Senior Product Development Specialist

Pedros; Durban; In loco; ZAR 720.000 - 960.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Pedros is seeking an experienced Senior Product Development Specialist to lead end-to-end product development from concept and recipe development through costing, testing and launch in Durban. The role acts as a technical and creative reference point for the team, collaborating with Marketing, Operations and Franchise teams to land new products in market.

You will mentor junior staff, drive process improvements, and ensure food safety, quality and regulatory compliance while balancing flavour,

Competenze

• Several years of experience in product development, ideally within food, FMCG, retail or QSR environments.
• Proven track record of taking products from concept to launch.
• Strong recipe development and food science fundamentals with costing awareness.

Mansioni

• Lead development of new menu items, flavours and limited-time offers from concept to launch.
• Develop, test and refine recipes and product specifications with cost controls.
• Prepare costings and margin analyses in collaboration with Finance and Supply Chain.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, and brand standards.

Conoscenze

Product development

Food science

Costing & margin analysis

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring junior staff

Strong communication

Formazione

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Descrizione del lavoro

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.