Prototype Director

Lead the development and management of restaurant prototypes across a multi-brand organization. A leader of architects, engineers, and designers, and a prototype leader in their own right with the ability to guide external consultants and internal cross-functional partners to develop and maintain prototype drawings, specifications, remodel guide sets, and playbooks that align with existing or newly established brand standards. A collaborative player - able to thrive in an ever-changing role. This role interacts with Brand Design Directors, Operations Innovation, Construction, Restaurant Operations, and external consultants for both new store and remodel programs within a matrix organization.

This position sits in our Atlanta Support Center, with an expectation to be onsite 80% of the time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage production and deployment of prototypes for new and remodel projects including construction documents, vendor shop drawings, specifications, and playbooks.

• Function as the singular and consistent conduit between prototype architects and engineers, vendors, and the Inspire contributors (Brand Directors, O&I, Construction, Concept Team, etc.) to deliver a quality product.

• Manage updates and changes to prototypes for new and remodel projects including construction documents, specifications, and playbooks.

• Lead prototype change approval process and communicate changes to internal and external users.

• Leverage and manage external consultants for the production of change bulletins, and updates, and contribute to training sessions for prototype updates. Incorporate changes across brands as appropriate.

• Lead standardization and value engineering solutions across brands including implementation of standard equipment, details, materials, finishes, etc.

• Develop and advance CAD standards ensuring underlying technology setup, drawing layout, and structure are unified and maintained.

• Provide best-in-class design tools utilized by the Design Team to improve productivity and efficiency by employing automation techniques in CAD Software.

• Organization and distribution of design support documents including prototype guide sets, change bulletins, templates, etc.

• Initiate proposal requests, and ensure proposals are signed and billing is processed.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• 4-year degree in construction, engineering, architecture, or another related field required.

• Graduate-level degree in development trades (construction, engineering, architecture etc.).

• 10+ years of applied experience in a related field (restaurant or retail architecture, construction, or store design), with an emphasis in franchised restaurants or retail outlets.

• 5+ years of previous prototype development or management.

• 5+ years of experience producing technical documentation to support the site development process.

• 5+ years of experience working in a matrix organization, preferably with some direct reports.

• Some civil engineering background or experience preferred.

• Professional license (architect or engineer) preferred.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, or ABILITIES

• Energetic and enthusiastic planner/designer with the ability to manage multiple projects and project sizes across a multi-brand matrix organization.

• People leader, with the ability to effectively influence cross-functional partners.

• Architecture and site design technical acumen across the entire restaurant design and architecture process including architectural, site/civil planning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and brand elements.

• High level of proficiency in reading and understanding architectural, structural, mechanical, and technical engineering documents.

• Strong CAD drawing and review skills with the ability to quickly develop or evaluate multi-brand preliminary floor plans, elevations, site plans, and building sections.

• Capable of managing a significant workload, setting priorities, meeting deadlines, and managing multiple projects in a changing environment with minimal direction.

• Highly motivated and has the ability to work as a team player and excellent communicator including the ability to succinctly provide project and workload status reports leadership.

• Ability to interface and maintain excellent professional relationships with a variety of audiences including franchise partners, internal construction, internal design leads, outsourced consultants, and various other departments within the Brands.

• Work requires the willingness to work a flexible schedule.

• ACAD/REVIT proficient.

• PowerPoint/Word/Excel proficient.

• Bluebeam proficient.

Inspire Brands is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 32,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and SONIC restaurants worldwide.

We're made up of some of the world's most iconic restaurant brands, but we're much more than just a restaurant company. We're a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple-it's an experience. At Inspire, that's our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.