Executive Director Of Food Programs And Offers

RaceTrac Company Overview

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The Executive Director of Food Programs and Offers is accountable for leading our food and dispensed beverage category teams, food service innovation and culinary group, as well as our FSQA function. This individual partners with the executive team to develop strategic goals, new product offers and create operating policies for review and implementation. The Executive Director of Food Programs and Offers is responsible for the success of existing product platforms as well as ensuring new, innovative food service product platforms reach RaceTrac stores. These platforms should continually increase product offering, drive guest counts, and increase units and margin. Up to 20% travel required.

Responsibilities:

• Develops, coaches, and trains the Food Service team. Focuses on sharing knowledge and providing the tools necessary to increase growth within the category. Encourages continuous two-way feedback from all team members.
• Partners cross functionally with the Category Management team to support the group’s strategic direction in order to execute consistent planning, analytical goals, and cross category promotions.
• Ensures all food and beverage contract negotiation strategies are in line with the best interest of RaceTrac.
• Oversees the creation, planning, and execution of appropriate financial and guest service goals for the food service team.
• Monitors the industry and competitive landscape. Analyzes internal data such as sales, sourcing, and pricing. Identifies patterns and market trends to help refine product strategies.
• Works closely with the Foodservice and Beverages teams to ensure the organization develops innovative and appealing food and beverage offerings.
• Supports RaceTrac’s food safety program throughout all aspects of foodservice in our stores and supply chain.
• Works effectively with culinary R&D, food service, and marketing teams to maximize efficient use of resources, ideas, and execution.
• Ensures that all USDA/FDA/HAACP and food safety standards are incorporated into product manufacturing as well as the identification of all necessary on-site food safety product preparation procedures for operations teams.
• Partners with RaceTrac Operations to offer advice and counsel on all foodservice and beverage matters.
• Contributes to the success of RaceTrac’s future in food by identifying and leading team(s) in developing products that can be executed consistently and profitably among all stores.
• Responsible for maintaining an informed prototype design process to hit targeted benchmarks for cost and guest expectations.
• Communicates strategies and gains alignment across departments impacted by food programs and offers.
• Drives profitability and growth within the food service categories by implementing aggressive negotiation tactics, industry leading programs and competitive promotions to drive food service sales.
• Partners with food service team to ensure rollout strategy and successful implementation of products once they have been successfully tested.
• Drives process improvement strategies that increase efficiencies and simplify our Guests’ and Associates’ lives.
• Leads product development via Food Innovation Funnel, driving a culture of lean innovation enabling RaceTrac to test learn and quickly launch new items to the market.
• Strengthens key vendor relationships to maximize RaceTrac’s position in the marketplace.
• Directs the development of food items that fit our flavor, nutrition and cost standards. Determine how to align the item for operational and logistic efficiencies.
• Analyzes national and regional trends in food, beverages, packaging, and promotions.

Qualifications:

• Experience with food concept development, testing, and operational launch strongly preferred
• 7 years professional experience in retail food service management, retail operations, and/or consumer product goods, 10+ preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to interpret data and translate results to make decisions
• Demonstrated understanding food safety principles and operational requirements
• Strong ability to interpret guest behavior and make consumer-led decisions around food and beverage offers
• Experience with fried food offers preferred
• Department level supervisory/managerial experience of direct and indirect reports
• Ability to keep a level head and easily manage and communicate change