NPD & Menu Strategy Manager

What happens when a viral food brand needs a menu that can scale across a growing estate?

That's exactly the challenge this role has been created to solve.

Our client is a fast-growing, venture-backed food business that partners with high-profile creator-led brands and turns them into scalable restaurant concepts.

One of its biggest UK growth opportunities is already building serious momentum, with around 20 locations live today and ambitious plans to reach approximately 100 sites by 2030, expand into international markets and keep growing through a predominantly franchise-led model.

Now they're looking for the person who can turn a much-loved product into a menu that drives repeat visits, protects margin and works in every kitchen, every time.

The opportunity:

This is a chance to take full ownership of the new product development function.

You’ll lead the creation and launch of new menu items, limited-time offers and core menu upgrades across the entire estate, working closely with senior leadership and shaping how the menu evolves as the business scales.

This isn't about developing products that only work in a test kitchen.

It's about creating products that sell.

You’ll use trends, customer insights and commercial data to answer questions such as:

• What should customers be excited to try next?
• How do we keep the menu fresh without slowing down operations?
• How do we improve margin without compromising on quality?
• How do we adapt the menu for new international markets?

And ultimately:

How do we turn a viral food brand into a menu customers come back for again and again?

What you will own:

• You’ll lead new menu items end to end, from first concept through to launch, and build a clear product roadmap for limited-time offers and core menu updates.
• You’ll work closely with marketing on trend analysis, competitor benchmarking and customer insight, turning what you learn into menu innovation.
• You’ll partner with chefs, suppliers, operations and supply chain to make sure every product is scalable, cost-effective and works in a high-volume environment.
• You’ll recommend ingredients, suppliers, cooking processes and equipment for consistency and quality across every location.
• You’ll build structured processes for recipe development, tastings, product approvals and trials, and track how products perform during trials and after launch.
• You’ll use menu engineering and recipe adjustments to optimise cost of goods and improve menu margin, and give supply chain early forecasts and target pricing four to eight months before launch.
• You’ll adapt products for new international markets, working with external food safety consultants to make sure everything meets local standards.
• And because this is a scaling business, you’ll have the freedom to build rather than simply inherit someone else’s playbook.

Who we are looking for:

• You're likely to have around 5 to 7 years’ product development experience within QSR, food service or retail.
• You’ll have a proven track record of owning product roadmaps and creating menus with real autonomy, ideally for a multi-site, high-volume operation.
• You’ll hold a degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or a related discipline, along with a Food Safety and HACCP qualification (Level 3 or equivalent preferred), which is essential for this role.
• You’ll have strong knowledge of food safety legislation, supplier quality systems and QSR quality standards.
• You’ll be passionate about food and culinary trends, with the commercial mindset to turn creative ideas into products that perform.
• You’ll understand what works operationally in a busy kitchen, and you’ll be confident working with stakeholders across the business.
• Most importantly, you’ll enjoy ownership.
• You’ll be comfortable joining a fast-moving business where not everything is built yet, working out what needs to happen and making it happen.

This is a rare opportunity to join a well‑funded, fast-growth food business at an exciting stage of its UK and international expansion.

You’ll be joining early enough to shape the product function, close enough to senior leadership to have real influence, and in a role that directly impacts sales, margin and the customer experience in every location.

The brand already has something most businesses spend years trying to build:

An audience that cares.

The opportunity now is to give that audience a menu worth coming back for.

#J-18808-Ljbffr