Product Development Specialist - International Markets (Africa)

About the role

Pedros is looking for an experienced Senior Product Development Specialist to lead product development for its international markets across Africa, reporting to the Deputy Head of Product Development (2IC). The role adapts existing products and develops new ones for individual African markets, balancing local tastes, ingredient availability and regulations with the consistency of the Pedros brand. It involves regular travel to current and prospective markets.

Key responsibilities

• Localise and adapt the core menu for new and existing African markets while keeping brand consistency.
• Develop new products and limited-time offers tailored to specific countries or regions.
• Run in-market research such as taste tests and consumer feedback sessions.
• Assess local ingredient availability and identify substitutes or suppliers without compromising quality.
• Prepare product costings and margin analysis per market's cost base, currency and pricing environment.
• Ensure products meet local food safety, labelling and regulatory requirements, working with legal and compliance stakeholders.
• Support new market entry with launch menus and rollout plans with local franchise partners.
• Act as product development point of contact for international franchise partners and in-market teams, and travel regularly for product trials, supplier visits and launch support.
• Build relationships with operations, marketing and supply chain teams, train franchise partners on new launches, and feed market insights back into the strategy.
• Report on projects, timelines, costings and post-launch performance, monitor competitors and trends, and recommend process improvements.

Required profile

• Several years of product development experience, ideally in food, FMCG, retail or QSR.
• Proven experience adapting products for international or multi-country markets, preferably in Africa.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly and extensively across African markets.
• Desirable: QSR, restaurant or food franchise experience; knowledge of African food markets and consumer trends; tertiary qualification in Food Science, Culinary Arts, International Business or a related field; additional languages; valid passport and ability to obtain travel visas.

Required skills

• Strong recipe development and food science fundamentals.
• Understanding of costing and margin implications across markets.
• Cross-cultural communication and project management across multiple markets and time zones.