Manager, Product Development

@ 7-Eleven

Overview

At 7-Eleven, we’re redefining convenience by delivering craveable, high-quality, and innovative food solutions every day. The Manager, Product Development plays a critical role in leading the innovation and execution of our hot food program to balance flavor, quality, operational ease, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Innovation & Development: Lead the development and commercialization of new hot food products from ideation to launch.
• Collaborate with insights and category management teams to identify food trends and customer preferences.
• Develop recipes, formulations, and product specifications with culinary teams and supplier partners.
• Conduct competitive benchmarking, sensory panels, and customer testing to refine products.
• Attend production runs to verify product meets quality requirements.
• Support marketing photo shoots and job aid creation for all products.
• Manage multiple vendors and drive product synergies across the hot food platform.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with marketing, food operations, category teams, and strategic sourcing for successful product launches.
• Collaborate with equipment and packaging teams to ensure food quality and safety.
• Manage external supplier relationships to ensure compliance and optimize costs.

• Business & Financial Accountability: Monitor sales, margins, and customer feedback while developing business cases for new product introductions.

• Quality, Compliance & Brand Standards: Ensure products meet food safety, regulatory, and quality assurance standards, upholding the brand promise of consistent excellence.

Qualifications

A completed bachelor’s degree in food science, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field is required. A minimum of 5+ years’ experience in food product development, culinary innovation, or category management is expected along with 3+ years in a management role. Candidates should demonstrate a successful track record of product launches, strong project management, excellent sensory evaluation skills, and effective stakeholder communication.

Physical & Operational Requirements

The role involves physical activities including kneeling, stooping, walking, standing, and occasional heavy lifting. Work may be conducted near product storage areas such as freezers and coolers.

Key skills/competency

• Product Innovation
• Culinary Development
• Project Management
• Stakeholder Collaboration
• Sensory Evaluation
• Food Safety
• Vendor Management
• Competitive Analysis
• Quality Assurance
• Business Acumen