in engineering, design, or supply chain
• 8+ years in an operational R&D, procurement, or design role with regional/global scale in Restaurant industry, QSR experience preferred
• Strong restaurant business and financial acumen
• Solid problem-solving skills and analytical capabilities
• Demonstrates effective communication, influencing and organizational skills
• Strong demonstrable leadership, management, and negotiation skills
• Proficiency in CAD software
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office stack
• Fluent English is required

• Honesty, high integrity, personal accountability, and a passion for the success of the brand, the team, and personal career growth

Restaurant Brands International and all of its affiliated companies (collectively, RBI) are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers that do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, provincial or federal laws, rules, or regulations. RBI's policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities upon request.

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