Assistant Category Manager - Coffee and Non-Coffee Beverages

Assistant Category ManagerWe're hiring Assistant Category Managers for Coffee & Espresso and Non-Coffee Beverages. These positions will work with cross-functional teams to bring product offerings from ideation to testing, and then through launch and post-launch analysis. Support innovation pipeline development, menu renovations, and calendar planning for Dunkin'.ResponsibilitiesWork with Beverage Category Manager to help fill innovation pipeline through the following activities:Assist in identifying and staying on top of product trends through trend tours, secondary research, conferences/trade shows, and partnership with competitive intelligence teamPartner with culinary team to ideate product innovation. Draft concept development briefs to start the product development process. Manage agendas and recaps for weekly meetingsPartner with consumer insights team to evaluate opportunity size and determine positioning. Write idea and concept screeners to gauge consumer interest.Pull together business case including insights, competitive landscape, and target audience to align XF leaders on product kickoffWork with Beverage Category Manager to plan out the calendar and get products ready for launch through the following activities:Work with XF team of R&D, operations, supply chain, demand planning, QA, commercialization and legal to ensure products are ready for launchManage updates in the product tracker capturing all product detailsPartner with operations team on in-store testing and evaluating product performance against set criteriaPartner with category manager and brand marketing team to help identify which products to launch based on learnings through screeners or testingLead through and submit product readiness materials including readiness templates, POS forms, profitability forms, marketing input forms, app forms, and product one-pagers. Review all output from cross-functional teams.Write product briefs to kick off XF partners for agency briefingsHelp identify and resolve project-related risks and issues throughout processAssist Associate Category Manager Bakery on all calendar-related activities above, as neededWork with Beverage Category manager on post-launch activities including partnering with business analytics to measure and analyze the impact of programs, and assisting in field and franchisee communication and collaborationEducation Qualifications4 Year Degree / Bachelor'sBusiness and/or marketing major preferredExperience Qualifications1-2 years total work experience (internships included).Food and beverage or CPG industry experience preferred but not required, especially in marketing, product development, or consumer insights roles.Required Knowledge, Skills or AbilitiesCreative and strategic thinkingStrong communications and interpersonal skillsAbility to work individually and with large cross-functional teamsAbility to thrive in a fast-paced environment, multi-task, prioritize, and be detail orientedProject managementFinancial acumenProblem-solving agilityStrong PowerPoint and Excel skillsInspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We're made up of some of the world's most iconic restaurant brands, but we're much more than just a restaurant company. We're a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it's an experience. At Inspire, that's our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.