Associate Manager, Brand & Product Strategy - Beverages

Associate Manager, Brand & Product Strategy - Beverages

Irvine, CA

JOB DESCRIPTION

Who is Taco Bell?

Taco Bell was born and raised in California and has been around since 1962. We went from selling everyone's favorite Crunchy Tacos on the West Coast to a global brand with 8,500+ restaurants, 350 franchise organizations, that serve 42+ million fans each week around the globe. We're not only the largest Mexican-inspired quick service brand (QSR) in the world, we're also part of the biggest restaurant group in the world: Yum! Brands.

Much of our fan love and authentic connection with our communities are rooted in being rebels with a cause. From ensuring we use high quality, sustainable ingredients to elevating restaurant technology in ways that hasn't been done before... we will continue to be inclusive, bold, challenge the status quo and push industry boundaries.

We're a company that celebrates and advocates for different, has bold self-expression, strives for a better future, and brings the fun while we're at it. We fuel our culture with real people who bring unique experiences. We inspire and enable our teams and the world to Live Más.

At Taco Bell, we're Cultural Rebels. Want to join in on the passion-fueled fun? Learn more about the career below.

About the Job:

The Brand & Product Associate Manager, Beverages plays a critical role on the Beverage Team by executing and optimizing Taco Bell's beverage strategy. This role supports product and creative development, program execution, and integration across cross‑functional teams, vendors, and agency partners. It focuses on national beverage initiatives including Refrescas, Freezes, CSDs, Live Más Café and pipeline development.

The Associate Manager reports to the Beverage Marketing Manager and partners closely with the broader Product & Brand Marketing teams to integrate beverages with base business. Together, you will deliver category‑leading programs that drive drinks per transaction and help Taco Bell become as known for its beverages as it is for its food.

The Day-to-Day:

Program & Campaign Leadership

• Support in the planning and executing of National Beverage and Test Programs from product and creative development to go-to-market; gaining system alignment to deliver breakthrough results
• Contribute to the strategy and execution of Taco Bell's core beverage portfolio and emerging growth platforms, including Live Más Café, helping shape the future of the category through innovation, testing, and campaign development
• Own the Freeze product pipeline, leading early stage flavor exploration, consumer testing, product briefs and broader beverage & food integration efforts to unlock culturally and seasonally relevant programs that drive Freeze DPT
• Serve as the primary contact for agencies and internal creative/partners to progress briefs and multi channel asset development for both owned and paid assets
• Own coordination of real estate, schematic, training and merchandising reviews for beverage programs
• Partner with Insights & Analytics and Finance to maintain trackers, review pillar and program performance, and synthesize insights to inform future initiatives
• Build deck skeletons, populate content, and craft clear storytelling for leadership reviews, cross functional shares, BEVCOM, FRANMAC, and program alignment forums
• Partner with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Supply Chain, Menu Management, Public Relations, Digital, Social, Media to develop robust programs inclusive of multi-channel activations that effectively engage target consumers

Is This You?

• 4+ years of experience in brand management, product marketing, or related fields
• BA required; business, marketing, or communications degree preferred
• Experience managing creative development, cross functional workflows, and complex timelines in fast paced environments
• Strong creative brief writing, deck building, and storytelling abilities.
• Comfortable coordinating across multiple stakeholders and serving as a central "hub" for information flow
• Extremely organized, proactive, detail oriented, and able to operate fluidly between creative and operational workstreams
• Skilled in Microsoft Office; strong PowerPoint capability is essential
• Motivated, curious, resourceful, and excited to help shape the future of Taco Bell's beverage platforms.

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building)
• Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, and carwash
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum! Brands with immediate vesting
• Comprehensive medical & dental including prescription drug benefits and 100% preventive care
• Discounts, free food, swag and... honestly, too many good benefits to name

Salary Range: $109,400 to $128,600 annually + bonus eligibility + benefits

The above represents the expected salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Work Authorization Notice: Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship or immigration support for this position. Applicants must already be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future sponsorship.

At Taco Bell, we Live Más and invite you to do the same. Take a seat at our table. Bring your voice. Bring you, just as you are, a Cultural Rebel. We want you to be your best self!

Taco Bell is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging for all dimensions of diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Taco Bell is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities or special needs.

US Job Seekers/Employees - To view the "Know Your Rights" poster, click here . You may also access Taco Bell's Pay Transparency Policy Statement.

Employment eligibility to work with Taco Bell in the U.S. is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for this position.

California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect from you and how we use, sell, and share that information, please see our Privacy Notice for California Employees here .