New Product Development Manager

Job Purpose:

The New Product Development Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end product development of new items on the menu and product improvements. This role ensures that new products align with brand strategy, consumer insights, operational feasibility, food safety standards, and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

1) Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the full NPD lifecycle: concept creation, feasibility, development, testing, launch, and post-launch evaluation.
• Develop new menu items, limited time offers (LTOs), and product renovations aligned with brand and business goals.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into compelling product concepts that are scalable.
• Ensure products can be executed consistently across restaurants.

2) Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with NPD Director, Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations Excellence, Quality Assurance, Finance, and external suppliers.
• Coordinate product trials, kitchen tests, sensory evaluations, and consumer testing.

3) Commercial & Strategic Planning

• Build strong business cases, including costings, margins, and pricing recommendations.
• Support annual innovation calendars and long-term product roadmaps by developing concepts and planning ahead.
• Monitor product performance and recommend optimizations.

4) Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Manage specifications, ingredient approvals, and supplier compliance.

5) Project Management

• Manage multiple short timeline projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines and budget requirements.
• Prepare presentations and updates for senior stakeholders.
• Manages multiple NPD projects simultaneously, often across different timelines and complexity levels.
• Balances consumer appeal, brand standards, operational feasibility, and cost constraints.
• Operates in a fast-paced, high-volume QSR environment with frequent innovation cycles.

Educational Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology or Food Science is compulsory

Required Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in new product development, food innovation ideation, commercialization of new products and roll out.
• Background in quick-service restaurants (QSR) companies is preferred.