Sr. Director, Brand Strategy, Menu and Planning
KFC Corporation, Plano, TX, United States
Sr. Director, Brand Strategy, Menu and Planning
Job Description
The Sr. Director, Brand Strategy, Menu & Planning is a critical leader within Pizza Hut U.S., responsible for shaping the brand strategy, owning the U.S. marketing calendar, and driving the end-to-end menu and innovation pipeline to deliver against business goals.
This role sits at the center of the business—connecting consumer insights, brand strategy, menu innovation, and integrated planning to drive sales, profitability, and brand relevance. As a key partner to the CMO and cross-functional leadership, this leader ensures strategies are not only compelling, but executable across the system and impactful for both company and franchise restaurants.
Responsibilities Key Responsibilities:
Brand Strategy & Business Ownership
Define and evolve Pizza Hut U.S. brand and customer strategy, ensuring alignment with growth, traffic, and profitability goals
Operate with a General Manager mindset, balancing brand ambition with financial and operational realities
Translate strategy into clear priorities and actionable plans across the organization
Marketing Calendar & Commercial Performance
Own and lead the U.S. marketing calendar, including promotions, LTOs, pricing strategies, and key campaign windows
Ensure calendar strategies deliver against sales, traffic, and profit targets for both company and franchise system
Lead cross-functional teams to execute high-impact marketing windows with operational excellence
Own the end-to-end menu strategy and innovation pipeline, including new product development, line extensions, and portfolio optimization
Partner closely with Operations and Finance to ensure feasibility, scalability, and financial impact of innovation
Drive a disciplined approach to testing, learning, and scaling successful initiatives
Consumer Insights & Data-Driven Decision Making
Lead Consumer Insights to translate data, research, and trends into actionable strategies
Leverage analytics to inform product, pricing, and marketing decisions
Champion a data-driven culture across Marketing and cross-functional teams
Financial & Franchisee Alignment
Partner with Finance to evaluate initiatives through sales impact, margin, and ROIIncorporate Franchisee P&L and system economics into all major decisions
Build strong relationships with Franchise partners to ensure alignment, adoption, and successful execution
Integrated Planning & Cross-Functional Leadership
Drive alignment across Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Development to ensure seamless execution
Serve as a key connector between CORE and the field, ensuring strategies are grounded in restaurant realities
Influence senior leadership through clear storytelling, insights, and recommendations
Lead and develop a high-performing team across Insights, Planning, and Innovation (~10–12 team members; 3–4 direct reports)
Build organizational capability and bench strength
Foster a culture aligned to Pizza Hut’s Smart, Heart, and Courage values
Qualifications Key Qualifications:
You will be required to attend the Plano, TX office 3 days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
10–12+ years of experience in Marketing, Strategy, or related field (QSR, retail, or consumer brands preferred)
Proven experience leading brand strategy, marketing calendar planning, and product innovation
Strong financial and commercial acumen; ability to connect strategy to business outcomes
Experience working in a franchise or multi-unit environment strongly preferred
Exceptional communication and influencing skills across senior stakeholders
Highly analytical with strong problem-solving capabilities
Ability to lead through ambiguity and drive clarity in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline
Operates with a bias for action and ownership mindset
Influences and aligns cross-functional stakeholders effectively
Balances creativity with commercial rigor
Resilient, adaptable, and thrives in dynamic environments
Salary Range: $232,000 - $259,445 annually + bonus eligibility and stock-based compensation.
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.
Job Info
Job Identification 4979
Posting Date 04/02/2026, 01:35 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations Plano, TX, United States (Hybrid)
#J-18808-Ljbffr
This role sits at the center of the business—connecting consumer insights, brand strategy, menu innovation, and integrated planning to drive sales, profitability, and brand relevance. As a key partner to the CMO and cross-functional leadership, this leader ensures strategies are not only compelling, but executable across the system and impactful for both company and franchise restaurants.
Responsibilities Key Responsibilities:
Brand Strategy & Business Ownership
Define and evolve Pizza Hut U.S. brand and customer strategy, ensuring alignment with growth, traffic, and profitability goals
Operate with a General Manager mindset, balancing brand ambition with financial and operational realities
Translate strategy into clear priorities and actionable plans across the organization
Marketing Calendar & Commercial Performance
Own and lead the U.S. marketing calendar, including promotions, LTOs, pricing strategies, and key campaign windows
Ensure calendar strategies deliver against sales, traffic, and profit targets for both company and franchise system
Lead cross-functional teams to execute high-impact marketing windows with operational excellence
Own the end-to-end menu strategy and innovation pipeline, including new product development, line extensions, and portfolio optimization
Partner closely with Operations and Finance to ensure feasibility, scalability, and financial impact of innovation
Drive a disciplined approach to testing, learning, and scaling successful initiatives
Consumer Insights & Data-Driven Decision Making
Lead Consumer Insights to translate data, research, and trends into actionable strategies
Leverage analytics to inform product, pricing, and marketing decisions
Champion a data-driven culture across Marketing and cross-functional teams
Financial & Franchisee Alignment
Partner with Finance to evaluate initiatives through sales impact, margin, and ROIIncorporate Franchisee P&L and system economics into all major decisions
Build strong relationships with Franchise partners to ensure alignment, adoption, and successful execution
Integrated Planning & Cross-Functional Leadership
Drive alignment across Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Development to ensure seamless execution
Serve as a key connector between CORE and the field, ensuring strategies are grounded in restaurant realities
Influence senior leadership through clear storytelling, insights, and recommendations
Lead and develop a high-performing team across Insights, Planning, and Innovation (~10–12 team members; 3–4 direct reports)
Build organizational capability and bench strength
Foster a culture aligned to Pizza Hut’s Smart, Heart, and Courage values
Qualifications Key Qualifications:
You will be required to attend the Plano, TX office 3 days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
10–12+ years of experience in Marketing, Strategy, or related field (QSR, retail, or consumer brands preferred)
Proven experience leading brand strategy, marketing calendar planning, and product innovation
Strong financial and commercial acumen; ability to connect strategy to business outcomes
Experience working in a franchise or multi-unit environment strongly preferred
Exceptional communication and influencing skills across senior stakeholders
Highly analytical with strong problem-solving capabilities
Ability to lead through ambiguity and drive clarity in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline
Operates with a bias for action and ownership mindset
Influences and aligns cross-functional stakeholders effectively
Balances creativity with commercial rigor
Resilient, adaptable, and thrives in dynamic environments
Salary Range: $232,000 - $259,445 annually + bonus eligibility and stock-based compensation.
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.
Job Info
Job Identification 4979
Posting Date 04/02/2026, 01:35 PM
Job Schedule Full time
Locations Plano, TX, United States (Hybrid)
#J-18808-Ljbffr