Director, Product Development

Job Description

The Director, Product Development leads Domino's innovation agenda from consumer insight through commercialization. This role oversees Product Marketing and Research & Development to build a robust pipeline of menu innovation, product optimization, and strategic growth platforms that drive sales, profitability, and brand differentiation. The position combines consumer-centric marketing and culinary innovation, using research, data, and cross-functional collaboration to identify opportunities, develop business cases, and launch products that are consumer-relevant, operationally executable, and financially sound. The role also leads the Domino's Global Product Innovation Council to connect international innovation efforts, accelerate learning, and identify scalable opportunities.  

What You'll Do

• Innovation strategy and pipeline leadership: Develop and execute the innovation roadmap; maintain a multi-year pipeline aligned with enterprise growth objectives that delivers at least three product innovations and at least one renovation each year; identify consumer, food, technology, and cultural trends; set priorities and resource allocation; shape menu strategy, portfolio architecture, and product lifecycle management with executive leadership; maintain supplier relationships; and optimize innovation processes from consumer-driven ideas through commercialization. 
• Product Marketing leadership: Lead Product Marketing strategy for innovation, renovation, and optimization; develop customer value propositions for products, platforms, and promotions; align initiatives with brand, sales, and marketing objectives; oversee business cases, forecasting assumptions, launch recommendations, and post-launch evaluations with Decision Science; lead portfolio and menu management, including additions, renovations, simplification, and SKU optimization; and partner with Operations and the OpAC franchisee council to build system buy-in and support system launches. 
• Research & Development leadership: Lead the R&D function in designing, developing, testing, and commercializing products and menu platforms; ensure innovation meets standards for quality, profitability, scalability, and operational simplicity; improve core menu items through renovation and optimization; partner with Quality Assurance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Procurement; champion a disciplined stage-gate process; and oversee product testing, operational readiness, and national launch execution. 
• Global Product Innovation Council leadership: Establish strategic priorities and governance for product innovation across international markets; chair council meetings; connect global marketing, culinary, operations, and innovation leaders; evaluate global concepts for scalability and commercialization; formalize sharing of best practices, consumer learnings, and product performance; build a globally informed pipeline; assess standardization, regional adaptation, and local innovation opportunities; establish scorecards and reporting; and serve as the liaison between U.S. innovation teams and international markets. 
• Consumer insights and learning: Partner with Analytics & Insights on research agendas and consumer learning plans; use quantitative and qualitative research, sales data, behavioral trends, and market intelligence to guide innovation and portfolio strategy; translate consumer, category, and competitive insights into product opportunities; document successes and failures to strengthen organizational learning; and manage internal sensory capabilities for development and consumer qualification. 
• Cross-functional leadership and execution: Serve as executive sponsor for major innovation programs and national launches; lead cross-functional teams through concept development, testing, readiness, and commercialization; align Marketing, Operations, Technology, Supply Chain, Finance, Franchisees, Decision Science, and International teams; balance consumer appeal, operational feasibility, and franchisee economics; and drive execution and business outcomes. 
• Talent leadership and organizational development: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing Product Marketing and R&D team, including Senior Managers; foster innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement; create development and succession plans; build capabilities in consumer-led innovation, commercialization, product strategy, and portfolio management; and promote cross-functional learning and knowledge sharing. 

What You’ll Bring

In addition to the technical and functional requirements of this role, successful candidates demonstrate Domino's Hungry for MORE Ways of Working: 

Be Curious 

• Seeks clarity, asks thoughtful questions, and uncovers root causes to solve problems effectively. 
• Actively pursues learning opportunities, applies feedback, and continuously develops new skills. 

Connect the Dots 

• Uses information and insights to identify opportunities and drive informed decisions. 
• Builds strong partnerships across teams and considers the broader organizational impact of decisions. 

Aim High 

• Sets ambitious goals, challenges the status quo, and focuses on work that drives meaningful business results. 
• Uses feedback and data to continuously improve performance and outcomes. 

Shift Fast 

• Adapts quickly to changing priorities and business needs while maintaining focus on results. 
• Demonstrates resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to learn from setbacks. 

Deliver More 

• Takes ownership, executes with discipline, and consistently produces measurable results. 
• Identifies opportunities to create additional value for customers, team members, and the business. 

Leadership Expectations 

• Builds and develops high-performing teams aligned to Domino's Ways of Working. 
• Creates accountability, fosters collaboration, and delivers results through others. 
• Leads confidently through change while maintaining team engagement and performance. 
• Demonstrates enterprise thinking and drives cross-functional alignment to achieve business goals. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, Product Development, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in Product Marketing, Innovation, R&D, Brand Management, Product Development, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 7 years of leadership experience managing high-performing teams.
• Experience leading cross-functional innovation programs from concept through commercialization.
• Strong analytical capability with demonstrated use of consumer research and business analytics.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and executive presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related field.
• QSR, restaurant, foodservice, or consumer packaged goods experience.
• Experience scaling innovation across franchise or multi-unit operating systems.
• Deep understanding of consumer behavior, menu economics, portfolio strategy, and product commercialization.
• Experience working with stage-gate innovation and product development processes.

Additional Information

Benefits:

• Paid Holidays and Vacation   
• Medical, Dental & Vision benefits that start on the first day of employment
• No-cost mental health support for employee and dependents
• Childcare tuition discounts
• No-cost fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs 
• Fertility benefits
• Adoption assistance
• 401k matching contributions   
• 15% off the purchase price of stock   
• Company bonus   

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.