Innovation Development Manager - 14 Month Contract - KFC Head Office

KFC Adco Limited; Australia; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

KFC Australia is seeking an Innovation Development Manager on a 14-month fixed-term contract to lead cutting-edge menu and packaging initiatives from concept to launch. You will join the Food & Innovation Team (FIT), partnering with suppliers and cross-functional teams to deliver taste, quality and commercial success.

Responsibilities include building a bold innovation pipeline, running kitchen trials, and ensuring implementations meet brand and operational standards while driving sustainability

Qualifications

• Experience in product development within food service, retail or manufacturing.
• Proven ability to manage projects spanning optimisation, research and launches.
• Ability to communicate technical, production and operational topics to diverse stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal, planning, organisation and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development and continuous improvement across menu items and packaging.
• Build the forward innovation pipeline and support the marketing calendar.
• Develop and evaluate concepts using customer insights, technical expertise, research and testing.
• Create clear recommendations and project updates for governance forums.
• Partner with suppliers to deliver products that meet brand, nutrition and commercial requirements.
• Improve packaging to enhance customer experience, sustainability, functionality and restaurant simplicity.
• Work with Operations to improve procedures, product consistency and back-of-house execution.
• Evaluate equipment changes and their impact on product quality and restaurant operations.
• Lead hands-on trials in the innovation kitchen and demonstrate how products will work in restaurants.
• Manage multiple projects, shifting priorities and tight deadlines while maintaining ownership and momentum.

Skills

Product development

Food processing

Packaging innovation

Quality programs

Project-management

Communication to stakeholders

Interpersonal skills

Planning

Time-management

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology or related discipline

Job description

Innovation Development Manager - 14 Month Contract | KFC# Innovation Development Manager - 14 Month ContractKFC Head Office## Job Description* Shape the future of KFC Australia’s menu through bold, craveable innovation.* Lead exciting food and packaging projects from concept to restaurant launch.* 14 Month, Fixed Term ContractAre you passionate about creating craveable food experiences that keep customers coming back? KFC Australia is looking for an Innovation Development Manager to help shape the future of our menu on a 14 month contract.THE ROLEYou’ll join our Food & Innovation Team (FIT); a fun, entrepreneurial team that plays a critical role in keeping the KFC brand modern and distinctive.Join the team behind some of KFC Australia’s most talked-about menu innovations—including the category-first Double Down, the 11-drink KWENCH range and the recent PickleCore menu—and help create what’s next.Reporting to the Senior Innovation Development Manager, you’ll work closely with suppliers, Food Innovation Technologists and cross-functional partners to turn bold ideas into market-leading products and packaging. From concept development and kitchen trials through to restaurant implementation, you’ll ensure every innovation delivers on taste, quality, commercial objectives and operational performance.WHAT YOU'LL DO* Lead new product development and continuous improvement across menu items and packaging.* Build the forward innovation pipeline and support the marketing calendar.* Develop and evaluate concepts using customer insights, technical expertise, research and structured testing.* Create clear recommendations and project updates for governance forums.* Partner with suppliers to deliver products that meet brand, nutrition and commercial requirements.* Improve packaging to enhance customer experience, sustainability, functionality and restaurant simplicity.* Work with Operations to improve procedures, product consistency and back-of-house execution.* Evaluate equipment changes and their impact on product quality and restaurant operations.* Lead hands-on trials in the innovation kitchen and demonstrate how products will work in restaurants.* Manage multiple projects, shifting priorities and tight deadlines while maintaining clear ownership and momentum.* Stay curious about emerging food trends, competitor activity and industry developments.WHAT YOU'LL BRING* Experience in product development within food service, retail or manufacturing.* A degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.* Strong knowledge of product development, food processing, packaging innovation and quality programs.* Proven project-management experience spanning product optimisation, research and launches.* The ability to communicate technical, production and operational topics to diverse stakeholders.* Strong interpersonal, planning, organisation and time-management skills.