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.