Menu Production Manager

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Menu Production Manager leads a team in the development, execution and delivery of menus and brand merchandise for LongHorn Steakhouse. They actively participate in the creation and versioning of menus while planning and organizing processes and technical improvements to deliver accurate materials to restaurants promptly. The Menu Production Manager facilitates partnerships and collaborates with cross-functional teams and vendors to ensure successful creation, production, and delivery of final materials.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees planning, organizing, monitoring, and controlling of projects to ensure engagement, commitment, and risk management; provides ongoing communications on projects status to ensure alignment

• Assigns and delegates tasks to team members as appropriate

• Provides strategic direction for menu creation (design, layout, and copy) and graphic design and layout for all menu versions (e.g., core, promo, in-restaurant merchandise)

• Oversees and actively participates in the versioning process, supporting the development of menu versions and grids for multiple menu formats (core, test, kids, etc)

• Maintains and oversees strong vendor relationships during the production, printing, and distribution of menus and in-restaurant merchandising materials; managing ordering, press approvals, edits, reviews, and proofreading

• Maintains and provides support for digital platform menu database

• Oversees and manages all aspects of vendor-related contracts and work - scope statement, contracting, budgets, invoice payment, etc.

• Oversees support of restaurant operations by responding to inquiries and providing relevant information and/or resources; coaches others to support operations excellence

• Provides creative direction and supports brand creative needs outside of existing agency scopes for menus and in-restaurant merchandising

• Provides oversight to ensure menu and merchandising material inventory levels are sufficient to support brand calendar

• Secures approval for department budgets and funding needs; oversees and manages the department budget and authorizes purchases as needed

• Maintains stewardship of brand menu content and data archives and digital library

• Ensures adherence to legal menu standards and requirements

• Develops and nurtures cross-functional relationships to exchange information and support ongoing projects and initiatives

• Establishes and champions a positive, vibrant culture within the work group that is consistent with Darden's values

• Coaches for performance by delivering performance-based and developmental feedback

• Establishes annual Performance Management Plan (PMP) goals and provides feedback to team members throughout the performance cycle

• Leverages knowledge of Brand marketing strategy to ensure alignment of merchandise materials (e.g., menus)

• Encourages knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and best-practice sharing among team members

• Develops strategies to research new technologies within the printing and graphics industries to create leading-edge capabilities

• Participates in talent review/succession planning and selection processes for positions within the department

REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• 4+ years restaurant menu systems or relevant experience

• Exhibits functional knowledge of all phases of prepress and print production to include graphic design and layout, proofing, color printing, and print production

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Adobe InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Workfront

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

• Ability to analyze and evaluate information and process data

• Builds solid partnerships with cross-functional partners, agencies and/or vendors

• Adjusts scope or resources as appropriate; Mitigates potential risk to the project

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphics, Marketing, Communication, IT, or a related field required

OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Organization and time management skills with the ability to organize, plan, and follow-up with tasks

• Ability to prioritize and re-prioritize various job activities/tasks, including the ability to multi-task when necessary

• Ability to mentor and train others on work processes/procedures

• Ability to adjust communication style such that it is effective with various audiences

• Ability to exercise appropriate judgement by using information and knowledge to make timely, effective decisions

• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision

• Ability to communicate (verbal and written) with clarity in the business environment

• Displays knowledge and empathy for operations priorities, systems, methods, and processes; --Enables executional excellence of all initiatives

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Printing/publishing experience, including but not limited to: experience in any/all proofing, production process, and/or finishing aspects

• Technical/analytical experience

• Experience with versioning software

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

N/A