Americana Brands — one of the Middle East’s largest and most iconic Quick Service Restaurant operators, home to KFC, Pizza Hut, and a portfolio of leading food brands — is seeking an experienced and innovation-driven R&D Manager to lead end-to-end supplier development of new menu items and existing products across multiple brands and markets from Sharjah, UAE. This is a high-impact senior role at the intersection of food science, supplier partnerships, commercial strategy, and multi-brand product development — reporting directly to the Director of Food Technology and Commercialization.
About Americana Brands — The Middle East’s QSR Powerhouse
Portfolio: KFC, Pizza Hut, and a powerful portfolio of QSR brands across the Middle East and beyond
Franchisor Partnership: Works in close collaboration with KFC and Yum! Brands on product quality and compliance standards
Scale: Multi-brand, multi-market operations spanning multiple countries across the Middle East region
Mission: Delivering consistent product quality, innovation, and food safety across all Americana brands and markets
Sharjah, UAE — Regional Food Innovation Hub
Emirate: Sharjah — strategically located in the UAE’s Northern Emirates, adjacent to Dubai’s FMCG and food technology ecosystem
Regional Scope: Role covers product development across multiple markets and brands throughout the Middle East
Cross-Functional: Works across Marketing, Brand, Operations, QA, Procurement, Finance, Supply Chain, and external suppliers
Career Impact: Direct influence on product quality, menu innovation, and commercial performance across all Americana brands
Position Overview
The R&D Manager at Americana Brands in Sharjah leads the complete supplier development lifecycle for new menu items and existing product optimization across the company’s QSR brand portfolio. This role is far more than food development — it demands commercial acumen, supplier relationship management, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to translate consumer insight and brand strategy into manufacturable, scalable products that perform consistently across restaurant operations. Working at the intersection of food science, procurement, operations, and commercial planning, you will shape what millions of consumers across the Middle East eat at Americana’s restaurant brands every single day.
Why This Role Matters: As R&D Manager at Americana Brands in Sharjah, your product development decisions directly influence the menus of iconic QSR brands including KFC across the entire Middle East region. Every supplier you develop, every ingredient specification you define, and every new product you commercialize shapes the eating experience of millions of consumers — while driving innovation, cost efficiency, and brand consistency across one of the most recognized restaurant portfolios in the region.
Key Responsibilities
Supplier Development & Management
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new ingredient and product suppliers to support product development and menu innovation across Americana’s brand portfolio
- Develop supplier capabilities including ingredient development, process improvement, and scalability for regional and global product rollout
- Build and manage long-term supplier partnerships with ongoing performance evaluation and structured continuous improvement programs
- Identify and proactively mitigate risks related to supplier capability, product quality, and production timelines across the supply base
- Manage supplier compliance, ingredient approvals, and product specifications — ensuring proper documentation and full traceability at all times
New Product Development & Commercialization
- Translate product concepts into manufacturable specifications and ensure full supplier readiness for pilot testing and full-scale production rollout
- Support plant trials, initial production runs, and troubleshoot product or process issues during commercialization across multiple markets
- Coordinate product trials, kitchen tests, sensory evaluations, and consumer testing to ensure product viability, quality, and consistency
- Manage multiple NPD projects simultaneously — ensuring consistent delivery within timelines and within defined budget constraints
- Ensure consistent product execution across restaurant operations throughout all Americana brand locations and markets
Commercial Strategy & Innovation Planning
- Build detailed business cases including costings, margins, and pricing recommendations for new and existing products
- Drive cost optimization through value engineering and process improvements across the ingredient and supplier base
- Support innovation planning including annual innovation calendars and long-term product roadmaps
- Contribute to pipeline development using market intelligence, consumer insights, and emerging food trend analysis
- Monitor product performance post-launch and recommend data-driven improvements to support brand and commercial objectives
Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure all products meet food safety, quality, and regulatory standards — including all KFC and Yum! Brands requirements across markets
- Define and maintain ingredient specifications, processing methods, and packaging requirements with alignment across all relevant stakeholders
- Prepare and deliver clear presentations and project updates for senior stakeholders across brand, operations, and commercial leadership teams
- Operate effectively within a fast-paced, high-volume QSR environment with frequent and demanding innovation and product development cycles
Desired Candidate Profile
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or a closely related field — required for this role
- Master’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or Business/Innovation is a clear and valued advantage for senior candidates
Experience Requirements
- 5–8+ years of experience in food product development, supplier development, New Product Development (NPD), and food R&D or food technology environments
- Strong industry experience within Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), food manufacturing, FMCG food production, food technology/food science, or central kitchen/food processing operations
- Proven experience working with cross-functional teams and external suppliers across multiple markets in a regional or international context
- Experience working in multi-brand or multi-market environments is a significant additional advantage for this role
Who Should Apply?
- QSR Food Technology Leaders: With 5–8+ years of NPD and product development experience across QSR brands or food manufacturing environments in the UAE or Middle East
- Supplier Development Managers: With proven track records building and managing ingredient and product supplier relationships across regional and global supply chains
- FMCG Food Scientists: With strong commercial awareness, multi-market product development experience, and HACCP/ISO 22000 certification credentials
- Multi-Brand Product Developers: Experienced in working across multiple QSR or FMCG brands simultaneously, managing diverse NPD pipelines and stakeholder landscapes
- Innovation & Commercialization Specialists: With deep understanding of the full NPD lifecycle — from consumer insight through supplier development, pilot trials, and full-scale commercial launch
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