Sr. Lead, External Research & Development

The purpose of the External Research & Development Team is to harness the power of an external venture network to create competitive advantage. We aim to accelerate solutions to core business challenges, support the development of alternative revenue streams beyond the core business, serve as a reliable resource for internal partners and provide real world understanding of emerging solutions/technologies. Supporting these outcomes are three key strategies: building an expansive global venture network, cultivating strong internal relationships and influencing external innovation.

With the increasing pace of change, we believe an open innovation model is needed to effectively support the enterprise; this model acknowledges one company does not have a monopoly on good ideas and actively leverages innovation from outside the company to solve challenges, seize opportunities and prevent disruption. Open innovation requires an expansive network to be successful. The Senior External Research & Development Lead is responsible for supporting our strategic approach to building our global external network. The role leads our efforts to build external relationships, expand our understanding of innovation happening across the globe, identify the most promising solutions and connect potential solutions with internal teams to accelerate the business.

Our Flexible Future model offers a healthy mix of working in person and virtually, strengthening key elements of the Chick-fil-A culture by fostering collaboration and community.

• Play lead role in creating and executing strategy to build global external venture network
• Deeply understand key business challenges, department goals and team roadmaps
• Identify and connect with valuable external venture partners: Venture Capital Firms, Corporate Venture Teams, Accelerators, Start Ups, Universities, etc. Represent Chick-fil-A in the venture network
• Develop and manage scalable system to effectively foster external relationships
• Understand emerging developments and solutions in the marketplace
• Source and evaluate emerging solutions
• Connect internal stakeholders to potential solutions
• Plan and execute internal stakeholder engagement and communication strategy to improve awareness of External R&D value across the enterprise
• Create avenues for Chick-fil-A staff to add value to the external network
• Organize key internal stakeholders to fulfill commitments to external network partners
• Create in-field pilot and immersive experiences for internal stakeholders
• Curate new methods for internal stakeholders to expand their understanding of emerging marketplace developments
• Execute the broader team communication plan
• Assess marketplace trends, competitive landscape and venture network to recommend opportunities for new business concepts, alternative revenue streams and strategic investments. Conduct business analysis on potential new business opportunities

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 5 years work experience
• Knowledge of startup ecosystem
• Experience analyzing companies and evaluating business solutions
• Builds effective relationships with internal Chick-fil-A staff, operators, and external partners
• Serves as an internal subject matter expert on the startup/accelerator/venture capital community
• Awareness of current and future technology trends, as well as novel approaches to provide value to Chick-fil-A through access to emerging technology
• Has ability to understand current Chick-fil-A business focus areas and how they may impact current use cases and emerging technology solutions
• Creates a professional and collaborative working environment with full colleague participation that promotes teamwork, quality, and exceptional outcomes
• Demonstrates the ability to influence, manage and present ideas via clear written and oral communication (strong presentation skills)
• Sets and continually manages project expectations with team members and other stakeholders
• Exhibits ability to prioritize multiple projects and tasks, adapts to changing needs and tackles new challenges daily
• Self-starter who operates well in a collaborative team environment and adapt effectively to changing business priorities/strategies
• Is PC and/or MAC proficient including Microsoft Windows, Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Smartsheet and CRM systems

• 7 years work experience
• Experience working with Accelerators and Venture Capital Firms
• Experience developing and executing strategies for new business opportunities
• Knowledge of Pilot Design to test emerging solutions
• Understanding of technology development
• Business case development and financial analysis
• Experience with relationship management systems