Senior Development Manager

About KFC and Culture

KFC values individuality and the unique qualities each team member brings. The company cultivates an inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed and supported to be their best selves, encouraging passion, grit, and energy to make a meaningful impact while enjoying the journey.

Role Overview

The Senior Development Manager (SDM) is tasked with driving growth by managing profitable expansion of restaurants, including new store openings, remodels, and relocations as needed. Working hand-in-hand with franchise partners, the SDM maintains and oversees the pipeline of new store developments to achieve company growth targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze market competition, trade zones, and customer behavior on-site to verify and challenge proposed locations and asset types suggested by franchise partners, collaborating with real estate, construction, general management, and market mapping experts.
• Manage and track progress of the new store pipeline, ensuring milestones are met and stakeholders are kept updated on developments and potential issues.
• Develop solutions to improve the volume and quality of new store openings.
• Continuously evaluate and improve business models to reduce required sales thresholds for new stores by partnering with internal design, operations, restaurant excellence, equipment teams, and franchisees.
• Maintain a dynamic restaurant portfolio by overseeing remodels and relocations in response to trade zone changes.
• Enhance franchisee capabilities by supplying tools, conducting trainings, and sharing best practices.
• Ensure franchisees comply with brand standards for new builds and refurbishments.
• Lead and coordinate suppliers, vendors, and consultants to enable timely and profitable expansion projects.
• Stay updated on restaurant industry trends within Yum and competing brands related to development plans, design standards, and capital expenditure efficiencies.
• Coordinate and secure necessary approvals from different functions during remodels and new store openings.
• Ensure franchise partners comply with global equipment standards.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development and collaborate across internal departments such as Operations, Marketing, Restaurant Excellence, Supply Chain, R&D/QA, HR, Finance, as well as franchise general managers, senior development executives, consultants, and vendors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Over 8 years of experience in business development within retail, demonstrating solid expertise in retail real estate.
• Strong grasp of Middle East market dynamics, both commercially and culturally.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen, project management skills, and a process-driven approach.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally, influence stakeholders at all levels, and manage complex deals with minimal oversight.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, capable of explaining complex business matters to senior audiences internally and externally.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to assess risks, opportunities, and scenarios impacting the business.
• Highly organized, resilient, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple tasks in a fast-moving environment.
• Ability to establish and nurture robust relationships with partners, suppliers, clients, and teams.
• Committed to ongoing professional development and able to independently achieve results.