Director of New Concepts, Beverages

YUM; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 174,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Stock-based compensation

Job summary

KFC is seeking a Global Director to lead Kwench by KFC, the brand’s newest global beverage platform. You will define the strategy, portfolio and operating model to scale across markets, partnering with Culinary, Insights, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance to drive growth.

The role demands 10+ years in platform strategy or brand building, executive presence and proven cross‑functional leadership, with experience in multinational QSR or beverage businesses.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in platform strategy, brand building or general management.
• Experience with multinational QSR, consumer, retail, FMCG or beverage.
• Proven ability to take a consumer proposition from strategy to multi-market model.
• Strong commercial judgment connecting strategy, brand, product and economics.
• Experience across markets with different capabilities; franchise-system experience preferred.
• Executive presence and ability to influence stakeholders without authority.
• Strategic mindset with bias toward action; clear roadmaps and recommendations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the global ambition and multi-year roadmap for Kwench.
• Set global portfolio architecture and guardrails with local adaptation as needed.
• Protect and build Kwench as a distinctive platform across beverage, brand and experience.
• Lead markets from planning through launch and scale with cross-functional support.
• Define the global portfolio and innovation roadmap across beverage categories.
• Build scalable business models balancing consumer appeal and restaurant economics.
• Lead a cross-functional squad and transfer learning across the system.

Skills

Executive presence

Relational skills

Strategic mindset

Problem solving

Communication skills

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

It all started with one cook who created a finger lickin' good recipe more than 75 years ago, a list of secret herbs and spices scratched out on the back of the door to his kitchen.

Director of New Concepts, Beverages

KFC

Hybrid

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.

The Global Director will own the strategy, evolution and global growth of the platform. They will shape where Kwench goes next, develop the portfolio and scalable business model, and partner with priority markets to move from early launches to sustained, meaningful scale.

The role will bring together expertise across Food Innovation, Culinary, Marketing, Insights, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance and market teams to make KFC the ultimate drinks destination.

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.

SalaryRange: $174,240 - $183,920 annually + bonus eligibility and stock-based compensation. This is the expectedsalaryrange for this position. Ultimately, in determiningpay, we'll consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and otherjob-related factors.

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