Senior Product Development Specialist

Pedros; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Pedros is seeking an experienced Senior Product Development Specialist to lead end-to-end projects from concept to launch. You will develop and test recipes, manage costing, and ensure quality and safety across new products, while collaborating with Marketing, Operations and Franchise teams.

You will mentor junior team members and contribute to the product strategy, supported by the Deputy Head of Product Development, to drive innovations in a fast-paced, food-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in product development within food, FMCG, retail or QSR environments.
• Proven track record from concept to launch.
• Strong recipe development and costing understanding.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Strong cross-functional communication.
• Experience mentoring junior colleagues on projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch.
• Develop, test and refine recipes and specifications, balancing flavour, cost, and feasibility.
• Conduct product testing and tastings with stakeholders and consumers.
• Prepare accurate costings and margin analysis with Finance and Supply Chain.
• Ensure new products meet food safety, quality and brand standards.
• Work with Supply Chain to source ingredients and manage supplier trials.
• Support rollout of new products into restaurants with training materials and guides.
• Monitor timelines, costs and post-launch performance for owned products.
• Track market trends and customer feedback to inform future development.
• Recommend improvements to development processes and tools.

Skills

Recipe development

Food science

Costing & margins

Project management

Communication

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Tertiary qualification in Food Science/Culinary Arts/Business

Job description

Pedros is looking for an experienced Senior Product Development Specialist to join the Product Development team, reporting to the Deputy Head of Product Development. This is a hands‑on, specialist role responsible for leading individual product development projects end‑to‑end — from concept and recipe development through to costing, testing and launch — while acting as a technical and creative reference point for the wider team.

Duties And Responsibilities

Product Development

• Lead the development of new menu items, flavours and limited‑time offers from concept through to launch.
• Develop, test and refine recipes and product specifications, balancing flavour, cost, and operational feasibility.
• Conduct product testing and tasting sessions, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and consumers.
• Prepare accurate costings and margin analysis for new products in collaboration with Finance and Supply Chain.
• Ensure new products meet Pedros' food safety, quality and brand standards, and comply with relevant regulations.
• Work closely with Supply Chain to source ingredients and manage supplier trials for new products.
• Support the rollout of new products into restaurants, including training materials and operational guides.

Collaboration & Team Contribution

• Act as a subject‑matter expert and go‑to technical resource within the Product Development team.
• Mentor and guide junior product development team members on specific projects.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Operations and Franchise teams to ensure products land successfully in market.
• Contribute ideas and insights to the broader product strategy and innovation pipeline.
• Deputise on specific projects or workstreams as directed by the Deputy Head of Product Development.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report on project timelines, costings and post‑launch performance for owned products.
• Monitor market trends, competitor products and customer feedback to inform future development.
• Recommend improvements to product development processes, tools and ways of working.

Requirements

Essential

• Several years of previous experience in a Product Development role, ideally within food, FMCG, retail or QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) environments.
• Proven track record of taking products from concept to launch.
• Strong recipe development and food science fundamentals, with an understanding of costing and margin implications.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, able to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work confidently across cross‑functional teams.
• Some experience guiding or mentoring junior colleagues on projects.

Desirable

• Experience within the QSR, restaurant or food franchise industry.
• Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Culinary Arts, Business or a related field.
• Familiarity with product lifecycle and NPD (New Product Development) frameworks.