Pizza Hut UK is looking for a Senior Food Development leader to be part of the FIT European Center of Excellence. who is responsible for leading and supporting strategic objectives and annual operating plans of PH UK, France and Germany, through innovation initiatives as well as ensuring all core ingredients are meeting the brand standard specifications.
Core Duties/Responsibilities
* Demonstrates a practical approach and knowledge of product development, operational systems, supplier food processing, and unit economics.
* Leads projects for both delivery and restaurants and product development processes required to implement the food vision and business strategy for new and existing products and categories by influencing and advancing projects on your own, with a strategic understanding of the deliverables, strong technical acumen, and communication.
* Develops project work plans and cross-functional timelines from kitchen to commercialization to launch, while proactively assessing and adjusting for potential risks.
* Leverages knowledge and data of consumer trends and product insights to ensure compliance and achievement of business requirements and goals
* Proactively direct and manage suppliers to develop, optimise and commercialise ingredients in support of the development goals and initiatives in conjunction with Supply Chain.
* Develop procedures to ensure field readiness incorporating operations input. Support training in the development of training materials
* Effectively work with Marketing and Operations to gain consumer feedback and make appropriate ingredients and product modifications.
* Cross functional work with Brand marketing and agencies to develop innovation pillars and pipeline products from concept to roll out in support of strategic initiatives. Every new product must meet consumer, finance and ops wins, following the markets acceptance norms, C.O.S. targets and operational execution requirements (filters of operations).
* Franchisee Collaboration; build proactive relationships sharing food vision, influence compliance and provide support to ensure successful implementation of new products and processes
* Fosters an innovative, curiosity-inspired, food forward mindset in the organization.
Required Skills/Knowledge/Experience
* 6-8 years of relevant food innovation experience in a food-forward, multi-unit restaurant/retail brand
* Understands how product and menu development impacts the broader business and anticipates needs and challenges that come from other functions such as Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.
* Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
* Demonstrated ability to analyse data from multiple sources (trend, traditional insights, business data, operations insights) and synthesise into strategy and actionable insights
* Strategic thinking with a bias for action and the ability to deal with ambiguity
* An open and inclusive thinker who embraces ideas other than their own.
* Bias for action and self-motivation; thrives in a fast-paced environment – A step change thinker
* Ability to manage multiple projects, adapt to changing priorities and drive business impact
* Travel 10% – 15 %
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