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Associate Manager, Brand Marketing (Innovation)

Irvine, CA

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone’s favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,200+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We’re not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we’re also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands. 

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn’t been done before… we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries.   

We’re a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we’re at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más.

At Taco Bell, we’re Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below. 

About the Job:

The Associate Manager, Innovation is responsible for delivering brand innovation pipeline with creative swings that move culture forward and bring our food story more to the heart of our brand story. You will work with cross-functional and agency partners on the coordination of day-to-day responsibilities that support product pipeline ideation and development, the creative devolvement process, and production.

The Day-to-Day:

  • Primary team contact for the internal agency and cross-functional partners for all things relating to the successful flow of POP, owned, and digital materials through the business including positioning, solution exploration and implementation, process, improvement/transformation, planning, etc.
  • Support Sr. Associate Managers with a strategic minded approach to project management throughout the creative process by leading legal reviews, timeline consolidation, and cross functional integration. This person should be the primary point of contact for the project management team and the go-to for all campaign information, timeline development, and timely launches.
  • Assist Sr. Associate Managers in development of creative briefs and evaluation of work - taking a proactive role in feedback gathering, maintaining creative excellence, and ensuring creative ladders to overall campaign strategy/objectives across all channels.
  • Coordinate and help facilitate cross-functional discussions that support and drive innovation workstreams forward.
  • Build relationships and collaborate with cross-functional peers to capture inputs from multiple points of view, focusing on relationships with both pipeline and campaign planning partners.
  • Support Sr. Associate Managers in deck building for roadshow decks, integration, and executive shares, with a solid foundation of storytelling to take an active role in this.
  • Primary Brand Creative point of contact for finance questions (invoice, coding, rush payments, new vendor billing, vendor management) 
  • Primary Brand Creative point of contact for campaign recaps and reporting read outs.  This person should be the hub of information and the ultimate note taker. 

Is This You?

  • BA required; business degree preferred
  • 3+ years’ experience within brand management or related experience
  • Ad agency experience is a plus
  • 1-2 years of experience with project management, cross-functional coordination / organization
  • 1+ years of experience with creative or communication brief writing
  • Microsoft Office, Strong Powerpoint skills a must
  • Strong internal motivation, intellectual curiosity, logical yet flexible thinking and desire to have a large impact on our organization  
  • The ideal candidate is obsessive about the details but understands the bigger picture, proactive, creative, and analytical with the ability to dream big, executes effectively, and can operate in a dynamic environment

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

  • Hybrid work schedule and year-round flex day Friday
  • Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons 
  • Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building) 
  • Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, carwash, 
  • Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions 
  • Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering 
  • Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program 
  • 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting 
  • Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
  • Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name 

Salary Range: ­­$96,000 to $112,900 annually + bonus eligibility + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

At Taco Bell, we Live Más and invite you to do the same. Take a seat at our table. Bring your voice. Bring you, just as you are, a Cultural Rebel. We want you to be your best self! 

Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.  

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Contractors and Privacy Notice for California Employees.

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