Managing Director, Supply Chain Innovation & Product Development

Nando’s•Washington, DC

20d•$170 - $190•Onsite

About The Position

The Managing Director, Supply Chain Innovation & Product Development is an integral member of the Nando’s USA Commercial and procurement team, leading long-term strategic supplier and network planning and associated execution for the Nando’s commercial team. This position oversees the process of bringing new or improved food products to restaurant operations—from initial idea to final distribution—with a focus on ingredient integrity, manufacturing, and operational implementation. This role manages a structured process of idea generation, concept development, concept testing, and food show execution with key stakeholders. A successful performer in this role considers key factors such as ingredient sourcing, production scalability, food safety, regulatory compliance, and menu engineering requirements. Strategic focus is placed on idea generation, screening, product development, commercialization, and product launch. As with all members of the Nando’s Restaurant Support team, the Managing Director, Supply Chain Innovation & Product Development is expected to wear multiple hats, seek out opportunities to make Nando’s and their work better every day, and, in general, be a good team player!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Food Science, Microbiology, Culinology, Environmental, Health & Safety, or a similar field is preferred.
15+ years of experience in casual dining or full-service restaurant environments.
Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end product development, from concept to commercialization.
Familiarity with supply chain systems and data analytics tools to support innovation and decision-making.
Commitment to maintain delicious and high-quality food that meets food safety and regulatory compliance throughout the product lifecycle.
Ability to travel in North America up to 25–50% of working time.

Nice To Haves

Proven culinary leadership in multi-unit restaurant operations (strongly preferred).
Previous experience with commissary operations and centralized production models.
Knowledge of manufacturing processes and GMPs is a plus.
Knowledge of FSMA requirements and applications; GFSI and associated scheme knowledge is a plus.
Excellent training and presentation skills, with the ability to explain food safety and quality concepts to those not specialized in the field.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end process of bringing new or improved food products to market—from concept to commercialization—ensuring alignment with Nando’s brand standards and guest experience.
Drive ideation, innovation, concept development, testing, and food show execution with cross-functional teams.
Partner with culinary, operations, and marketing to ensure new products are feasible and scalable for full-service and casual dining environments.
Champion ingredient integrity and sourcing strategies that support quality, sustainability, and brand differentiation.
Identify emerging trends, technologies, and supplier capabilities to fuel innovation and menu evolution.
Build strong, strategic partnerships with suppliers to enable rapid innovation and seamless product launches.
Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to ensure ingredient integrity, scalability, and operational feasibility for new products.
Oversee product specifications and compliance during development, first production runs, and commercialization phases.
Develop and implement commercialization protocols that balance creativity with operational practicality, ensuring smooth integration into restaurant operations.
Introduce new systems and processes to accelerate speed-to-market for menu innovations, leveraging technology and data for efficiency.
Negotiate and manage supplier agreements that support innovation, quality, and long-term brand objectives.
Monitor supplier performance and proactively address challenges to maintain consistency and reliability throughout the supply chain.
Embed food safety and quality assurance into every stage of product development, from concept to launch.
Provide strategic oversight for supplier compliance and risk mitigation while maintaining speed and creativity in innovation.
Develop scalable food safety programs and protocols that align with FDA Food Code and industry best practices.
Partner with culinary and operations teams to ensure HACCP plans and regulatory requirements are integrated into menu development and commercialization.
Lead crisis management planning, including escalation protocols and communication strategies for potential foodborne illness incidents.
Monitor emerging food safety technologies and regulatory changes to keep Nando’s ahead of compliance requirements.
Maintain and continuously update accurate nutrition and allergen data for all menu items, including new product launches.
Ensure compliance with labeling regulations and guest-facing information requirements across all platforms.
Collaborate with marketing and training teams to deliver clear, accessible nutrition and allergen information for guests and staff.
Coordinate lab testing and partner with nutrition consultants to validate data integrity.
Act as the subject matter expert for nutrition and allergen regulations, providing guidance during product development and menu innovation.