New Product Development Director

Americana Restaurants International; Sharjah; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading restaurant company in Sharjah is seeking a Director to spearhead innovation strategies and manage new product development for its KFC and Americana brands. This role requires over 10 years of experience in the food product sector, strong leadership abilities, and a deep understanding of market trends. Responsibilities include leading strategic projects, collaborating with teams, and ensuring successful product launches. Join us to drive innovation in a vibrant industry.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years experience developing and launching new food products.
• Minimum 5 years experience leading a team in NPD role.
• Demonstrated project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for innovation and propose strategic projects.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative strategies.
• Manage and collaborate with marketing team for market research.

Skills

Innovation strategy

Project management

Market research

Team leadership

Presentation skills

Critical thinking

Education

Food science or related food technical degree

Job description

To support mainly KFC, and Americana brands for new menu development, innovation strategy, presentation, marketing research, and timelines. This involves identifying opportunities for innovation, leading research and development initiatives, and fostering a culture of innovation within the company.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities for innovation and propose strategic projects
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative strategies and initiatives
• Manage and collaborate with marketing team for market research
• Develop business cases for new ideas and present them to the management
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for innovative projects
• Coordinate with external partners and stakeholders to promote innovation
• Stay updated on the latest trends and technologies in the industry
• Evaluate the success of innovation projects and make necessary adjustments
• Partner with Americana brand marketing teams to lead the new product development process for Americana brands

Experience

• Minimum 10 yrs experience developing and launching new food products for large QSR chain
• Minimum 5 yrs experience leading a team in NPD role
• Food science or related food technical degree
• Demonstrated project management skills

Preferred Experience and Qualification

• Both culinary and food science degrees
• Experience with fried chicken QSR new product development
• Experience working in GCC markets

Key Abilities

• Ability to comfortably and confidently present to and update Senior Management team and Board of Directors
• Prioritization and organization
• Critical thinking

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Research, Product Management, and Science

Industries

• Restaurants