Sr. Manager, Product Strategy & Inbound Licensing

Overview

Since its founding in 1937, Krispy Kreme’s focus has remained the same - making fresh doughnuts using our founder’s original recipe. The brand’s iconic Hot Light lets consumers know when doughnuts are being made in the shop so they can stop in and enjoy them hot, right off the line.

Senior Manager, LTO Product Strategy & Inbound Licensing leads the strategic development and approval process of Krispy Kreme’s Limited-Time Offer (LTO) portfolio, with a focus on driving traffic, trial, and cultural relevance. In this capacity, this senior manager is responsible for non-core product strategy across doughnuts and beverages – understanding broader business needs, identifying product solutions (through form, flavors, partners), developing new product development briefs, and partnering with the culinary innovation team on the product development and approval process.

Additionally, this role is responsible for activating inbound licensing partnerships within our products that elevate brand excitement and deliver incremental growth – owning outreach, negotiations, contract development and partner relationships overall.

A TASTE OF WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING:

• Own the overall non-core product strategy, including seasonal, LTO, and opportunistic product launches, from ideation, concept testing, new product development briefs, and the product approval process.
• Act as a key stakeholder and partner with the commercialization team through the IDEAL (Ideate, Develop, Evaluate, Actualize, Launch) development process for all projects.
• Leverage insights, trend analysis, and competitive intelligence to inform LTO innovation recommendations and inbound licensing decisions.
• Partner with consumer insights and analytics to develop and formalize NPD briefs for each project, rooted in a strong understanding of our brand, coupled with relevant knowledge of our consumer and the market, ultimately supported with business justification.
• Collaborates with brand marketing, culinary innovation, and operations to ensure conceptual products/programs can be translated consistently with customer wonder and operational excellence.
• In partnership with culinary innovation leads and supply chain, ensures products are developed within specified cost parameters to achieve our business targets (traffic, profit, menu mix and sales), while delivering a quality experience.
• Support product “sell-in” with cross-functional partners and leadership.
• Continuously evaluates and prioritizes projects in the pipeline in partnership with marketing and culinary innovation partners, providing ongoing communications on status to ensure management alignment.
• Monitor launch performance to learn and optimize future LTOs.

• Identify and pursue inbound licensing opportunities that align with the LTO calendar, seasonal moments, and cultural trends.
• Sell-in partnership opportunities with external partners to gain excitement for partnership potential.
• Evaluate licensed IP for strategic/brand fit, commercial upside, and operational feasibility in partnership with culinary and marketing.
• Manage day-to-day licensor relationships, manage risks/issues as they arise and ensure timely approvals, maintaining both licensor guidelines and Krispy Kreme brand standards.
• Manage inbound negotiations and deal points in service of brand needs, as well as contracts in partnership with Legal.
• Manage licensing budgets and invoices.

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. MBA is a plus.
• 7–10+ years of progressively responsible experience in brand management, product marketing, or innovation within QSR, CPG, or food & beverage.
• Passion for food and beverage innovation is required.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with a proven ability to move multiple projects forward in a constructive and timely manner. Must have ability to effectively multi-task, managing numerous projects and effectively adapting to shifting priorities.
• Demonstrated ability working with and rallying multiple departments/key stakeholders around common goals.
• Strong people and negotiations skills to…