Associate Manager, Market Planning

This role serves as KFC Canada's market planning subject matter expert, providing market planning, GIS, and analytical expertise to support development strategy and growth initiatives. The role develops market planning methodologies, analyses, and recommendations that inform development planning, market prioritization, and investment decisions while partnering with franchisees and cross-functional teams to identify growth opportunities.

Strategic Development Analytics (50%)

• Provide analytical support for KFC Canada Development strategy, market planning, and growth initiatives.
• Develop financial models, forecasting tools, and performance analyses to support investment decisions, restaurant reinvestment, market prioritization, and development planning.
• Analyze restaurant performance, trade area dynamics, competitive activity, site quality, and market potential to identify growth opportunities and improve development outcomes.
• Generate data-driven insights and recommendations for key decision-making forums, including Investment Committee reviews and Development Leadership meetings.
• Build and maintain reporting, dashboards, and analytical frameworks that improve forecasting accuracy, accelerate decision-making, and support profitable new unit growth.
• Consolidate and synthesize development, market, and operational data into actionable recommendations for KFC Canada Leadership.

Market Planning, GIS & Development Systems (50%)

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of KFC Canada's market planning strategy, including whitespace identification, trade area optimization, and long-term unit growth planning.
• Utilize GIS, demographic, mobility, competitive, and consumer data to prioritize markets and support franchise development decisions.
• Partner with franchisees and development teams to create market plans that identify growth opportunities and build alignment around development priorities.
• Evaluate and implement emerging market planning tools, data sources, and analytical methodologies to strengthen KFC Canada's market intelligence capabilities.
• Apply market planning and GIS analytics to optimize the existing restaurant portfolio, identifying pathways to profitability for underperforming assets and pathways to potential for restaurants not yet achieving expected market performance. Develop actionable recommendations related to trade areas, asset strategy, reinvestment prioritization, development sequencing, and market coverage
• Maintain and enhance market planning systems, GIS platforms, AIS, and development dashboards to ensure data accuracy and usability.
• Manage relationships with external data and analytics providers to improve data quality, increase market visibility, and support scalable development decision-making.
• Support urban, non-traditional, and emerging development strategies through advanced market analysis and scenario planning.

Education/Certifications – BA/BS in real estate, finance, business or related field with GIS/Alteryx expertise is required. Masters in Finance, Real Estate or MBA preferred.

Experience - Minimum of 7 years of development, real estate, strategy, or finance experience with demonstrated organizational impact and increasing responsibility in related areas. Experience in multi-unit restaurant/retail industry preferred.

Fundamental Skills:

• Must have strong internal motivation, intellectual curiosity, logical thinking, and a desire to have a large commercial impact on the organization. Being a Customer Maniac is a must.
• Must have proven track record driving results via creative thinking and problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively multi-task & generate actionable recommendations. Demonstrated track record of strong Project Management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal & team skills with ability to present to Senior Leadership.
• Previous experience with modeling complex business issues in order to influence decisions with a data-driven point of view.
• Clear influencing, communication, and organizational skills are a necessity. Ability to partner well with cross-functional departments and work with all levels.
• Ability to efficiently manage workload well with shifting priorities. Ability to work independently and multi-task in a fast paced and deadline-driven environment.
• Strong system/technical skills, including proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite with strong/advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills. Knowledge of Power BI, computer programming, GIS, Alteryx and real estate-related tools is a plus as well as experience with dash-boarding/automation of reporting.

What makes KFC a great place to work?

Our People. We invest in people capability above all else, with a proven track record of developing internal talent to leadership levels across the business both in Canada and globally. We hire and develop people who lead with Smart, Heart and Courage to make a big impact on the business today and grow into leaders of the future.

Our Culture. We are known for a culture that rewards and recognizes bold results and promises everyone a seat at our table. We focus on your personal development as much as your professional development to ensure you can bring your best self to work.

Why you’ll love working here

• Hybrid work model (2–3 days per week in office)
• Paid vacation and personal days, plus 10 paid KFC Canada holidays in addition to statutory holidays.
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits, including HSA and PSA options that allow you to personalize your coverage, plus life insurance and disability coverage, with employer-paid premiums
• Family-inclusive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and virtual care
• Paid parental leave with salary top-up
• RRSP and DPSP retirement programs with employer matching
• Annual tuition reimbursement program
• Employee referral rewards
• And so much more!

Note: remuneration, benefits, and other perks may vary by role, employment status, eligibility, and other relevant factors.

Additional Information

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

We thank all applicants for their interest in joining KFC Canada; however, only those selected for further screening will be contacted. Applicants are assessed based on skills and experience relevant to the role. Canadian experience is not required.

KFC Canada is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace where everyone feels they belong. In accordance with applicable laws, we are committed to providing reasonable accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to meet the needs of applicants. If you require accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know.

The expected hiring range for this role is $85,000 to $114,000 CAD, inclusive of base salary and target annual performance bonus. Final compensation will be based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

KFC Canada uses artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled tools to support certain aspects of the recruitment process, including application screening and assessment, in accordance with applicable legislation. All final hiring decisions are made by human decision-makers.