Manager, International Restaurant Design and Architecture
Taco Bell, Irvine, CA, United States
Overview
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.
The following information describes the job and is intended for applicants and internal planning purposes.
The Job
The Manager, International Restaurant Design & Development is a strategic design leader responsible for protecting, evolving, and scaling the brand experience across global markets. This role ensures that brand standards are executed with integrity while adapting to regional realities, development models, and capital constraints. This leader partners closely with international franchisees, regional teams, and cross-functional partners in development, construction, operations, marketing, and executive leadership to deliver scalable, cost-effective, and culturally relevant design solutions that support aggressive global growth targets. The role balances creative excellence, operational practicality, and financial discipline — ensuring the brand shows up consistently and powerfully across diverse markets.
The Day-to-Day
Lead and evolve international brand design standards across new builds, remodels, and non-traditional formats
Own the implementation of prototypical construction document sets for remodels and new builds, adapting tools to meet evolving customer/business needs and goals
Partner closely with Concept, Development, and Construction teams to align design intent, optimize CapEx, and lead value engineering initiatives
Manage project timelines, schedules, and pipelines across core initiatives and special projects to ensure on time delivery
Serve as the primary point of contact for communication across and coordination between in house teams, field partners, external consultants, suppliers, and franchise stakeholders
Communicate project ideas through the use of hand sketches, computer design tools such as 3D modeling, AutoCAD, BIM (Revit), Sketchup, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign), Bluebeam Revu
Prepare and deliver executive level presentations that clearly articulate strategy, risks, trade offs, and recommendations
Build and maintain strong relationships with international franchisees and regional stakeholders
Build strong relationships with international franchisees and regional stakeholders while championing accountability, collaboration, and brand integrity within the global design team
Is this you?
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or equivalent
8+ years of Architectural / Interior Design experience in retail, hospitality, or restaurant design
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-market or global brand initiatives, with the ability to create, manage, and deliver against project timelines
Strong interpersonal, executive communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively influence franchisee partners and senior stakeholders
Proven project management experience across Retail Interiors and Architecture initiatives
Minimum 2+ years of experience directly managing people, including coaching, performance management and employee development
Strong financial acumen, including construction cost management, CapEx oversight, and value engineering
Proficiency in Excel and industry design tools such as Revit or AutoCAD, Photoshop, and SketchUp
Positive, collaborative mindset with a “work hard, play hard” approach, and a commitment to serving as an advocate for brand standards and recognition culture
Work-Hard, Play-Hard
Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tue, Wed, Thurs) 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
Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name
Salary Range: $125,200 to $162,300 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.
Work Authorization and Equal Opportunity
Work Authorization Notice: Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship.
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.
US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the Know Your Rights poster, you may also access Taco Bell’s Pay Transparency Policy Statement. Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position. 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 Employees.
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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.
The following information describes the job and is intended for applicants and internal planning purposes.
The Job
The Manager, International Restaurant Design & Development is a strategic design leader responsible for protecting, evolving, and scaling the brand experience across global markets. This role ensures that brand standards are executed with integrity while adapting to regional realities, development models, and capital constraints. This leader partners closely with international franchisees, regional teams, and cross-functional partners in development, construction, operations, marketing, and executive leadership to deliver scalable, cost-effective, and culturally relevant design solutions that support aggressive global growth targets. The role balances creative excellence, operational practicality, and financial discipline — ensuring the brand shows up consistently and powerfully across diverse markets.
The Day-to-Day
Lead and evolve international brand design standards across new builds, remodels, and non-traditional formats
Own the implementation of prototypical construction document sets for remodels and new builds, adapting tools to meet evolving customer/business needs and goals
Partner closely with Concept, Development, and Construction teams to align design intent, optimize CapEx, and lead value engineering initiatives
Manage project timelines, schedules, and pipelines across core initiatives and special projects to ensure on time delivery
Serve as the primary point of contact for communication across and coordination between in house teams, field partners, external consultants, suppliers, and franchise stakeholders
Communicate project ideas through the use of hand sketches, computer design tools such as 3D modeling, AutoCAD, BIM (Revit), Sketchup, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign), Bluebeam Revu
Prepare and deliver executive level presentations that clearly articulate strategy, risks, trade offs, and recommendations
Build and maintain strong relationships with international franchisees and regional stakeholders
Build strong relationships with international franchisees and regional stakeholders while championing accountability, collaboration, and brand integrity within the global design team
Is this you?
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or equivalent
8+ years of Architectural / Interior Design experience in retail, hospitality, or restaurant design
Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-market or global brand initiatives, with the ability to create, manage, and deliver against project timelines
Strong interpersonal, executive communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively influence franchisee partners and senior stakeholders
Proven project management experience across Retail Interiors and Architecture initiatives
Minimum 2+ years of experience directly managing people, including coaching, performance management and employee development
Strong financial acumen, including construction cost management, CapEx oversight, and value engineering
Proficiency in Excel and industry design tools such as Revit or AutoCAD, Photoshop, and SketchUp
Positive, collaborative mindset with a “work hard, play hard” approach, and a commitment to serving as an advocate for brand standards and recognition culture
Work-Hard, Play-Hard
Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tue, Wed, Thurs) 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
Discounts, free food, swag and… honestly, too many good benefits to name
Salary Range: $125,200 to $162,300 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.
Work Authorization and Equal Opportunity
Work Authorization Notice: Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship.
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.
US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the Know Your Rights poster, you may also access Taco Bell’s Pay Transparency Policy Statement. Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position. 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 Employees.
#J-18808-Ljbffr