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Job Summary:
The Senior Director, Marketplace Strategy leads the strategic vision and growth across Papa Johns third-party marketplace channels (e.g., DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub). Serving as the primary architect of our third-party ecosystem, this leader is responsible for driving incremental volume, maximizing channel profitability, and expanding access to the brand.
This role bridges enterprise strategy and field execution by establishing Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with aggregator partners, spearheading aggressive "test and learn" growth initiatives, and deploying precision marketing spend. Additionally, this position acts as a key strategic partner to domestic franchises and Designated Market Areas (DMAs)—coaching field leadership and operators on localized marketplace levers that drive profitable order growth.
Key Duties & ResponsibilitiesStrategic Partner Management & Joint Business Planning
- Lead Enterprise JBP Strategy: Own executive-level relationships with primary aggregator partners to construct Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align co-investment, promotional calendars, and feature roadmaps with company goals.
- Aggregator Contract & Commercial Terms: Lead contract negotiations with third-party platforms to secure optimal commission structures, marketing placements, and favorable operational terms for corporate and franchise locations.
- Expansion & New Channels: Evaluate and onboard emerging third-party platforms and novel delivery models to unlock new customer acquisition and expand addressable market.
- Test & Learn Innovation: Build and execute a structured "test and learn" framework to continually evaluate promotional constructs, menu merchandising, targeting, pricing, and placement strategies across platforms.
- Precision Budget Management: Oversee a multi-million dollar third-party marketing budget, applying precision spending models to ensure high ROAS, efficient customer acquisition, and profitable incremental order growth.
- Conversion Optimization: Optimize brand storefronts, digital merchandising, and visibility tactics across aggregator apps to drive brand impact and appeal.
- DMA & Franchise Coaching: Serve as the subject matter expert for franchisees, local marketing directors and DMA leaders, providing actionable playbooks, localized insights, and coaching on how to maximize third-party business.
- Franchise Communication: Regularly present channel performance, test learnings, and strategic roadmaps to franchise advisory councils and executive leadership to ensure cross-functional alignment.
- Daily Performance Monitoring: Track key operational and financial metrics (order growth, operational consistency/reviews, profitability) to rapidly identify channel opportunities and execute corrective tactics.
- Cross-Functional Integration: Partner closely with Local Marketing, Technology, Operations, and Finance to ensure third-party strategies seamlessly integrate with first-party digital channels, commercial priorities and overall P&L goals.
Education, Experience & Certifications
- Proven experience (10+ years) in a strategic leadership role, preferably in QSR or marketplace focused industries
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
Functional Skills
- Strong understanding of the third-party aggregator platforms and marketplace business models
- Significant third party delivery / aggregator experience required, including managing multi-million dollar promotional budgets
- Demonstrated track record of successfully driving demand and growing third-party channels profitably
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, build complex financial models that include the various fee structures of each platform, develop executive level dashboards, and make data-driven decisions
- Strong negotiation & vendor/partner management skills
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and build growth-minded relationships with external partners
- Intimate knowledge of delivery, POS + tech platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Amazon, GrubHub, PAR, Deliverect, etc…) and industry best practices
- Familiarity with business intelligence tools like Tableau and AI data assistants to help speed up analytics processing
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment
Our Values
- EVERYONE BELONGS - We believe connectedness and belonging are the essential ingredients to our success
- DO THE RIGHT THING - We are relentlessly focused on quality and integrity and make the right choices, even when it's difficult
- PEOPLE FIRST - To craft positive experiences for our customers, we take care of each other first
- INNOVATE TO WIN - We champion and challenge for a better way in all we do
- HAVE FUN - We find joy, create meaningful impact and celebrate the journey together
Our Core Competencies
CUSTOMER CENTRIC - We leverage data and insights to craft a customer experience that builds relationships, cultivates trust, and delivers excellence
RESULTS DRIVEN – We focus on measurable outcomes by remaining optimistic, tenacious, and persistent even in the face of challenges
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT - We champion for better through strategic risk taking, experimentation and challenging the status quo
BIAS FOR ACTION - We courageously lead, drive towards decisions, and maintain agility to meet the demands of our dynamic industry
WINNING TOGETHER - We work together to unlock our full potential by actively collaborating and contributing in a cross-functional capacity
Papa Johns is an equal opportunity employer.
Papa Johns is a federal contractor that participates in the E-Verify program to confirm employment eligibility for each new team member. We also comply with all Right to Work requirements. Official E-Verify and Right to Work notices are available for applicants to review in both English and Spanish.
Everybody loves pizza, which means they also love the people who are behind the scenes working to deliver it. This is complex and challenging work – but let’s face it – it’s also pizza! If you want a fulfilling career with a company that’s always moving forward, we’re the right place.
Papa John's is a Federal Contract employer who participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for each new team member. For more information please view the following PDFs: E-Verify Poster (English) - Right to Work Poster (English) - E-Verify Poster (Spanish) - Right to Work Poster (Spanish) Papa John's is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information please click on the following PDF. See terms & conditions for site use.
Skills Required
- 10+ years in a strategic leadership role
- Bachelor's degree
- MBA
- Significant third-party aggregator/platform experience managing multi-million dollar promotional budgets
- Proven track record driving demand and growing third-party channels profitably
- Experience negotiating aggregator contracts and commercial terms
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to build complex financial models and executive dashboards
- Familiarity with business intelligence tools like Tableau and AI data assistants
- Intimate knowledge of delivery, POS and tech platforms (Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Amazon, GrubHub, PAR, Deliverect)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to collaborate cross-functionally
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment
- Experience in QSR or marketplace-focused industries
Papa John's Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Papa John's and has not been reviewed or approved by Papa John's.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as available for eligible roles, including medical and dental options, alongside life and disability coverage in some packages.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is described as available for eligible employees through a 401(k) plan, sometimes referenced with a company match depending on role and employer.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Career-linked rewards are described through education support such as the Dough & Degrees program and occasional performance-related bonuses or recognition-style perks in certain organizations.
Papa John's Insights
What We Do
Papa John's Pizza is an American restaurant company that runs the third largest take-out and pizza delivery restaurant. Papa John's seeks people who have an entrepreneurial spirit and share our philosophy for success. Hands-on training, a clean and safe work environment, quality business practices, advancement opportunities and meaningful work combine to produce not only the best pizza, but also the best team members! Better Opportunities. Better People! At Papa John's we call ourselves team members instead of employees because we believe it is only through a strong team we can produce the best experience for our customers. Whether at our corporate campus, distribution centers, our restaurants, or located internationally; Papa John's has a variety of positions for talented and passionate people. Papa John's is an equal opportunity employer and provides excellent career opportunities for our entire team. Our company philosophies of promote from within and rewards based on performance are important elements of our company culture.
