Product Controller at Famous Brand Franchising Kenya LTD

Job Summary 

• Your role  will be to  effectively manage all  elements of the product mix  within the Brands to ensure the Brands  continue to deliver against consumer expectations and trends whilst remaining a best-in-class class competitor in  the Quick Service and Casual Dining restaurant categories. 

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  modelling and ultimately ensure product availability. 
•  Work  closely  with  exports/imports  team  to  ensure  timely  ordering,  importation  and  distribution  of  imported products, and ensure minimal stock outages at distributor facility. 
•  Ensure that all locally sourced/manufactured Specified products meet stringent Famous Brands  specifications.  
•  Work  closely  with  local  distribution  partner  to  ensure  competitive  pricing  of  locally  sourced  products,  identify alternate supplier partners and ensure on-time, in-full delivery of distributed products.  
•  Working  with  Operations  Team,  ensure  that  franchise  partners  procure  Licensed  products  only  from 
• Famous 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  proper  capturing  of  Purchase  Orders/Invoices/Receipts  for  specified  goods  and  services  are  entered/approved into internal Workflow system. 
•  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. 
•  Work with finance team to calculate, confirm and cascade landing costs. 

 
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 
•  In conjunction with marketing make sure that brand gross profits are within allowable limits. 
•  Develop menus with the operations teams to ensure the Brands (Debonairs Pizza, Steers, Mugg & Bean)  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. 

 
Other duties 

•  Prepare presentations and present at Brand Conferences and Brand Strategy sessions. 
•  Any other duties that may be assigned 

Education and Experience  

•  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. 
•  A member of Kenya Institute of Supplies Management is preferred. 
•  Experience handling imports and exports. 
•  Immediate availability preferred. 

Key skills and competencies 

•  Excellent interpersonal, presentation and negotiation skills 
•  Strong Project Management skills 
•  Computer literate in all Microsoft packages 
•  Ability to work under pressure and 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