The Enterprise Innovation & People Safety Programs Manager is responsible for leading enterprise-wide innovation initiatives while owning the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of safety programs across Inspire Brands. This role bridges operational innovation, process improvement, and safety leadership, ensuring new technologies, equipment, processes, and operating models are designed and deployed with safety, compliance, and risk reduction at their core.
This position partners cross-functionally with Operations, Training, Legal, Risk Management, Communications, Technology, and external vendors to deliver scalable innovations that improve operational performance while reducing injury risk and ensuring regulatory compliance. The role manages initiatives end‑to‑end—from ideation and pilot testing through rollout, measurement, and continuous improvement—while maintaining a strong employee‑focused, brand‑protection mindset.
Lead cross-functional innovation projects from concept through pilot, deployment, and sustainment, ensuring safety and compliance are embedded in all solutions.
Evaluate existing restaurant processes, equipment, systems, and workflows to identify inefficiencies, operational risks, and opportunities for innovation.
Partner with internal teams and external vendors to define project scope, business cases, timelines, and success metrics.
Develop and implement new operating models, standardized procedures, and tools that improve safety, efficiency, and operational performance.
Create detailed project plans including timelines, resource requirements, budget considerations, and risk mitigation strategies.
Present project updates, findings, and recommendations to senior leadership through clear, data-driven presentations and reports.
Maintain documentation for project scope, deliverables, timelines, and outcomes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Manage project reporting and analytics to track progress, financial impact, operational value, and risk reduction.
People Safety Programs & Risk Management
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve enterprise safety programs, policies, and standards aligned with operational innovation efforts.
Research, evaluate, and provide safety recommendations on new restaurant equipment, technology, construction materials, and operational processes.
Monitor federal, state, and local safety regulations (OSHA, EPA, ANSI, Fire Marshal, etc.) and ensure compliance across enterprise initiatives.
Serve as a primary contact for OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory agencies related to inspections, audits, and violations.
Create and maintain safety communications, dashboards, alerts, and SharePoint content to ensure consistent, effective messaging.
Analyze incident, injury, and claims data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for risk reduction.
Leadership & Collaboration
Partner closely with Operations, Legal, Risk Management, Training, Communications, and Brand stakeholders to align innovation and safety priorities.
Foster a culture of innovation, safety ownership, continuous improvement, and enterprise collaboration.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Industrial Engineering, Project Management, Environmental Health & Safety, or a related field (required)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and collaboration tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, Teams, SharePoint, etc.)
ENVIRONMENTAL & WORKING CONDITIONS
Inspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,000 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.