Executive Chef, NPD – High-Volume Menu Innovator

Talent Candey; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Candey is recruiting an Executive Chef – New Product Development for a leading QSR client to drive innovative menu concepts from concept through to full rollout across multiple sites.

The role blends culinary creativity with commercial acumen, focusing on food costing, SOPs, labeling, and working with operations, marketing and procurement to ensure profitable, scalable products that meet brand standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of professional culinary experience.
• At least 3 years in a Senior Chef or Executive Chef role.
• Proven New Product Development (NPD) experience.
• Experience in QSR, Fast Food, FMCG, multi-unit hospitality is advantageous.
• Demonstrated capability to develop and scale recipes for high-volume kitchens.

Responsibilities

• Drive development and commercialization of new menu products from concept to rollout.
• Ensure products meet brand, operational, and profitability targets.
• Work with Operations, Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, QA, Training, Franchise teams and suppliers.
• Develop SOPs and recipe specifications for high-volume environments.
• Lead product trials, sensory evaluations and consumer testing.
• Maintain food safety, labeling compliance and nutritional information.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Recipe development

Commercial awareness

Costing & margins

Food safety HACCP

SOP documentation

Sensory evaluation

Sourcing & supply chain

Collaboration

Leadership

Education

Culinary diploma/degree

Culinary school qualification

Job description

Talent Candey is recruiting an Executive Chef – New Product Development for a leading QSR client to drive innovative menu concepts from concept through to full rollout across multiple sites.

The role blends culinary creativity with commercial acumen, focusing on food costing, SOPs, labeling, and working with operations, marketing and procurement to ensure profitable, scalable products that meet brand standards.