Director of New Product Development & Commercialization

Opportunity Overview

Restaurant Brands International (RBI) is looking for an individual to support culinary innovation, product localization, and scalability through engagement with suppliers across all international regions. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and creativity to enhance the quality and execution of brand menu items across well-known brands such as Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Commercialization

  • Drive the commercialization of culinary products for new country entries, product innovations, and enhancements of core offerings.
  • Utilize expertise in ingredient functionality to ensure product quality, consistency, and operational efficiency.
  • Participate in production trials and assist suppliers with scale-up decisions for RBI-branded products.
  • Evaluate supplier manufacturing readiness and processes to mitigate commercialization risks.
  • Conduct statistical process control assessments to support product specification development.
  • Identify opportunities for process optimization to enhance yield, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

• Product Launch Execution

  • Facilitate the launch of menu items from concept to rollout across various regions.
  • Evaluate ingredient functionality and formulation adjustments in collaboration with suppliers and internal teams.
  • Ensure products meet brand culinary expectations while being operationally feasible.

• Supplier Collaboration & Culinary Insights

  • Lead discussions with supplier leadership to drive product quality and cost efficiencies.
  • Collaborate with supplier teams on ingredient exploration and product improvements.
  • Develop specifications in conjunction with Quality Assurance and Procurement teams.

• Cross-Functional Support

  • Pair with Regional Innovation and Marketing teams to translate consumer insights into product opportunities.
  • Assist Operations in validating preparation methods and equipment settings.
  • Work with Procurement to assess sourcing options and specifications for commercialization projects.
  • Support the quality assurance process in ingredient specification development.

• Project & Test Kitchen Support

  • Coordinate culinary testing, supplier involvement, and product validation efforts.
  • Support culinary demonstrations and innovation workshops.
  • Monitor innovation and commercialization projects across multiple markets.

• Commercialization & Risk Management

  • Identify and mitigate technical, manufacturing, and supply chain risks associated with new product launches.
  • Support the validation and approval of suppliers and new products.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or related fields.
• Over 10 years of experience in food commercialization and QSR innovation.
• Culinary expertise and interest in food science and product development.
• Strong ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders.
• Experience in recipe development and culinary testing methodologies.
• Knowledge of food manufacturing and large-scale foodservice operations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluency in English with additional language skills in Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese being advantageous.
• Willingness to travel up to 40% of the time as needed.