Full-Time

Senior Development Manager

Updated on 9/3/2026

Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands

5,001-10,000 employees

Global franchised fast-food restaurant operator

No salary listed

Dubai - United Arab Emirates

In Person

Bachelor's

Category
Real Estate (1)
Required Skills
Data Analysis

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Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field from a reputable institution.
  • 8+ years of Business Development experience in retail, with proven retail real estate expertise.
  • Strong business and cultural understanding of the Middle East market.
  • Strong commercial acumen, project management, and process-oriented approach.
  • Ability to work effectively across functions, influence stakeholders at all levels, and manage complex transactions with minimal supervision.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of articulating complex business issues to senior internal and external stakeholders.
  • Strong critical thinking and analytical capabilities, with the ability to evaluate risks, opportunities, and business scenarios.
  • Highly organized, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with partners, suppliers, clients, and cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and achieving results independently.
Responsibilities
  • In the field, understanding competition, trade-zones and customer behaviors, you challenge & ultimately validate location and asset types chosen by franchisees to integrate them into the new store pipeline. This is done in partnership with our franchisees (Real estate, construction, General Mgt.) and with our market mapping expert
  • You own and monitor the new store pipeline ensuring its timely delivery while maintaining key stakeholders informed of progress and blockers
  • You provide solutions to enhance new store pipeline – both quantity and quality
  • You constantly challenge the business model to lower hurdle sales of new stores - this is done in partnership with internal design team, Operations team, Restaurant Excellence team, Equipment team and Franchisees
  • You ensure that the restaurant portfolio is kept “fresh”, ensuring that remodels are done and relocation executed when required by change of trade zones
  • You continuously enhance franchisee capabilities by providing tools, trainings and share best-practices
  • You ensure franchisees adhere to brand standards for new builds and refurbishment programme
  • You steer and develop suppliers, vendors and consultants in order to deliver profitable expansion in time
  • You keep abreast of Restaurant industry practices both within Yum & competitors regarding development plans, design standards and Capex efficiencies
  • You coordinate and ensure all related function approvals during remodel and new store approval processes
  • You ensure all Franchise Partners are meeting with global equipment standards
  • The Senior Development Manager is the most senior manager in the Department, reporting to and working closely with, the Sr Director development.
  • The person in this position will also support and interact with other functions within the business unit (Operations, Marketing, Restaurant Excellence, Supply Chain, R&D/QA, Human Resources, and Finance) as well as franchise General Managers and their teams, domestic counter parts, senior development executives, consultants and vendors.

Yum! Brands operates a global portfolio of fast-food chains, including KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and The Habit Burger Grill, primarily through franchising in more than 155 countries with about 61,000 restaurants. Its revenue mainly comes from franchise and license fees as well as royalties, plus some company-owned locations. The company differentiates itself by leveraging a large, multi-brand network with a franchise-heavy model that supports rapid international expansion while keeping operating costs down. Its goal is to grow its global footprint, maximize value from its brands, and continuously optimize operations and menus across markets.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Louisville, Kentucky

Founded

1997

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Ex-Pizza Hut system sales rose 7% in Q2 2026, excluding divested assets.
  • Yum closed Pizza Hut sales in August and September 2026, simplifying focus.
  • Digital sales excluding Pizza Hut exceeded $17 billion in first-half 2026, up 25%.

What critics are saying

  • Taco Bell's July 2026 cyclospora outbreak hit U.S. same-store sales 2%.
  • Pizza Hut sales fell for 10 straight quarters before the 2026 sale closed.
  • Tracy Skeans' retirement and COO transition in 2026 disrupt execution during portfolio reshaping.

What makes Yum! Brands unique

  • Taco Bell drives nearly half of Yum's operating profit, anchoring growth.
  • KFC added 660 restaurants across 55 markets in Q2 2026.
  • Byte by Yum! and franchise-heavy model keep capital needs structurally low.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Budget

Mental Health Support

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

7%

1 year growth

7%

2 year growth

7%
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Associated Press
Aug 26th, 2026
Stonegate initiates coverage on Yum! Brands, ex-Pizza Hut sales up 7%

Stonegate Capital Partners has initiated coverage on Yum! Brands, focusing on the company's performance following its Pizza Hut operations. Excluding Pizza Hut, Yum!'s second quarter 2026 results showed system sales up 7%, units up 6%, same-store sales up 4%, and core operating profit up 8%. Taco Bell remains the primary US growth driver, though a July food safety issue is expected to pressure third-quarter sales and margins. KFC opened 660 restaurants across 55 markets in the second quarter, with units growing 7%. The Pizza Hut divestiture is expected to yield approximately $2.3 billion in net proceeds. Stonegate notes the company will increasingly concentrate on its higher-growth, predominantly franchised KFC and Taco Bell businesses.

Fortune
Jul 30th, 2026
Taco Bell sales recover with $1 Mexican pizza deal after lettuce outbreak triggers 2% drop

Taco Bell's same-store sales dropped 2% in July-September following a cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce, down from a 7% increase in the previous quarter. Parent company Yum Brands reported sales bottomed out the weekend of 18-19 July but have since recovered halfway to year-ago levels. The chain removed shredded iceberg lettuce from US restaurants on 17 July after federal health officials connected it to the outbreak affecting customers in nine states. Taylor Farms recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico the following day. Yum Brands chief executive Chris Turner credited quick action, clear social media communication, and daily specials like $1 Mexican pizza for winning back diners. Company shares rose 6% on Thursday. Other chains including Chipotle and Chopt also reported lower traffic due to the outbreak.

CNBC
Jul 30th, 2026
Yum Brands posts mixed Q2 results as Taco Bell traffic plunges after cyclospora outbreak

Yum Brands reported mixed second-quarter results on Wednesday but provided no update on the cyclospora outbreak linked to Taco Bell restaurants. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.62, beating expectations of $1.58, whilst revenue of $2.17 billion fell short of the $2.2 billion forecast. Net income rose to $853 million from $374 million year-over-year. Net revenue climbed 12% to $2.17 billion, driven by new restaurant openings. Global same-store sales increased 3% in the quarter. Taco Bell's same-store sales jumped 7%, whilst KFC reported 2% growth and Pizza Hut declined 1%. The results cover the period ended 30 June, before the FDA linked the outbreak to Taco Bell in mid-July.

Yahoo Finance
Jun 11th, 2026
Yum! Brands leads Q1 fast food earnings as sector revenues beat estimates by 1.4%

Yum! Brands reported Q1 revenues of $2.06 billion, up 15.2% year-on-year, exceeding analysts' expectations by 0.6%. The owner of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill delivered strong results, beating EBITDA and same-store sales estimates. Despite the solid performance, the stock has declined 3.7% since reporting and currently trades at $150.75, suggesting investor expectations may have been higher than Wall Street's published projections. The traditional fast food sector showed strength overall in Q1, with 12 tracked companies collectively beating revenue consensus estimates by 1.4%. El Pollo Loco emerged as the quarter's top performer, reporting revenues of $126.2 million, up 5.9% year-on-year and exceeding expectations by 3.2%. Its shares rose 12.5% following the results.