Duties:

• Develop, communicate and manage the NPD and menu launch process across all Leading Brands to ensure timelines are adhered to and there is compliancy across all brands.
• Thorough understanding of the competitive landscape and relevant suppliers. Ensure ongoing knowledge transfer to all brand product managers.
• Drive competitive showcasing and new product trends across the brands through “days in the trade” initiatives and relevant trends and tasting presentations and interventions.
• Develop and manage new formats for existing Leading brands based on consumer and market trends and insights
• Develop and manage the launch of new Brands that align to the Leading Brands portfolio strategy to close all the gaps.
• Engage with new and existing product and equipment suppliers and provide feedback to the brands to drive product, packaging and food equipment innovation and renovation within the Leading Brands portfolio
• Provide ongoing quality assurance and technical assistance to drive new processes such as Food Safety, DOH initiatives, CGCSA, group product and manufacturing and present back in Monthly Food Lab sessions
• Drive and manage the discipline of 18 month product innovation pipelines across all the brand teams and provide insight to support the pipelines to ensure they are aligned to category and market trends
• Drive awareness and ensure adherence across all Leading Brands to product and packaging legislation and monitor menu legalese and credibility during each round of menu approvals
• Drive brand specifications compliance across Leading Brands and all manufacturing partners to ensure 100% compliance on all brand Licensed products
• Drive and manage the environmental sustainability project across the Leading Brands portfolio
• Manage the NPD kitchen with regards to - bookings, hygiene, cleaning, stock ordering, gas ordering, ongoing training and general upkeep
• Participate and provide ongoing strategic support to all Leading Brands with regards to specialised menu and product development/renovation, and assist the team when there are gaps and the brands Big Idea’s, brand planning workshops, EOR, IDP and conferences where relevant or necessary
• Assist in ongoing guiding and mentoring of the Product Managers to ensure they are following procedures and creating world class food
• Develop and drive a world class NPD process – eg. Product Testing & Trial Protocol/ New Manufacturing NPD Process
• Drive manufacturing innovation that is used across all Leading Brands - engage with manufacturing to drive new innovation coming out of the

Education and Experience:
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the hospitality or FMCG industry.
• Preferably previous franchising experience.
• Preferably previous restaurant experience.
• Strong track record of successfully building brands.
• Minimum Matric with a relevant tertiary qualification.