How youll help us Keep Climbing (overview & key responsibilities)

The Onboard Services Menu Development Manager is responsible for the strategy, planning & implementation, and post-implementation analysis of Delta’s onboard menus. This applies to all menus globally and in all cabins.

Culinary Strategy: Responsible for the development and execution of Delta’s culinary strategy – delivering high-quality, recognizable food offerings, aligned with customer preferences, in partnership with the Delta Culinary Council, restaurant partners, and catering partners. Incorporate comprehensive review of competitive airline offerings, and customer insights into strategy, while ensuring strategy will support ease of execution for mass production and caterer efficiency.

Menu Development: Provide catering partners, culinary consultants and vendors clear guidance on strategy in advance of each menu presentation following a standard menu prescription guideline, leveraging feedback from customers (NPS, F&B NSAT, Pre-select dashboard), flight attendants (FACTS, OBS Insights, base visits, etc.), and Global Sales team. Review proposed menus with OBS and IFS CX leaderships to ensure alignment in advance of menu presentation. Partner with Delta Supply Chain (SCM), Material Logistic, Service Delivery (CX) and Finance teams in advance of menu presentation, and review menus to ensure final selections come in at or under the defined budget. Manage writing of menu copy for the region, building menu grids and proofing menus prior to publishing, including confirming translation accuracy, adhering to the pre-determined timeline. Responsible for recipes to be delivered on time for system processing (Gate Customer Care coding). Responsibility covers all inbound and outbound menus in all cabins, including a defined calendar of planned menu refreshes.

Menu Audits and Continuous Improvement: Partner with Food Safety & Quality Control team and other OBS stakeholders to develop post-menu launch audit/analysis plan to ensure that menu selections achieve customer satisfaction targets and adjusts menus based on customer and flight attendant feedback. Conduct periodic Food Quality Control audit at the station level in collaboration with the Catering Operation, Food Safety & Food QC teams.

Supplier & Product Management and Research: Partner with SCM, Material Logistics and catering partners’ procurement teams to develop and manage relationships with vendors that already or may supply products to Delta. Optimize nominated product strategy to drive cost efficiency and SKU rationalization. Effectively summarize all current and potential menu products. Communicate product needs to SCM according to published menu planning timeline. Communicate new menus and product changes to the Material Logistic team to reduce waste or left-over product. Attend conferences and food and beverage show/events that support innovation and allow Delta to offer products to customers outside of the standard airline supplier offerings. Incorporate sustainability and traceability focus into Supplier & Product Management activities.

Budget management: Work closely with Finance and SCM to ensure the menu budget is within reason. Leverage technology (Menu Prescription/Menu Management System) to ensure cost compliance according to budget and Delta guidance. Identifying, communicating, and mitigating any potential risks to the budget. Consistent focus on identifying cost savings opportunities without impact to NPS. Collaborate with Innovation team, catering partners, catering operation, Finance and SCM to identify opportunities to lower costs through decreased kitchen labor requirements and greater efficiency, improved sourcing strategies, and consumption studies.

Flight Attendant Engagement: Represent OBS to the Delta Flight Attendant group, building strong rapport between management and front-line employee group. This includes but will not be limited to base visits, EIG presentations, involvement of FAs in menu strategy development and menu presentations.

Marketing, Corporate Communications, IFS Communications, and Global Sales support: Work closely with Delta’s communications teams to drive and support customer awareness of OBS products and initiatives. Provide periodic updates of recent and upcoming menu and product launches, as well as assist in the development and review of various customer and industry communication materials, including media events, press releases, emails, etc. Support entity matrix team customer events, Sales meeting, etc. as needed.

Presentation and Business Case Development: Responsible for development of clear and concise detailed strategy presentations and formal business cases. Collects information from various sources (OAP, Finance, Competitive Analysis, Market Trends, and Flight Attendants etc.) and consolidates into presentations to senior management.

Benefits and Perks to Help You Keep Climbing

Our culture is rooted in a shared dedication to living our values – Care, Integrity, Resilience, Servant Leadership, and Teamwork – every day, in everything we do. At Delta, our people are our success. At the heart of what we offer is our focus on Sharing Success with Delta employees. Exploring a career at Delta gives you a chance to see the world while earning great compensation and benefits to help you keep climbing along the way:

Competitive salary, industry-leading proﬁt sharing program, and performance incentives
401(k) with generous company contributions up to 9
Paid time off including vacation, holidays, paid personal time, maternity and parental leave
Comprehensive health beneﬁts including medical, dental, vision, short/long term disability and life beneﬁts
Family care assistance through fertility support, surrogacy and adoption assistance, lactation support, subsidized back-up care, and programs that help with loved ones in all stages
Holistic Wellbeing programs to support physical, emotional, social, and financial health, including access to an employee assistance program offering support for you and anyone in your household, free financial coaching, and extensive resources supporting mental health
Domestic and International space-available flight privileges for employees and eligible family members
Career development programs to achieve your long-term career goals
World-wide partnerships to engage in community service and innovative goals created to focus on sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint
Business Resource Groups created to connect employees with common interests to promote inclusion, provide perspective and help implement strategies
Recognition rewards and awards through the platform Unstoppable Together
Access to over 500 discounts, specialty savings and voluntary benefits through Deltaperks such as car and hotel rentals and auto, home, and pet insurance, legal services, and childcare

What you need to succeed (minimum qualifications)

Bachelor’s degree in business, operations management, industrial engineering or related field and 5 years of commensurate experience, or MBA with 3 years of commensurate experience required.
2+ years managing supplier/vendor relationships and performance required.
2+ years strategy planning, operation or commercial experience in a fast-casual dining restaurant or catering business required.
Prior mass food production, catering operation, menu development and/or culinary education/experience preferred.
General knowledge of food safety regulations is required.
Experience in In-flight Services, airline operations and/or catering is desired. Ability to develop strong working relationship with Flight Attendants is a must.
Quality orientation and attention to detail a must. Must have high work ethic and commitment to excellence.
Project Management experience required. Strong interpersonal and written/oral communication skills required with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel, including ability to develop strong strategic presentations and business cases.
Should have strong analytic skills and be able to gather, manipulate, and interpret data and develop action plans based on the analyses.
Experience in IT system implementation a plus.
Must have ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure and respond quickly to high priority requests.
Flexibility and creativity are required to coordinate issue resolution in a constantly changing environment.
Proven organizational, planning and time management skills necessary. Strong problem solving and strategic thinking skills required. Must proactively follow up on processes and issues through completion in order to meet timelines.
Some flexibility needed to work some weekends, and ~30 travels
Must be proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly PowerPoint and Excel. Must be performing well in current position.
Consistently prioritizes safety and security of self, others, and personal data.
Embraces diverse people, thinking, and styles.
Possesses a high school diploma, GED, or high school equivalency.
Is at least 18 years of age and has authorization to work in the United States.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications)

Manager, Menu Development

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