We’re KFC, an iconic brand serving world-famous finger lickin’ good fried chicken since 1952. With more than 28,000 restaurants across 150 countries and territories, our people and culture are at the heart of everything we do—creating an environment where individuals can be their best selves, make a difference, and have fun. Our KFC Global division, based in Dallas, TX, supports regional teams, franchise partners, and nearly one million team members worldwide. With a hybrid work environment and strong cross-functional collaboration, we work together to share the joy of great-tasting chicken across the globe. As part of Yum! Brands, we also collaborate with leading brands like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill.
ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities:
•Product development across categories, ensuring compliance in terms of KFC restricted ingredients list (global alignment), allergens, nutritional information as well as relevant legislation
•Completing of product builds process, ingredients validations, portioning tests, shelf-life tests
•Completing full interim and full NPD Ops validations with NPD Ops consultant
•Completing indicative BOMs (bill of materials) once quantities and ingredients have been finalized
•To document and write up procedures (CSL’s) for all new products developed as well as make changes to any existing procedures when necessary
•To liaise and sign off all product BOH procedures with Ops team
•Requesting samples and product specifications from suppliers
•Arranging samples for all consumer research, product presentations, menu shoots, tastings and validations well in advance
•Attend all consumer research nationally and ensure products are prepared correctly and on time
•To sign off production lines at supplier facilities and product specifications on new products for market test and launch.
•Signing off on all new product and packaging specifications
•Arrange and liaise with test kitchen supervisor on product builds for all tastings and presentations, including set up
•Liaising with NPD Assistant to ensure ingredients availability for all tastings and presentations. Ensuring builds are aligned with NPD assistant before any tastings take place.
•Improve existing products/packaging, by optimization of raw material usage and cost saving initiatives
•Drive creation of NPD pipeline for the various categories (Burgers, Boxes, Beverages, Snacking, Value etc.)
•Sharing updates of all projects with the cross functional teams in the relevant forums
•Sharing updates with FIT Lead in status meetings and team meetings
Problem Solving and Analysis:
•Being able to calculate yield, wastage and determine shelf life of ingredients.
•Being able to develop/suggest solves for back of house product execution to ensure successful new product tests and launches
•Troubleshooting for potential shortfalls in new raw materials and ingredients
Judgement and Decision Making:
•Be an independent thinker, able to rationalize the facts surrounding the limitations of a project and propose solutions.
•Ability to adapt and offer solutions to any challenges in the product development process
Innovation:
•Product development across categories
•Contingency and raw material replacements
•Developing back of house processes to enable team members in store to prepare product
•Makes minor changes to existing processes by identifying process improvements and modifications.
Qualifications
Qualifications:
•8 – 10 years of experience within the Food sector/Industry (preferably FMCG/Retail or QSR)
•A minimum a Food technology Diploma or a Food Science qualification (Preferred)
•Must have worked in cross functional teams or had prior experience in leading product development or related projects.
•Works well under pressure and meeting deadlines
•Attention to detail
•Mature with a ‘can do’ attitude
•Understanding of food science principles, production, processing of food and food safety
•Hands on – building of food products etc.
Skills Required
- 8-10 years of experience within the Food sector/Industry (preferably FMCG/Retail or QSR)
- Food technology Diploma or Food Science qualification
- Experience working in cross-functional teams and leading product development or related projects
- Understanding of food science principles, production, processing of food and food safety
- Hands-on experience building food products
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Attention to detail
- Mature attitude with a 'can do' approach
Yum! Brands Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Yum! Brands and has not been reviewed or approved by Yum! Brands.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Corporate roles include four weeks of vacation, year‑round half‑day Fridays, company holidays, dedicated “Live Well” days, and paid volunteer days. These policies contribute meaningfully to overall compensation value for corporate employees.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Offerings include free access to mental‑health counselors, onsite/virtual wellness tools, onsite gyms in select offices, and wellbeing discounts. Smoking‑cessation and weight‑management programs further bolster lifestyle support.
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Parental & Family Support — Benefits span family‑planning coverage such as adoption, fertility, and baby‑bonding leave. Corporate materials also note enhanced parental leave for U.S. corporate employees.
Yum! Brands Insights
What We Do
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 55,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the Company’s concepts – KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and the Habit Burger Grill. The Company's KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands are global leaders of the chicken, Mexican-style food, and pizza categories, respectively. The Habit Burger Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. What makes Yum! a great place to work? It's our people. As the world's largest restaurant company, we invest in people capability so that our global workforce can make the most of their careers. With ongoing opportunities for personal and professional success, we've built a culture that rewards and recognizes great effort while providing the flexibility that is so important to all of us.
