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.

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