- Shape the future of food innovation across KFC Australia
- Lead high-impact product development from concept to restaurant launch
- Inspire a talented team and influence our menu across 860+ restaurants

At KFC, everyone has a seat at our table. We feed our people’s potential to make a difference—and have fun along the way.

As our Senior Innovation Development Manager, you’ll report to the FIT Director and lead a talented team of Food Innovation Technologists within our fun, entrepreneurial Food & Innovation Team.

Together, you’ll keep KFC modern and distinctive through bold menu innovation building on customer favourites such as the bunless Double Down, our brand new 11-drink KWENCH range and the buzz-generating PickleCore menu.

From ideation and hands-on kitchen trials to restaurant launch and evaluation, you’ll turn excellent food ideas into scalable products that deliver on taste, quality and commercial impact.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS OUR SENIOR INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Lead food innovation

- Lead complex new product and packaging development projects from brief to national restaurant launch.
- Create distinctive, market-leading products that support our Menu Vision and business objectives.
- Identify opportunities to optimise our existing range and improve the customer experience.
- Translate food, consumer and competitor trends into scalable innovation opportunities.

Bring concepts to life

- Get hands-on in our Restaurant Support Centre innovation kitchen—experimenting, tasting, refining and showing how brilliant ideas can work in restaurants.
- Design and lead restaurant trials, monitor results and optimise products ahead of launch.
- Ensure products meet KFC’s taste, quality, nutrition, operational and commercial guidelines.
- Evaluate performance after launch and apply learnings to future innovation.

Drive projects with impact

- Own project plans, critical paths, key milestones and deadlines.
- Navigate ambiguity and complexity,



creating clarity and maintaining momentum.
- Troubleshoot product and packaging challenges and develop clear, practical solutions.
- Present recommendations and project updates to senior leaders and Franchisees.

Build powerful partnerships

- Bring cross-functional stakeholders on the development journey, partnering across Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and other teams in a collaborative, energetic environment.
- Work closely with suppliers and agency partners to achieve strong project outcomes.
- Influence Franchisees and leaders through commercial awareness, food expertise and compelling communication.
- Share insights and ideas with KFC’s global food community.

Lead and inspire

- Coach, motivate and develop a high-performing team of Food Innovation Technologists.
- Create a positive, collaborative and action-oriented team culture where people can challenge ideas, learn together and have fun doing great work.
- Champion recognition, celebrate success and make space for the team moments that keep the energy high.
- Act as a guardian of taste and quality, sharing your expertise across the business.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

You’re a passionate food innovator and natural leader who can balance creativity with technical expertise, commercial thinking and disciplined delivery.

You’ll ideally bring

- At least six years’ experience in product development within food service, retail or manufacturing.
- A degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
- Proven experience leading product innovation, optimisation, research, testing and launch programs.




- Strong project-management capability across complex projects, changing priorities and tight timelines.
- Sound food and technical knowledge, ideally including poultry-category expertise.
- Commercial awareness and the ability to balance customer, brand, operational, nutrition and financial considerations.
- Strong influencing and communication skills across senior leaders, Franchisees, suppliers and cross-functional teams.
- Experience using specification and nutrition systems, as well as Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
- A curious, solution-focused mindset and the determination to turn ambiguity into action.
- A collaborative leadership style and genuine enthusiasm for developing others.

WHY KFC?

At KFC, you’ll be part of a business that combines the scale of a global brand with the opportunity to make a visible impact locally. Our Food & Innovation Team is curious, collaborative and not afraid to test a bold idea. You’ll work alongside talented people, build meaningful partnerships and help shape what’s next for one of Australia’s favourite restaurant brands—with plenty of tastings, team laughs and shared wins along the way.

You’ll also enjoy

- Flexible and hybrid ways of working, including time together at our Frenchs Forest Restaurant Support Centre.
- Signature career development and leadership programs.
- Additional leave to focus on your wellbeing.
- Monthly mobile phone and home internet contributions.
- Salary continuance cover for permanent employees.
- KFC restaurant discounts.
- Culture Club events and team initiatives that bring people together.
- Free secure onsite parking at Frenchs Forest.

READY TO APPLY?

If you’re excited by the opportunity to turn bold food ideas into products enjoyed across Australia—and lead innovation at serious scale with a team that genuinely enjoys working together—we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now and help shape the future of food at KFC.

📌 Senior Innovation Development Manager (Sydney)
🏢 KFC South Pacific (Yum! Brands Subsidiary)
📍 Sydney