Senior Product Development Specialist at Pedros Flame Grilled Chicken

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.

Closing Date 04 September 2026