At KFC Asia, we believe in the power of innovation to transform the QSR industry. As a FIT Manager, you will play a crucial role in driving successful Food Innovation processes and output within our Franchise system. Your expertise will guide and support Franchisee R&D teams in developing Marketing and Innovation pipelines, ensuring we stay at the forefront of food technology and delivery.
- Lead the implementation of Consumer Insight-driven Food Innovation Programs with KFC market FIT teams.
- Collaborate with the KFC Franchisee and Yum! cross-functional teams to lead the Food Innovation Program, ensuring alignment with the menu vision and Marketing Calendar.
- Provide technical support to KFC Supply Chain Management, Operations, and Marketing for New Product Development (NPD) and non-NPD projects.
- Build and share your expertise by networking with KFC non-equity markets and facilitating best practice sharing with country NPD peers.
- Leverage global networks to bring global best practices to KFC Asia, improving our innovation success rate.
- Champion and execute KFC Brand Standards for all core products and menu items, ensuring consistent quality.
- Develop a thorough understanding of KFC in-store operations, capabilities, and limitations.
- Manage the monthly Supplier Innovation review program, selecting relevant ideas for market review and testing.
- Collaborate closely with the AFBU QA team to ensure all NPD complies with Food Safety standards.
- Actively promote the innovation process, assisting countries in setting up and managing relevant KPI-based tracking systems.
- Tertiary degree or M.Sc in Food Technology/Science is essential; B.Sc in Food Engineering will be considered.
- Minimum 10 years of Food Industry experience with knowledge of product development, life cycles, processing, and ingredient science & functionality.
- Experience with QSR restaurant systems is a must; Food Service experience with multi-unit operation and restaurant design, layout, and equipment is preferred.
- Experience with multinational companies is preferred, with a proven track record of successful product launches across multiple platforms, especially in Asia.
- Strong team player with efficient cross-functional, cross-geography, and cross-culture collaboration skills.
- Ability to develop, evaluate, and improve concepts, products, and systems using known and new technology trends.
- Skill in interpreting and utilizing Consumer, Marketing, and Competitive insights to drive product development.
- Ability to drive projects to timely conclusions, providing comprehensive reports and sound recommendations.
- Excellent communication, planning, organizing, and presentation skills.
- Strong work ethic, interpersonal skills, and the ability to influence and lead from behind.
Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this person will work closely with a great support network and enablers:
- Franchisee FIT Teams
- Franchisee Marketing Teams
- Suppliers for product, packaging & technology
- Internal teams within the Restaurant Corporate Centre (RSC)
- An inclusive culture that let's your ORIGINALity shine
- Flexible working environment, great benefits and colleagues
