Senior Innovation Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Summary of Job Description:

The Senior Operations Innovation Manager serves as the operational engine behind the Operations Innovation agenda, translating strategy into structured execution and ensuring innovation initiatives move efficiently from concept through field rollout. This role develops and maintains the systems, processes, and standards that enable consistent execution across the organization while equipping project teams with the methodology, tools, and cross-functional alignment needed to deliver results. The Senior Manager leads the execution of the innovation cycle end-to-end and coaches teams through experiment design and implementation, providing prioritization insights that support the Director, Operations Innovation in advising Operations and Marketing leadership. Reporting directly to the Director of Operations Innovation, this position serves as the day-to-day driver of innovation initiatives from Support Center through field implementation.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develops and operationalizes standardized processes and methodologies for the full innovation cycle, from opportunity identification and experiment design through pilot evaluation and scaled rollout, ensuring initiatives progress through a structured and repeatable framework aligned with the strategic direction of Operations Innovation.
• Develops systems and processes that support the execution of marketing and operational standards by partnering with Operations and Human Resources to create training programs, documentation, and implementation tools that drive successful store-level adoption and operational consistency.
• Leads and coaches cross-functional project teams in design and execution of experiment plans, ensuring rigor in test design, data collection, and results evaluation. Conducts data analysis and provides insights to keep the Director, Operations Innovation informed on initiative performance and go/no-go recommendations.
• Establishes and manages cross-functional ways of working across project teams and key partner functions, including Restaurant Development, Marketing Brand Innovation, Operations Services, Information Systems, Finance, Supply Chain, and Food Safety & Quality Assurance, ensuring teams deliver complete testing and implementation packages to customer-facing associates.
• Supports the Director, Operations Innovation with leadership updates and prioritization analysis by synthesizing initiative performance data, tracking field deployments, and developing recommendations that help leadership identify high-impact opportunities and effectively sequence the innovation pipeline.

How we reward you:

• Hybrid Work schedule 
• 401K with company match
• Yearly bonus opportunity*
• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance *
• On-site fitness center, biometric screen, and flu shot clinic
• Discounts at Panda restaurants, theme parks, and gym memberships
• Paid time off starting at 15 days with 7 federal holidays*
• Continuous education assistance and scholarships*
• Income protection including Disability, Life and AD&D insurance*
• Bereavement leave*

*Benefits available for eligible permanent full time associates

Your background & experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field required
• Minimum seven years of engineering, data analysis and optimization, process design, systems thinking, and Lean experience with increasing management responsibility, preferably in a retail/hospitality environment
• Successful completion of initial and periodically required trainings
• Obtaining a valid Food Handler's Card within 30 days of employment is a requirement of this position. 

Pay Range: M3: $127,000 - $178,000 / Annual

* Within the range, individual pay is determined using various factors, including work location and experience.

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Panda Strong since 1983:

Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family-owned American Chinese Restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,800 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values.

You’re wanted here:

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity, and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including but not limited to sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related conditions), gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, and veteran status. Additionally, Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. complies with all federal, state, and local laws regarding requests for workplace accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Applicants are entitled to reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to effectively participate in the application and hiring process, for example, sign language interpreters. If you believe you require an accommodation for the application or interview process or for the position for which you are applying, please reach out to TASupport@PandaRG.com.