Product Controller at Corporate Staffing

Key Responsibilities

Procurement

• Primary responsibility for all procurement of goods and of some services that takes place within the business.
• Develop and maintain good professional relations with all stakeholders/suppliers to guarantee consistent supplies in the right quantities, competitive prices, and desired quality.
• Ensure that the Company acquires quality products timely and cost effectively.  
• Work closely with planning team to project product demand ensure consistency in demand planning modeling and ultimately ensure product availability.
• Ensure that all locally sourced/manufactured Specified products meet stringent Brands specifications. 
• Working with Operations Team, ensure that franchise partners procure licensed products only from Brands and Specified Products from identified local suppliers/manufacturers.
• Reduce and manage procurement and product risk within the business
• Handle all product related queries from manufacturing partners, company stores and Franchisees ensuring clear communication to the network on any products or recipe changes.
• Work closely with the operations manager in running tenders, evaluate bids and make recommendations, based on commercial and technical factors.
• Ensure Company procurement, storage and distribution expenses are within or below budget by continually looking for ways to bring down all departmental costs of procurement, operating costs in the entire supply chain.
• Ensure collection of any receivables from distribution partners and prompt payment of any payables.
• Ensure effective and smooth relationships between stakeholders and finance team.

Logistics & Warehousing

• Ensure Supply Chain/Warehousing/Logistics Food Safety procedures are in place, monitored and maintained at the highest standard. 
• Ensure timely delivery of supplies from suppliers to all restaurant outlets
• In liaison with Finance team, ensure accurate inventory procedures are in place, inclusive of stock receiving, stock takes, stock rotation, stock dispatch and reconciliations with suppliers and distribution/warehousing partners. 
• Work closely with warehousing/logistics partners to ensure company assets, products and trade secrets are always safeguarded.
• Work closely with warehousing, distribution & logistics partners to ensure a robust model for the competitive sourcing of local products from a variety of high standard local suppliers.
• Closely work with operations teams within the business to reduce out of stocks and/or write offs
• Work closely with exports team to coordinate plan, order, inspect, and importation of licensed products.

Product development

• Implement and manage the entire New Product Development (NDP) process; obtain products, product testing, price negotiations, stock level projections, forecasting, quality checks and distribution.
• Maintain supplier relations and collaboration in developing new product ideas and driving strategic price points and profit optimization.
• Understand the Marketing strategy and align with all new product development and trends.
• Working hand in hand with the marketing team to ensure a complete 18-month pipeline of new menu and promotional line items at any given point in time for the Brand.
• Create a menu mix with the operations teams that will drive maximum profitability for the company and franchise partners whilst still adhering to consumer needs.
• Take full responsibility for Brand menu pricing and profitability.
• Develop menus with the operations teams to ensure the Brands remain market relevant and in line with both local and global trends.
• Development of pricing strategies and accountability for the recipe integrity.
• Work with Branch Operations team to streamline outlet kitchen operations and ensure seamless production capabilities across the business.
• Stay abreast of national and international competitor product/innovation trends.
• Prepare presentations and present at National Franchise Council, Brand Conferences and Brand Strategy sessions.

Qualifications and requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management/ procurement /Purchasing and supply chain management/
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in procurement side of the FMCG, Retail or the Restaurant industry.
• Must have experience presenting and selling your own concepts and new product ideas.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Strong Project Management skills.
• Computer literate in all Microsoft packages.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to work across multiple products and brands at the same time.
• Fanatical attention to detail.
• Work on your own without supervision.
• Willing to travel both locally & internationally.