Director of New Concepts, Beverages

KFC; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 174,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus eligibility

Stock-based compensation

Career growth

Job summary

KFC is seeking a seasoned leader to build and scale Kwench, the brand's global beverage platform. You will define the strategy, architecture, and governance to ensure a coherent portfolio and market execution.

The role requires high-impact collaboration across functions and markets to drive growth and profitability. With 10+ years in platform strategy or related roles, you will guide cross-functional teams, translate consumer insights into real concepts, and push for scalable solutions that fit

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Strategy or related field.
• 10+ years in platform strategy or related roles.
• Experience with multi-market consumer brands.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the global ambition, consumer proposition and multi-year roadmap for Kwench.
• Set global portfolio architecture, standards and guardrails.
• Protect and build Kwench as a distinctive platform across beverage, brand expression, equipment and experience.
• Lead cross-functional Kwench squad and align priorities with leadership.
• Partner with markets from planning through launch and scale.
• Translate signals into clear briefs and guide concepts to scale.

Skills

Platform strategy

Brand building

Innovation

General management

Executive presence

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic mindset

Communication skills

Problem solving

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

What You Will Be Serving Up

We’re looking for a global platform builder to lead Kwench by KFC, the brand’s newest global beverage brand, designed to bring the next generation into KFC. More than a menu range, Kwench brings together a distinctive beverage portfolio, consumer experience, brand expression, equipment and operating model. Following early market launches, the next chapter is to evolve Kwench into a repeatable, commercially compelling platform that will scale across the global KFC system.

Here’s How You Will Spice Things Up

Global Platform Strategy and Stewardship (25%)

• Define and evolve the global ambition, consumer proposition and multi-year roadmap for Kwench, including its role within KFC’s broader brand, menu and occasion-growth strategy.
• Set the global portfolio architecture, standards, non-negotiables and decision guardrails, including what must remain consistent and where local adaptation can strengthen the proposition.
• Protect and build Kwench as a distinctive KFC-owned platform, ensuring that the beverage portfolio, brand expression, equipment and consumer experience work together coherently.
• Create alignment with KFC and Yum! leadership on priorities, investment choices and the future direction of the platform

Market Partnership, Launch and Scale (30%)

Partner with priority markets from planning through launch and scale, adapting the level of Global support to each market’s capability, readiness and operating context.

Help markets move from early pilots to meaningful estate scale by identifying barriers, aligning the right deployment model and mobilizing the cross-functional support needed to resolve them.

Portfolio and Innovation Leadership (20%)

• Define the global Kwench portfolio and innovation roadmap across beverage categories, formats, occasions and price points.
• Translate consumer, category and market signals into clear innovation briefs, and guide priority concepts through development, validation and scale readiness.
• Partner with Culinary, Insights, suppliers and market teams to build a distinctive, relevant and commercially viable pipeline.
• Connect and codify market innovation, identifying what is transferable across the system while preventing fragmentation of the Kwench proposition.

Commercial and Operating Model (15%)

• Build scalable business and operating models that balance consumer appeal, restaurant economics, throughput, investment and operational simplicity.

Performance, Learning and Cross-Functional Leadership (10%)

• Define the performance and learning agenda for Kwench, using consumer, commercial and operational evidence to improve the platform and guide future investment.
• Lead a global cross-functional Kwench squad, setting clear priorities, decision rights and accountability across functions and markets.
• Build broader beverage capability across the KFC system through shared tools, market coaching and the active transfer of learning.

What You Bring To The Table

Education/Certifications

A college degree is required, preferably in Business, Marketing, Strategy, Innovation, Hospitality, Food Science or a related field. An advanced degree is preferred but not required.

Experience

• 10+ years of related experience in platform strategy, brand building, innovation, commercialization or general management, preferably with a multinational QSR, consumer, retail, FMCG or beverage business.
• Experience working for a QSR drinks brand preferred
• Proven experience taking a consumer proposition or growth platform from strategy and early pilots through to a repeatable, multi-market business model.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to connect consumer strategy, brand, product, operations, equipment, supply chain and economics.
• Experience working across markets with different capability levels, business models and operating environments; franchise-system experience is strongly preferred.
• Exceptional relational skills and executive presence, with the ability to influence all levels of leadership and align stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strategic mindset with a bias toward action, strong problem solving and the ability to create clarity in ambiguous or fast-changing situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to turn complex information into clear choices, roadmaps and executive recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage a fast pace, high-volume workflows and multiple stakeholder groups, priorities and deliverables.
• Must be able to meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Word, Teams and PowerPoint.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Opportunity to innovate within a global brand and make a significant impact.
• Collaborative, fast-paced work environment with a focus on professional growth and development.

Salary Range: $174,240 - $183,920 annually + bonus eligibility and stock-based compensation. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.