New Product Development Manager

WHO WE ARE

We’re not in the wing business. We’re in the flavor business. It’s been our mission to Serve the World Flavor since we first opened in 1994, and we’re just getting started. 1997 saw the opening of our first brand partner operated Wingstop location, and by 2002 we had served the world one billion wings. It’s flavor that defines us and has made Wingstop one of the fastest growing brands in the restaurant industry.

Above all else – our success is largely due to our people and our core values, or what we call The Wingstop Way of being entrepreneurial, service-minded, fun, and authentic. We believe having a strong people foundation centered on these collective values creates a crave-worthy culture and talented team, as well as ensures our brand is poised for accelerated growth. We all win together.

WHAT WE’LL NEED

At Wingstop, flavor is at the heart of everything we do. As our EMEA business continues to grow, we're looking for an experienced New Product Development & SC (NPD) Manager to lead the development and the supply-chain delivery of new menu items, ingredients, packaging and product innovation across the region.

Sitting within the Supply Chain team, this is a highly cross-functional role that acts as the bridge between Marketing, Operations, Development, Quality, Procurement, Global Innovation Teams and our supplier partners. You'll take ideas from concept through to launch, ensuring every innovation is operationally executable, commercially viable and unmistakably Wingstop.

You'll be responsible for building a robust innovation pipeline that supports market growth while protecting the consistency and quality of our core menu.

In addition, you will play a critical role in establishing, scaling, and optimizing our supply chain infrastructure within key categories that not only deliver NPD but support the core category and management too, this will complement the total category management supporting both top & bottom line.

This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring a builder mindset to support NPD expansion, and ongoing category growth throughout EMEA and beyond.

• Lead product development, own the end-to-end NPD process from concept through to commercialization. Lead and project manage critical paths to support the pipeline development across multiple markets.
• Manage the EMEA innovation pipeline across food, beverages, packaging and equipment.
• Identify opportunities to share best practice across the business.
• Responsible for the category management of agreed food, packaging and equipment. Source, qualify and onboard suppliers, aligned to the Wingstop model.
• Strategically map out the next 1-3 years sourcing plan, based on development pipeline for NME & NPD management. With risk, quality and commercial management.
• Deliver Limited Time Offers (LTOs), permanent menu additions and market-specific innovations. 
• Ensure all innovation aligns with Wingstop's global brand standards and flavor-first philosophy. 
• Lead supplier negotiations, contracts, and performance management. In line with regional and global framework
• Implement Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) practices including QBRs, Scorecards and continuous improvement plans.
• Ensure suppliers are meeting Wingstop governance and regulation on operational and product standards. Full due-diligence and transparency required.

Cross Functional Project Leadership

Act as the central project lead across:

• Global Innovation Team
• Marketing 
• Supply Chain (Including procurement)
• Operations 
• Development (Globally)
• International Brand Partners 
• Suppliers 

You'll coordinate timelines, manage dependencies and keep projects moving to deliver launches on time and within budget.

Supplier & Partner Management

• Working with suppliers & development chefs across the globe to identify the upcoming trends. 
• Create supplier briefs for suppliers on innovation opportunities. 
• Manage supplier development from concept through production. 
• Coordinate product trials and factory testing. 
• Identify new supplier capabilities and emerging ingredient trends. 
• Build strong partnerships that drive innovation. 
• Category management of the core products and suppliers 
• Supplier Management and strategic planning for several markets across the EMEA region, ensuring that both core & NPD products can delivered.

Commercialization

Lead the journey from kitchen concept to restaurant reality. This will require cross-functional management and working closely with the Technical Manager and supplier to deliver the following core criteria.

• Product specification
• Cost modelling 
• Ingredient sourcing 
• Packaging development 
• Shelf-life validation 
• Nutritional information 
• Regulatory compliance 
• Operational procedures 
• Launch readiness and critical path management

Operational Excellence

Work closely with Operations to ensure every product can be executed consistently in restaurants.

Responsible for:

• Restaurant testing 
• Operational validation 
• Equipment compatibility 
• Crew training requirements 
• Build times 
• Food quality standards 
• Waste optimization 

Innovation Strategy

Support the long-term innovation roadmap by:

• Tracking food trends across EMEA and beyond
• Identifying whitespace opportunities 
• Monitoring competitor activity 
• Bringing new flavours and product ideas into the business 
• Supporting annual innovation planning 

Governance & Process

Own the stage-gate NPD process including:

• Project plans 
• Risk management 
• Cross-functional updates 
• Gate approvals 
• Launch documentation 
• Post-launch reviews 

What Success Looks Like

• New products launched on time and in full.  
• Best-in-class cross-functional collaboration. 
• Products consistently meet cost, quality and operational targets. 
• Innovation pipeline supports business growth. 
• Strong supplier relationships delivering continuous innovation. 
• Smooth market launches with minimal operational disruption. 
• High adoption and positive guest feedback.  

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 5+ years' experience in New Product Development within QSR, food manufacturing or hospitality. 
• Experience managing projects across multiple functions. 
• Strong understanding of food development and commercialization. 
• Experience working with suppliers and manufacturers. 
• Excellent stakeholder management skills. 
• Strong project management capabilities. 
• Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail. 
• Comfortable managing multiple launches simultaneously. 
• Data-driven with strong commercial acumen.  
• Able to influence without direct authority. 
• Global mindset and desire to think globally across all areas of the Wingstop business

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience across multiple international markets. 
• Experience supporting franchise businesses. 
• Knowledge of food legislation across Europe and the Middle East. 
• Packaging development experience. 
• Understanding of food manufacturing processes. 
• Prince2 or project management qualification. 

WHO YOU ARE 

No job is too small. You recognize that the real work happens in the restaurants, and everything we do should support their success. You stay humble, roll up your sleeves, and always look for ways to help. You learn from others and contribute wherever you can.

You care deeply about doing great work and driving results. You’re curious, ask questions, and seek out opportunities to improve. You don’t just point out problems—you bring solutions, ideas, and perspectives that move the team forward.

You take full responsibility for your work and see things through to completion. You aren’t afraid to fail because you know that failure is a part of learning and growth. You take action, move fast, and keep pushing forward.

You lead with empathy, respect, and emotional intelligence. You collaborate effectively, fostering a culture of trust and constructive feedback. You understand the importance of teamwork and ensure that your actions build others up rather than break them down.

You push yourself and others to be better. You embrace healthy conflict, knowing that great ideas and strong teams emerge from honest, constructive conversations. You believe that leaders create leaders and are committed to fostering a culture of growth, challenge, and continuous improvement.

BENEFITS

Flavor Perks:

• Medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Life insurance
• Income Protection

Additional Benefits

• EAP
• Business Travel Medical

Wingstop provides equal opportunities for everyone that works for us and everyone that applies to join our team, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service, past, present, or future, in the uniformed services of the United States (military or veteran status), or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.