Manager, Strategic Ventures and New Growth Initiatives (EI&SP)

Job Description We are building the next generation of growth engines-focused on identifying, validating, and scaling new business models, channels, and partnerships that accelerate long-term enterprise value. Operating within a global, highly matrixed environment, we partner across Marketing, Finance, Digital & Technology, and Operations to unlock incremental revenue and drive sustainable growth. This role is responsible for developing, validating, and scaling new business opportunities that drive incremental revenue, improve franchisee unit economics, and expand market presence around the globe. The position requires a highly analytical, entrepreneurial leader who can translate ambiguous opportunities into data-driven strategies, financial models, and executable plans. This individual will need to operate with a high degree of autonomy, lead cross-functional initiatives, and deliver insights and recommendations to senior leadership, including C-suite stakeholders. A critical component of this role is the ability to leverage advanced analytics and AI-enabled tools (including AI agents) to enhance decision-making, accelerate execution, and scale impact. Responsibilities KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic Development & Venture CreationIdentify and evaluate new business opportunities, channels, and partnerships to drive incremental revenue growthDevelop hypotheses, business cases, and scalable operating models for new initiativesLead end-to-end pilot design, execution, and scaling of successful concepts Advanced Analytics & Financial ModelingLead rigorous financial and analytical evaluation of opportunities, including (1) unit economics modeling: IRR, NPV, ROI analysis, (2) customer acquisition and lifetime value modeling (3) prior contract and vendor relationships impact to future businessTranslate complex datasets into clear, actionable business insightsDesign and evaluate experiments to validate business hypotheses and optimize performanceDevelop scalable reporting frameworks and performance tracking tools AI-Enabled Decision Support & AutomationLeverage AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, AI agents, automation platforms) to (1) accelerate research, analysis, and reporting (2) Enhance financial modeling and scenario planning (3) Automate recurring workflows and insight generationDesign and deploy AI-driven workflows or agents that improve efficiency and scalabilityIdentify opportunities to apply AI to improve business performance and customer experience Strategic Negotiation & Partnership ManagementLead complex, high-value negotiations with external partners and vendors, structuring commercial terms, operating models, and long-term agreementsLeverage financial modeling and unit economics to inform negotiation strategy and maximize enterprise valueInfluence internal and external stakeholders to drive alignment and achieve favorable outcomes in high-stakes, ambiguous situationsPartner with Legal, Finance, and Procurement to ensure compliant, scalable, and repeatable deal structures Market & Competitive IntelligenceConduct ongoing analysis of market trends, competitive dynamics, and emerging technologiesProvide actionable insights that inform strategic direction and investment decisions Cross-Functional LeadershipLead complex, cross-functional initiatives across Marketing, Finance, Digital & Technology, and OperationsAlign stakeholders around strategic priorities, timelines, and execution plansServe as the central point of coordination for pilot programs and strategic initiatives Executive Communication & InfluenceDevelop executive-level presentations that clearly articulate strategy, insights, and recommendationsPresent findings and business cases to senior leadership, including C-suite stakeholdersInfluence decision-making through data-driven storytelling and structured problem solving Qualifications QUALIFICATIONSYou will be required to attend the Plano, TX office 3 days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. EducationBachelor's degree required (Finance, Economics, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred)Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) strongly preferred Experience7-12+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, corporate development, or new business developmentDemonstrated experience leading analytically rigorous projects with measurable business impactExperience working in cross-functional, global, or highly matrixed organizations CORE SKILLS & CAPABILITIES Analytical ExcellenceAdvanced financial modeling and quantitative analysis skillsStrong understanding of unit economics, revenue drivers, and profitability leversAbility to structure ambiguous problems and apply hypothesis-driven analysisExpertise in translating data into strategic insights and recommendations AI & Digital FluencyHands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, copilots) in business workflowsExperience designing or deploying AI agents, automation workflows, or data-driven tools preferredAbility to apply AI pragmatically to improve speed, quality, and scalability of work Strategic ThinkingProven ability to connect market insights, financial analysis, and business strategyAbility to balance long-term vision with near-term execution Strategic NegotiationAdvanced negotiation skills with experience structuring complex, high-value commercial agreementsStrong ability to leverage financial and analytical insights to inform negotiation strategy and outcomesDemonstrated ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders in high-stakes situationsSkilled in balancing value creation, risk management, and long-term partnership objectives Leadership & InfluenceStrong cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skillsAbility to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse teams CommunicationExcellent written and verbal communication skillsAbility to develop and deliver clear, compelling executive-level presentations using the Suite of Microsoft products like PPT, XLS, CoPilot, Word Execution & OwnershipHigh degree of autonomy, accountability, and ownershipAbility to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneouslyStrong project management and prioritization skills SUCCESS PROFILEDelivers analytically rigorous, data-driven recommendations that influence senior leadership decisionsConsistently delivers high-value, strategically aligned agreements through analytically grounded, effective negotiation with senior internal and external stakeholderSuccessfully launches and scales new business initiatives with measurable financial impactEstablishes repeatable frameworks for evaluating and executing new opportunitiesLeverages AI and analytics to improve efficiency, speed, and quality of outputsOperates effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth, and ambiguous environmentKnowledge of the Aggregator Delivery as a Service model and Marketplace dynamics MISSION-CRITICAL OBJECTIVES (FIRST 12 MONTHS)Identify and validate multiple new business opportunities with clear economic viabilityLaunch and evaluate pilot programs with defined success metricsDeliver measurable impact on revenue growth and/or cost efficiencyImplement AI-enabled workflows to enhance analytical and execution capabilitiesInfluence strategic decision-making through high-quality analysis and executive communication Salary Range: $125,200 to $132,480 annually + bonus eligibility. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.