The Manager, Brand Experience (Value), plays a crucial role in shaping and driving sustained sales and brand growth for both the brand and franchisees. This individual is expected to operate as a hands‑on leader - setting direction, influencing cross‑functional partners, and motivating teams to deliver against long‑range growth objectives.
More specifically, this role is responsible for leading the identification, development, and execution of strategic growth initiatives that enhance the Sonic brand experience. These initiatives may span the full ecosystem, including menu and culinary innovation, delivery and digital experience, loyalty, promotions, ecommerce, and pricing. The Manager will work closely with the Director of Brand Experience Strategy and serve as a primary point of integration across Inspire Brands’ shared services teams.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Develop and execute a comprehensive brand value strategy and roadmap that aligns with the restaurant's values, mission, and business objectives.
Owns and leads brand experience roadmaps for the discovery, testing, and launch of high impact growth initiatives aligned to sales target.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Supply Chain, Culinary, Category Management, Integrated Marketing Communications, Customer Marketing/Loyalty, Digital Retail, Revenue Management, Training, Operations, Analytics, and Consumer Insights to ensure seamless go to market execution
Oversees the design and execution of market tests (product, pricing, delivery, technology, or experience based), including test objectives, test/control design, KPIs, and performance evaluation.
Utilize data and analytics to track the success of brand experience initiatives and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
Develops and delivers executive level presentations that clearly communicate strategy, progress, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership
Requirements:
4 Year Degree / Bachelor’s In Marketing, Business, Hospitality, or a related field. (MBA preferred)
5+ years of Proven experience in a similar role within a brand experience, strategy, consulting or related function, preference within the restaurant or hospitality industry.
Strong understanding of brand management, customer experience, and marketing principles.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams.
Ability to quickly develop deep knowledge of the QSR industry, consumer behavior, and performance metrics
Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and make informed decisions.
Ability to create and present strategies in partnership with Director to senior leadership and manage large scale multifaceted projects.
Project management experience with ability to drive on time delivery and motivate peer to peer.
Advanced proficiency in Excel (e.g., pivot tables, SUMIFS, INDEX/MATCH) and PowerPoint (executive storytelling)
Experience using Tableau, Power BI, or similar analytics platforms to self‑serve and analyze data
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Hospitality, or a related field
- MBA
- 5+ years of experience in brand experience, strategy, consulting, or a related function
- Experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry
- Strong understanding of brand management, customer experience, and marketing principles
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams
- Knowledge of the QSR industry, consumer behavior, and performance metrics
- Analytical ability to interpret data and make informed decisions
- Ability to create and present strategies to senior leadership
- Experience managing large-scale, multifaceted projects
- Project management experience and ability to drive on-time delivery
- Advanced proficiency in Excel, including pivot tables, SUMIFS, and INDEX/MATCH
- Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint for executive storytelling
- Experience using Tableau, Power BI, or similar analytics platforms
Inspire Brands Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Inspire Brands and has not been reviewed or approved by Inspire Brands.
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Healthcare Strength — Comprehensive health coverage, mental health support, disability insurance, and related programs are emphasized for support‑center and eligible management roles. Materials also reference options like HSAs and EAPs as part of a broad healthcare offering.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Unlimited PTO is highlighted for support‑center roles alongside paid leaves such as parental and adoption assistance. Feedback suggests these time‑off elements are a core part of the corporate employee value proposition.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Employee food discounts, on‑site amenities (e.g., gym, snacks, and similar perks), and lifestyle programs add tangible day‑to‑day value. Additional benefits like commuter options, financial wellness tools, and pet insurance further broaden the package.
Inspire Brands Insights
What We Do
Inspire Brands was founded in February 2018 with a vision to invigorate great brands and supercharge their long-term growth. In an industry facing increasing disruption, our leaders saw an opportunity to build a restaurant company unlike any other – one that brings together differentiated yet complementary brands and aims to make them stronger than they would be on their own. Found inherently in the purposes of our family of brands, we identified a common thread between our restaurants – the capacity to inspire. From guest experience to career development to community well-being, Inspire plays a role in the lives of millions of people every day.
