Manager, Innovation

WHO WE ARE

We’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavor business. It’s been our mission to Serve the World Flavor since we first opened in 1994, and we’re just getting started. 1997 saw the opening of our first brand partner operated Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavor that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry.

Above all else – our success is largely due to our people and our core values, or what we call The Wingstop Way of being entrepreneurial, service-minded, fun, and authentic. We believe having a strong people foundation centered on these collective values creates a crave-worthy culture and talented team, as well as ensures our brand is poised for accelerated growth. We all win together.

WHAT WE’LL NEED

In this role, the Manager of Innovation will support the development and execution of insight-driven marketing initiatives that drive incremental growth for the Wingstop brand. This role will focus on bringing new ideas to life through disciplined testing, strong cross-functional execution, and continuous learning.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the end-to-end innovation process—from ideation and concept development through in-market testing and post-analysis

• Identify and develop new ideas across key growth areas including occasions (lunch, late night, snacking), value platforms, and customer segments

• Partner cross-functionally with Brand, Digital, Operations, Culinary, and Analytics teams to execute innovation initiatives effectively

• Track and evaluate marketing activities, campaigns, and tests to assess performance and impact

• Identify insights and opportunities for optimization based on results

• Partner with the Marketing Analytics team to analyze performance and contribute to future innovation strategies

• Develop clear summaries of what worked, what didn’t, and recommendations for iteration or scaling

• Execute against a structured test-and-learn agenda, supporting key business questions (e.g., entry price points, bundling, dayparts, new product launches)

• Apply learnings from past campaigns and tests to improve future initiatives

• Partner with campaign teams to integrate innovation initiatives into the broader marketing calendar

• Support end-to-end execution of pilot campaigns, including coordination of strategy, creative, and deployment

• Support both planned innovation initiatives and agile, in-market opportunities that drive short-term results

• Contribute to rapid-response efforts tied to cultural moments, competitive activity, or emerging trends

• Stay informed on QSR and consumer trends, bringing forward ideas and inspiration to support the innovation pipeline

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Innovation, or a related field required

• 5-7 years of experience in marketing, brand strategy, innovation, or related fields

• Experience within QSR, restaurant, retail, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries strongly preferred

• Experience supporting cross-functional marketing initiatives from concept through execution

• Execution-focused marketer with exposure to innovation, brand strategy, or campaign development

• Background may include in-house brand marketing, agency experience, or early-stage consulting

• Experience working in fast-paced, results-oriented environments with a test-and-learn mindset

• Ability to translate insights into actionable plans with guidance from senior leaders

• methodologies (qualitative and quantitative)

• Preferred (not required): exposure to Design Thinking, Agile Marketing, or basic innovation frameworks

• Familiarity with marketing analytics tools (e.g., Tableau, Google Analytics)

• Experience supporting A/B testing or test-and-learn initiatives

• Exposure to CRM and digital marketing platforms

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) for analysis and storytelling

• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across teams

• Solid communication skills with ability to clearly present ideas and results

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills

• Curious and proactive mindset with willingness to learn and grow

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

WHO YOU ARE 

No job is too small. You recognize that the real work happens in the restaurants, and everything we do should support their success. You stay humble, roll up your sleeves, and always look for ways to help. You learn from others and contribute wherever you can.

You care deeply about doing great work and driving results. You’re curious, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to improve. You don’t just point out problems—you bring solutions, ideas, and perspectives that move the team forward.

You take full responsibility for your work and see things through to completion. You aren’t afraid to fail because you know that failure is a part of learning and growth. You take action, move fast, and keep pushing forward.

You lead with empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence. You collaborate effectively, fostering a culture of trust and constructive feedback. You understand the importance of teamwork and ensure that your actions build others up rather than break them down.

You push yourself and others to be better. You embrace healthy conflict, knowing that great ideas and strong teams emerge from honest, constructive conversations. You believe that leaders create leaders and are committed to fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and continuous improvement.

BENEFITS

FLAVOR PERKS:

• Unlimited paid time off for exempt employees

• One paid volunteer day of your choice

• Competitive bonus structure for eligible roles

• Team member stock purchase plan

• Health savings or flexible spending account options

• 401k – (dollar for dollar on the first 3% and then 50 cents on the dollar for the next 2% for team member contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation)

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits

• Basic life and AD&D insurance provided

• Pet insurance

• Education Assistance

• Wellness reimbursement program

• Paid maternity and paternity leave

  
  
  

FUN IS THE BEST FLAVOR:

• Lunch provided every Tuesday and Thursday in office

• Discount on Wingstop gift cards

• Onsite game room

Wingstop provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.